Anna Marie Romero

Columbia, MO- Anna Marie Romero (60 years of age) passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends after a sudden, brief and insurmountable medical condition. She fought bravely and with acceptance of God’s plan for her in her last days. Anna was born on August 7, 1964 to Jose and Consuelo (Connie) Romero in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Anna was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, graduated from Santa Fe High School and NMSU, established her career at the University of Missouri and made her home in Columbia, Missouri for over 35 years.

Anna was a lively and spirited person and always was a kid at heart. Anna was known by her family and friends as a fun-loving, adventurous person who enjoyed her dog children (Denver and Brodie), movies, reading, family time, and any opportunity to explore anywhere and anything with anyone who could keep up with her energy and enthusiasm. Anna also loved to travel. She visited or passed through almost every state in the nation, including Alaska. She also traveled abroad to many European countries. She’d often select her travel destinations in search of Bigfoot. She believed Bigfoot was out there somewhere and playfully and sometimes seriously sought Bigfoot out. Anna was also a fan of music, she enjoyed seeking out music concerts to her favorite 80’s pop music artists. She was also a die hard Denver Broncos and University of Missouri (Mizzou) sports fan and enjoyed attending games and the fanfare that came along with it. She was loved and cherished by her family and always stayed connected to them even though there was a large geographical distance between them.

Anna was also a very serious professional with a celebrated and successful professional career in Journalism, Broadcast News, Radio and Television. She was a model of kindness, professionalism and her impressive educational and professional career forged an inspirational path for her many nieces and nephews.

Anna was best known for her advocacy for the educational and professional rights and growth of minority populations which was

reflected in her 28+ years of service as a Professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism from 1990-2018 where she taught courses in News Writing, Broadcast News; Radio and Television; Journalism; News Communication, Cross-Cultural Journalism. She was known as a strict, demanding professor who set high standards for her students; many of whom did not enjoy her class while in it, but afterward said they would take it again because of how much they learned from it both academically and professionally.

She also lectured in many journalism classes and topics including the School of Social Work and their “Latino/a Immigrants and Receiving Communities” class. She was known for her lectures at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Journalism Education Association, National Scholastic Press, and the Association and Society of Professional Journalists.

Anna carved a path for herself as a Latino professional beginning in Las Cruces, NM, to El Paso, TX and eventually established her most formative professional years in Columbia, Missouri. Anna’s path included a lofty resume in journalism including renowned TV, Radio Stations and other journalism media and publications. She was one of the first in the nation to serve as the faculty advisor to the former University of Missouri chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and also served as an adviser to the Queer Media Association, the MU chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.

She was at the forefront as a minority leader and served as a member of a Dean appointed committee to study and create a required cross-cultural journalism course for all undergraduate journalism students.

She worked as Chair, Co-Chair and member of the school’s Multicultural Development Committee.

Anna served on the University of Missouri People and Culture Subcommittee, a product of the school’s strategic plan. She was at the

forefront of recruiting, training, celebrating, uplifting, and educating future under-served minority journalism leaders. She was highly sought after for translation projects and for interacting with and meeting dignitaries from other Spanish Speaking countries who had an impact on the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

For many years, Anna served as the Director of the Missouri Urban Journalism Workshop (AHANA in the past) sponsored by the Dow Jones News Fund and Missouri School of Journalism. This is the nation’s longest running journalism workshop to encourage diverse students to consider a career in media.

Anna served for 22 years as the Executive Director Missouri Interscholastic Press Association, the clearinghouse for scholastic journalism students and teachers in the state. This program sponsored a Scholastic Journalism Day, regional workshops and ran media contests highlighting Missouri student journalism work. In the final years of her professional career, Anna served as a leader in the Division of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity at the University of Missouri.

Anna was a member of several organizations over the course of her esteemed career, to name a few:

* MU Hispanic/Latin American Faculty; Staff Association - First President; Founder/Board Member

* National Association of Hispanic Journalists and MU chapter

* National Journalism Education Association

* National Scholastic Press Association

* Missouri Interscholastic Press Association

* National Center for Disability and Journalism

* National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and Missouri Chapter/ New MU chapter

* Radio and Television News Directors Association

* Society of Professional Journalists

Anna’s awards, recognitions and honors are too numerous to mention but included:

* Two time recipient of the Knight Award from the Missouri Interscholastic Press Association

* Award for continuing and outstanding service to scholastic journalism

* MU Chancellor’s Excellence Award Nominee as adviser of the local National Association of Hispanic Journalists

* Twice nominated for the Provost Award for Outstanding Achievement in Extension and Continuing Education at MU

Anna is survived by brothers Joe Romero (Rosie), Patrick Romero (Lorraine) and sister Stella Esquibel (Carlos); brother in law, Phillip Esquibel; numerous nieces and nephews and extended family who loved her dearly. She also is survived by special friends from Columbia, Missouri who knew her as family; many of whom were by her side in her final days.

Anna is preceded in death by her mother, Consuelo (Connie) Romero; father, Jose Romero; sister, Mary Rita Esquibel; and nephew, Jacob Romero.