By Alex Burke

The University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism inducted its 2025 Hall of Fame class on Thursday, honoring four distinguished alumni and former faculty member Maurine Beasley, Ph.D., for exceptional careers in journalism and related fields.

The inductees include Ira Allen ‘70, Jeanne Cummings ‘79, John McNamara ‘83 and Kimberly Thomas ‘94. The ceremony, held in Knight Hall, celebrated their achievements and recognized their distinction among nearly 100 nominees reviewed by the selection committee.

Inducted for her outstanding contributions to journalism education and scholarship, Beasley joined the college in 1974 as an adjunct faculty member. She became the first tenured woman on the faculty when she was promoted to full professor in 1987 and directed the college’s graduate program.

Throughout her career, Beasley supervised 27 doctoral students and served as a mentor to many, guiding them to successful careers in academia and journalism. 

Beasley is the author and co-editor of eight books and has written extensively on women’s history in the Washington press corps. Her book “Women of the Washington Press” won the national Kappa Tau Alpha award for the best book on journalism history in 2012.

“I am indebted to Maurine as a mentor and a colleague. Whatever success I had in completing my own dissertation, I owe to her,” said Mark Feldstein, the Richard Eaton Chair of Broadcast Journalism at Merrill College. “She always had a sharp eye for both the possibilities and the challenges … she delivered those insights in the kindest way that was energizing.”

Beasley also reflected on her appreciation for the dynamic atmosphere at Merrill College during her tenure.

“I always found this college to be the most interesting, exciting place,” Beasley said. “At the time, we were building an institution within a university that was rising up in the ranks and a time of great social change, technological change and unbelievable changes in the communication field.”

Beasley has received numerous awards for her work as a past president of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and the American Journalism Historians Association. At UMD, she served as president of the campus’ Phi Beta Kappa chapter and was named the 1993 Outstanding Woman on Campus.

Allen, who served as managing editor of The Diamondback during his time at UMD and became a prominent political columnist after graduation, was also inducted. As a reporter for United Press International, he covered Capitol Hill, the Reagan presidency and the Watergate Scandal.

Allen worked as an adjunct professor for Merrill College through the 1980s.

“It was as rewarding an experience as I’ve ever had,” Allen said. “I taught at night, and the experience of telling journalism students what shortcuts not to take made me not take any during the daytime.”

Cummings also earned recognition for her career in political journalism. She worked at top publications, including the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News, and was instrumental in founding Politico. 

“Jeanne is the rare blend of tough and humane as a journalist,” said Julie Bykowicz, a former colleague of Cummings at the Wall Street Journal. “She automatically inspires you to be better because you don’t want to let her down.”

Cummings spoke about how her education at Merrill College and her work in the political journalism field encouraged her to think outside the box, especially during her time covering the White House. 

“That’s the power of journalism … I have always been grateful for the education I received here,” Cummings said.

Cummings was awarded the Aldo Beckman Memorial Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage in 2000 for her coverage during the height of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal.

McNamara, a former sports editor at The Diamondback, was posthumously inducted. Over his four-decade career, McNamara was known for his knowledge of sports — especially basketball — and his passion for Maryland athletics.

On June 28, 2018, McNamara was one of five people killed in a shooting at the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis. His loss left a profound impact on the journalism community.

“A lot of people here convinced John that he was going to be a great sports writer,” said his wife Andrea Chamblee. “After the tragedy in Annapolis, he’s remembered as a sports writer … that means the world to me.”

Thomas was inducted for her career blending journalism and law. She began her career as a reporter for the Detroit News. Thomas graduated magna cum laude from UMD, and obtained a law degree from Harvard Law School, where she also graduated magna cum laude.

Before her election to the Michigan Supreme Court in November 2024, Thomas spent over 20 years on the faculty of the University of Michigan Law School, where she co-founded and directed the Juvenile Justice Clinic and taught students the ethical practice of law.

Thomas credits her time at Merrill for teaching her the storytelling and writing skills that have been instrumental in her legal career.

“Stories are so important to connect us to people who are not like ourselves,” Thomas said. “Stories help us make sense of big ideas and hard problems when we need them the most. So I thank my faculty here for that gift.”

Featured Image: Kimberly Thomas (left), Ira Allen, Andrea Chamblee, Jeanne Cummings, Maurine Beasley and Rafael Lorente stand beneath Philip Merrill College of Journalism’s Hall of Fame. Photo by Kate DeBlasis.