Honoring a life behind the lens

Our Stories

Toward Infinite possibility

October 4, 2024

One of the many striking photos taken by Alan Hagman.

Honoring a life behind the lens

Jodi Bouyack

Senior Writer, Proposals | KU Endowment

Award-winning Jayhawk photojournalist Alan Hagman was known for his skilled eye, powerful images and ability to tell compelling stories about what was happening around the world. Hagman was deputy director of photography at the Los Angeles Times when he died unexpectedly in 2019. To honor his life and career, his family created the Alan Hagman Journalism Scholarship for KU students interested in visual storytelling.

A third-generation KU graduate, Hagman grew up in Pittsburg, Kan., and arrived on campus in 1982. He was a staff photographer for the University Daily Kansan during college and served as chief photographer for KU’s sports information department in 1986-87. He was selected for a prestigious White House internship in 1986 covering Vice President George H.W. Bush. That led to an internship with the Ventura bureau of the LA Times, which turned into a full-time job.

Hagman was a leader in exploring innovative approaches to photojournalism. He received numerous awards including the Robert F. Kennedy Humanitarian Award for International Photography in 2019 for “The Great March of the Return” documenting Gaza/Israel border clashes. Hagman won the award with photographer Marcus Yam and said it was the most meaningful recognition of his career.

Hagman’s devotion to his beloved Jayhawks was unmistakable. Both his home and office were filled with KU memorabilia, and he had a license plate that read “RCJGKU.” While dedicated to his craft, Hagman made the most of life outside work, too. He enjoyed barbeque, bourbon, traveling, the Grateful Dead and “gonzo journalism,” a first-person account of a story. Hagman is fondly remembered for always being the nicest guy in the room.

Support Storytelling

To donate to the Alan Hagman Scholarship or make a gift for Jayhawk journalists, visit www.kuendowment.org/journalism or contact Marlys Shulda at 785.832.7352.

MORE STORIES

KU research team develops virtual reality, AI-boosted system to help students with autism improve social skills

For more than a decade, University of Kansas researchers have been developing a virtual reality system to help students with disabilities, especially those with autism spectrum disorder, to learn, practice and improve social skills they need in a typical school day. Now, the KU research team has secured funding to add artificial intelligence components to the system to give those students an extended reality, or XR, experience to sharpen social interactions in a more natural setting.

Read The Story

KU researchers developing AI-boosted program to help teach writing skills to students with disabilities

Researchers at the University of Kansas are developing and expanding a program that will give teachers new capabilities powered by AI to help students with disabilities improve their writing skills with immediate scoring and feedback.

Read The Story

Engineering faculty member wins prestigious early-career Presidential Award

Two University of Kansas professors were recently awarded the highest honor given by the U.S. government to early-career researchers who show great potential for leading scientific advancements in the 21st century.

Read The Story