Oklahoma Journalism Professor Becomes An OU First

He’s a first at the University of Oklahoma, preparing the journalists of tomorrow, and while he loves his job, he fully understands the weight of his assignment.

He’s had a career in sports that reporters dream of. “I went to Huntsville, Alabama for two years, went to South Florida for four years, became a sports director in Atlanta, and worked there for a couple of years,” said Jay Gilmore, a professor with The University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

He’d been teaching for about 11 years, and when it came time for his next move, there was one thing attracting him to the University of Oklahoma. “I wanted to be around the SEC, I grew up watching SEC sports, I just wanted to be around the SEC,” said Gilmore.

Upon visiting the university, he knew this was the place for him. “When I came in June, in the Summer, students were on campus in edit bays editing, they were working, they were in the studio, I was blown away,” said Gilmore.

He’s now passing on his wealth of knowledge to journalism students at OU’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. “He said I don’t do this to be anyone else but me. And it reminds me that whenever I’m on camera I maybe, don’t need to overthink it too much and just be myself,” said OU student CD Finley.

And when students miss the mark, Professor Gilmore easily becomes a mentor.

“I just think that it was really nice to have him sit with me and be like, everything is going to be fine, you did do great,” said OU student Amy Acevedo.

Surprisingly in the history of the Gaylord College's journalism department, Professor Gilmore is the first African American male professor. “It doesn’t surprise me, because across the country you don’t have a lot of African Americans teaching at the college level. Every department I’ve ever been a part of, it’s one person, it’s one person, it’s one person,” said Gilmore.

It is that void of teachers that is impacting future journalists. “Seeing people that look like them in any type of role, and now I believe that I can because I see someone that looks like me,” said Gilmore.

But for Professor Gilmore, his focus is making sure all of his students have the tools to be successful. “I’m just trying to teach students and watch their careers grow,” said Gilmore.

Not surprisingly, with his sports background, when Professor Gilmore isn’t teaching classes, he is producing coaching shows with coach Brent Venables.