Maggie B. Thomas, who covered the first heart transplant operations in Dallas as a medical writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, teaches media writing and public relations courses in the journalism department at TCU.

At the Fort Worth newspaper, she also served as editor of a special section for teens. An avid sports enthusiast, she wrote high school football stories for the Star-Telegram and later for the Bryan-College Station Eagle.

After teaching in the journalism department at Texas A&M University, Dr. Thomas returned to Fort Worth and joined the TCU faculty in 1991. She is advising coordinator and adviser to the TCU chapter of the Association for Women in Communications. She is a former chair of the Honors Week Committee.

Dr. Thomas traveled to Budapest, Hungary, in the summer of 1995 as a member of TCU's first Faculty Seminar Abroad. She also participated in a Faculty Seminar Abroad to Puebla, Mexico, during the summer of 1998 at the Universidad de las Americas. These international programs are designed to establish links and exchange opportunities with universities and businesses, including newspapers and public relations operations.

She received a grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation in Oklahoma City, Okla., to conduct a national survey of television news directors about their policies regarding rape coverage and ethical issues that influence TV news coverage. Her research in this area is part of the department's long-term study of media coverage of crime. She has presented the results of her research studies at several national conferences.

As chair of the Professional Development Committee for the Greater Fort Worth Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, she organized seminars about litigation journalism, desktop publishing, media coverage for organizations and career development for public relations professionals.

She consults with business and governmental agencies regarding written and oral communication methods. Dr. Thomas has edited three books.

B.A. Baylor University

M.S. Texas A&M University

Ph.D. Texas A&M University