Star Guest Lectures

The Guest Lecture Series is a set of events hosted by The University Star in celebration of our 115th anniversary, created to connect students with accomplished media professionals and alumni. Through lectures, the series provides first-hand insights into careers in journalism, communications and media while highlighting the lasting impacts of student journalism. Hosted in collaboration with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) at Texas State University, the series creates opportunities for students to learn directly from professionals, build connections and gain inspiration for their future careers.  

Debbie Hiott: 1 p.m., April 17, 2026 at Old Main 320

Debbie Hiott is the general manager of KUT 90.5, Austin’s NPR station, and KUTX 98.9, the Austin Music Experience, two public radio stations that give voice to the stories and sounds that make Austin special. Together, the stations reach an audience of more than 700,000 each month. She is also the executive director of media operations at the University of Texas at Austin’s Moody College of Communication.

Before going into public media, Debbie spent 28 years as a journalist at the Austin American-Statesman, starting as a reporting intern while she attended Southwest Texas State University and spending her last seven years as the paper’s top editor. Debbie is a two-time jurist for the Pulitzer Prize, and she currently serves on the boards of National Public Radio (since November 2024), the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and Headliners Foundation, as well as the advisory council for the Texas State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Gloria Campos: 1 p.m., March 13, 2026 at Old Main 320

Since retiring from a 40–year career in TV News in 2014, Gloria Campos, a two–time Hall of Fame winning journalist, continues to pursue interests and causes that have always been important to her.

Gloria relocated to the Hill Country of Texas in 2018 but remains a sought–after speaker and moderator.

Gloria has been honored to moderate discussions with such notables as Former First Ladies: Dr. Jill Biden, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton. In addition, she’s been moderator for discussions with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, former U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, broadcaster Robin Roberts, feminist Gloria Steinem and actors Molly Ringwald and Cynthia Nixon.

“I had no inkling when I retired that I would continue to exercise my interviewing skills,” said Ms. Campos. “But it’s a lot more fun and rewarding now that I’m employing these skills on behalf of many worthwhile causes.”

Gloria also has thousands of Facebook friends and over 30–thousand followers on X.

Most recently, Gloria served on Texas State University’s Development Foundation including the position of Board Chair. She received a TXST Distinguished Alumni award and is proud benefactor of the Gloria Campos Endowed Scholarship in TXST Mass Communications. She currently is on the Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas.

Gloria has been married for over 47 years to Lance Brown and they have twin adult sons.