Terry Nelson has taught journalism courses and advised publications for Indiana high school students for 35 years. Most recently, she is an instructor of journalism at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, teaching media writing, reporting and investigative journalism classes.

Nelson has been honored for her commitment to student journalism by the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund as their National Journalism Teacher of the Year and by USA Today newspaper as a member of the All USA Teacher Team. She has been presented the Pioneer Award by the National Scholastic Press Association; the Gold Key by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association; and the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Journalism Education Association – along with some other goodies.

Not bad for a girl from Gary, Indiana, who dreamed of becoming either a nun, a clown or the first female editor of the Chicago Tribune.