Media Studies Department Chair Thom Storey dies at 62

The Vision is sad to announce that Belmont Media Studies Department Chair and former Vision faculty adviser, Thom Storey died Wednesday morning after a long battle with cancer.

Storey — a beloved member of the Belmont community since 1985 — pioneered Belmont’s original journalism program a year after joining the staff and was instrumental in the creation of the current New Century Journalism program in 2003.

During his time as a professor, Storey was honored with the Virginia M. Chaney Distinguished Professor Award in 1993 and was named Southeast Journalism Conference Educator of the Year the same year.

Storey was a working journalist for most of his life. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from St. Bonaventure University in 1977 and a Master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University in 1981, Storey served as The Tennessean’s copy editor and travel editor.

Because of his great impact in the classroom, a scholarship is currently being made in his name.

The Vision staff will be collecting tributes from students, faculty and friends for later publication.