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.