The 2025-2026 Temple University Faculty Awards will honor two Klein College of Media and Communication faculty: Jan Fernback with the Great Teacher Award and Steve Butler, KLN ’78, with a Part-Time Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Instruction Award.
The honorees will receive their awards at Temple Performing Arts Center on Monday, March 16, at 3:30 p.m.
Jan Fernback, Great Teacher Award
Jan Fernback earned her doctorate from the University of Colorado and her master’s from Klein College. She consults on various web-related projects and has published studies and commentary on cybercommunities and new technology. Her current work examines the impact of information and communication technologies in urban revitalization efforts, the institutional uses of ICTs, issues of privacy and surveillance online and in mobile technologies, and the meaning of virtual communities in contemporary culture.
“Receiving the Great Teacher award means the world to me because my professional identity is wrapped up in seeing students grow and succeed,” Fernback said. “This is my proudest accomplishment, and I am humbled and grateful.”
Fernback knew she wanted to be a professor early in her career. When she was a master’s student at Temple, her professor asked her to take over teaching his 150-student communication theory class while he traveled.
“I was understandably nervous, but upon starting class that day, I felt alive in a new way,” she shared.
Fernback has continued to grow as an educator for 25 years at Temple.
“What could be better than interacting with students in the classroom as we exchange ideas?” she said. “It’s fun and rewarding. One benefit of teaching media and communication is that we give students vocabulary for experiences they’ve had but couldn’t previously name. That leads to a lot of ‘light bulb’ moments for students and for me.”
Fernback’s work with graduate students centers on deep mentorship and guiding them through their entire academic journey. She believes that asking meaningful questions is just as important as finding answers and that learning is a process of self-exploration and effort.
Influenced by John Dewey’s philosophy, she emphasizes reflective thinking through carefully examining beliefs, evidence and consequences as an avenue to empower students. Her teaching style helps students build knowledge and understand their broader life journey through critical thinking and experiential learning.
“A great teacher cultivates curiosity, encourages lifelong learning and experiences the students’ excitement as they move toward their goals,” Fernback said. “To me, a great teacher aims for transformation: Great teachers shift identity, not just knowledge, so that students might say, ‘I think differently because of that class,’ or ‘I found my voice there.’ Because I teach courses in theory, law and ethics, I think it’s important to help students navigate ambiguity rather than rush to resolution. They can safely wrestle with the potential discomfort that leads to growth. I believe that teaching with curiosity and delight is the best way to ensure a sustainable collective future.”
“Our Klein students are curious, sharp and fearless,” she said. “I learn from them every day and am grateful to do so.”
Steve Butler, Part-Time Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Instruction Award
Steve Butler received his bachelor of arts in journalism at Klein College, where he also began his career in radio news at WRTI when it was inside Annenberg Hall. His career at KYW Newsradio started while he was at Temple but included several other stops over 40 years, including WCAU-TV, FOX-29 and editing the radio industry newsletter Inside Radio—then eventually back home to KYW as the Director of News and Programming.
While at KYW, Butler’s adjunct instructing began in Klein College’s Department of Journalism. After retiring from KYW in 2018, Butler joined the part-time faculty in the Department of Media Studies and Production, teaching programming and media business courses. He oversaw the return of a radio practicum with WHIP that is now in its second semester. He was named the associate faculty director of the station, working with the director of student media, John DiCarlo.
“Seeing enthusiasm and creativity put behind great radio programming is incredibly rewarding,” Butler said. “The togetherness and teamwork in a practicum is invigorating for a ‘radio lifer’ like me. I’m excited that Klein is making a big commitment to the station in the new Caroline Kimmel Pavilion for Arts and Communication.”
Butler shared that his experience with part-time instructors during his Temple education has always been part of his “pitch” about Temple.
“There were adjuncts with whom I stayed in contact for many years and who did some terrific journalism for Philadelphia audiences,” he said. “Receiving this award also honors them and the work they did to point so many Klein students toward success.”