Anna and James Highland

Anna and James “Jim” Highland were married on May 20, 1960 in Morgantown, West Virginia. They have three children and five grandchildren.

Anna was born September 4, 1941. Both Anna and Jim have long histories with WKU. She formerly served as the Mesa System operator in the Office of Career Planning and Placement before retiring years later.

Jim was born April 21, 1940. He too worked for WKU, as professor and print journalism program coordinator in the Department of Journalism and Broadcasting. He was involved with First Amendment issues nationwide as a campus leader in the Society of Professional Journalists, directed a minority journalism workshop at WKU, and conducted seminars for professionals and students. In 2004, Jim was presented with the third “Spirit of Western” Award, which recognizes an individual who represents enthusiasm for WKU, loyalty to the institution and principles of the WKU experience and its motto “The Spirit Makes the Master.” In 2007, he received the “Educator of the Year” Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. James is also a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

To further their legacy at WKU, Anna and Jim established the Anna and James Highland Scholarship Fund in 1999. This fund pays tribute to the professional and personal contributions to Western Kentucky University by Mr. Highland in the Department of Journalism and Mrs. Highland in the Office of Career Planning and Placement. Through it, their impact on the Hill and beyond continues in perpetuity.