John W. Self (Jay) attended Truman State University (then NMSU) from 1989-1993 where he majored in Communication and fell in love with the study of language and symbols as tools of human connection and persuasion, more commonly known as rhetoric. He also met and fell in love with Beth Ann Quackenbush (now Self) during his time as a student. Jay was an RA in Dobson Hall for 2 years and worked as a DJ for a short time at KNEU, the campus radio station that only ‘broadcast’ on cable.
Jay currently holds the position of Chair of the Department of English and Professor of Communication. He used to pitch for the Truman’s professor-stacked softball team, the Homers, until his shoulder surgery during the pandemic that ended that career. Additionally, Jay enjoys watching the Royals and Chiefs, having backyard barbeques, kayaking, watching Star Wars, and performing stand-up comedy (both with and without the Truman stand-up comedy group, the UpChuckles, for which he is the faculty advisor). Most recently, Jay was honored as a 2024 recipient of the William O’Donnell Lee Advising Award.
Jay says the best part of his job is interacting with students and watching them get excited to learn and expand their minds. Advice for all Bulldogs: “Don’t hold back. Try it. Do all those things that seem fun or interesting. It may work out, it may not. If nothing else, you’ll have a story.”