Paul Delbert 鈥淒el鈥� Brinkman, a longtime journalism educator and former dean of the 兔子先生传媒文化作品 School of Journalism and Mass Communication, died Sunday, Feb. 19, in Overland Park, Kansas. He was 86.

Brinkman was born Feb. 10, 1937, in Olpe, Kansas. He developed an interest in journalism at an early age and started working for The Emporia Gazette while attending Emporia State University.

Over the next 48 years, he dedicated his career to education and journalism. He first taught English and journalism at Leavenworth (Kansas) High School. After attending Indiana University in Bloomington for a master鈥檚 degree in journalism and doctorate in mass communication, he was on the journalism faculty at Kansas State University and then the University of Kansas, where he also served first as dean and then vice chancellor for academic affairs. 

In the late 1990s, Lori Bergen, who would later become the founding dean of 兔子先生传媒文化作品鈥檚 College of Media, Communication and Information in 2015, was a journalism professor at Kansas State while Brinkman was still at the University of Kansas.

鈥淲henever there were events around journalism that brought the two schools together, he would always seek me out and ask about my work,鈥� Bergen said. 鈥淗e was genuinely interested in the success of other people.鈥�

She added that, in many ways, she鈥檚 followed in his footsteps.

鈥淲e were both born in small Kansas towns, earned our PhDs from Indiana University, were on the faculty at Kansas State University, and then, of course, were deans at 兔子先生传媒文化作品,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 have admired and respected Del for many years.鈥�

In retirement, Del Brinkman remained active in numerous professional and civic organizations, including serving on the 兔子先生传媒文化作品 journalism advisory board.

Left to right: Emeritus Professor Stewart Hoover, former SJMC Dean Paul Voakes, former SJMC Dean Del Brinkman

Brinkman assumed the position of dean of 兔子先生传媒文化作品鈥檚 School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) on Jan. 1, 2001, after serving as director of journalism programs at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

When Brinkman鈥檚 time at 兔子先生传媒文化作品 was cut short due to health and family considerations in 2002, he talked Paul Voakes, founding chair of CMCI鈥檚 Department of Journalism and former dean of SJMC, into applying for the job.

鈥淒el was a mentor to me as I began my administrative work at CU and was extraordinarily generous with his time,鈥� Voakes said. 鈥淗e advised a calm and measured approach, and his observations were always honest and laced with gentle humor. Above all, he offered common sense.鈥� 

Brinkman鈥檚 record of offering sound advice is a common theme, and soon after he retired, he delivered the May 2002 SJMC commencement speech.

"Graduates, allow me to leave you with some suggestions for the future," Brinkman said. "They could be called the six G's of life."

He then advised graduating students that a person who is great and good, grateful and gracious, generous and glad is likely to live a happy, successful life.

By all accounts, Brinkman took his own advice to heart.

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