KU News Release

LAWRENCE – A 1996 University of Kansas graduate won a Pulitzer Prize today for her work as an editorial writer for the Dallas Morning News.

Colleen McCain Nelson and colleagues Tod Robberson and William McKenzie won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing for an ongoing series of editorials examining the social and economic disparities between Dallas’ northern and southern sides.

“The School of Journalism extends its congratulations to Colleen McCain Nelson and her colleagues at the Dallas Morning News,” said KU Journalism Dean Ann Brill. “In winning the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing, she carries on the great tradition of William Allen White. We are incredibly proud of her.”

McCain Nelson is married to fellow Jayhawk Eric Nelson. She was editor of the University Daily Kansan in fall 1995 and earned a bachelor of science in journalism in fall 1996.

She joined The Dallas Morning News in 2000 as an education reporter. She covered the 2004 presidential campaign, traveling the country with the candidates, and wrote about state campaigns in 2002. She spent almost three years writing about Dallas City Hall and covered two mayoral campaigns. Before Dallas, she worked for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and The Wichita Eagle.

She is a graduate of Salina South High School and is the daughter of Hal and Marty McCain of Salina.

Including McCain Nelson, at least 12 KU alumni have won Pulitzer Prizes, including two prizes for one graduate:

1923
William Allen White, for editorial “To An Anxious Friend,” Emporia Gazette. Class of 1890. KU’s School of Journalism is named for him.

1947
William Allen White for “Autobiography of William Allen White” (Macmillan Press).

1952
Louis LaCoss for editorial “The Low Estate of Public Morals,” St. Louis Globe Democrat. 1911 graduate.

1953
William Inge (in drama) for his play “Picnic.” 1935 graduate.

1954
Alvin Scott McCoy, local reporting for a story that led to the resignation of the Republican National Chairman, Kansas City Star. 1925 graduate

1965
Eugene "Gene" Goltz, local investigative specialized reporting for his expose of government corruption in Pasadena, Texas, which resulted in widespread reforms, Houston Post.

1992
Jeff Taylor, Mark Zieman and David Eames, for national reporting
Taylor, a 1990 graduate, won for a series on the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Kansas City Star. Sharing the award were Star editor Zieman, 1984 graduate, and illustrator Eames, 1989 graduate.

1994
Pat Weems Gaston and Mary Carter for international reporting
Gaston, 1981 graduate, and Carter, 1986 graduate, were editors on the Dallas Morning News team that won in 1994 for international reporting for a series on violence against women in Africa.

2002
Jerry Seib for breaking news
Wall Street Journal Washington Bureau Chief Seib, 1978 graduate, won in 2002 as part of the Journal team that won for Sept. 11, 2001, coverage.

2004
Kevin Helliker for explanatory reporting
A Kansas City, Kan., native who earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from KU in 1982, won the award with fellow Wall Street Journal reporter Thomas M. Burton for their groundbreaking examination of aneurysms.