Spencer O’Daniel, MJE
Director of Collegian Media Group at Kansas State University
Spencer O’Daniel, MJE, currently serves as the associate director of student media at Texas A&M University. Prior to his two years leading their student media and publications, O’Daniel spent nine years as a high school adviser at two high schools in the Wichita area, where he helped Wichita West earn a 6A Sweepstakes KSPA journalism championship, in addition to building a combined journalism and media program at Maize High and Maize South into a national powerhouse qualifying for several NSPA Pacemaker awards.
From 2017-2019, O’Daniel served as the assistant director of student media for the Collegian Media Group, where he helped Manhappenin’ Magazine and Royal Purple yearbook grab more exposure on campus, increased book sales, and several state and national awards. In the past two years at Texas A&M, O’Daniel advised The Battalion newspaper and website, Maroon Life magazine (a new stand-alone publication at A&M) along with The Aggieland yearbook, earning several ACP Pacemaker finalists and over 140+ awards alone in the 2023-2024 school year.
O’Daniel has advised student media for 13 years, as is one of the only student media advisers in the country to win Pacemaker awards at the high school and collegiate level, in addition to six different publications earning the distinction. O’Daniel is also highly involved in local, state and national student press associations such as the Kansas Scholastic Press Association, Texas Association of Journalism Educators, Texas Interscholastic Press Association, Colleg Media Business Association Managers, Associated Collegiate Press and the College Media Association.