Department of Journalism and Mass Communications
Samford University - Birmingham, AL
Search Amazon.com and you can find the book “The Early American Press 1690-1783” (in the History of American Journalism series), authored by a Julie K. Hedgepeth. The name may not sound familiar yet. That is because it is the maiden name of our own Julie Hedgepeth Williams.
Dr. Williams is a journalism professor in the JMC department. She received a B.A. in English and history from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. She worked on the staff of The Sampson Independent in Clinton, N.C. for seven years. During this time, she had no definite plans to attend graduate school. She took the GRE and sent her scores to three schools of her choice and, at the last minute, decided to also send them to the University of Alabama. When a job offer fell through, she decided to apply to a grad school. But before she could, she received a letter of acceptance to UA without even applying.
She attended the University of Alabama, where she earned her Masters in Journalism and a Ph.D in Mass Communications. She has authored and co-authored several books, and is currently awaiting the release of her newest book written on the Wright brothers’ first flight school, which was in Alabama. She joined the Samford staff in 1994.
She met her husband at a church in Tuscaloosa while attending UA. They were married in 1992 and have two boys.
Office: University Center Annex, Room 205
Phone: (205) 726-2250
E-mail: jjwillia@samford.edu
