If adaptability was a superpower, Andy Dehnart ‘99 would have it in spades with some to spare.

As the newly appointed president of the Television Critics Association (TCA), the acclaimed reality TV expert certainly has learned a thing or two about navigating the cliffs and valleys of journalism. This is much like the people who compete on Survivor, which just happens to be his favorite realty show.

And, another feather in his cap: Dehnart was just named one of the Top 50 Creator-Model Journalists by Project C.

Definitely, one could argue that his list of accomplishments is impressive and that the journey to get there is nothing short of a great story.

Early Years

Dehnart was born in Wisconsin and was primarily raised in Naples, Fla.

He had a particularly formative education at Barron Collier High School thanks to two teachers, Mr. Sauer and Mrs. Predmore, who inspired his passion for writing and creativity through their classes on desktop publishing and journalism.

“Desktop publishing gave me space to play and to try things, and I’m still doing that in my 40s,” Dehnart said. “It was practical, hands-on experience, and eventually critical to my career. I would have been bored otherwise.”

Not one to wish for a crystal ball or overly delineated plans where his next steps take him, Dehnart embraced Stetson as soon as he walked on campus as a visiting high school senior. 

“I felt like I belonged,” he noted. “Not only for a good education, but I felt a connection to the community as well.”

And that’s how he readily adapted and embraced the best of what Stetson offered.

After Undergrad

Now with his bachelor’s degree in journalism in hand, Dehnart headed to Chicago to earn an MFA in nonfiction writing and literature from Bennington College in Vermont while based in the Windy City.

Adaptability behooved him tremendously when, as a freelancer who was recapping MTV’s The Real World, a new editor arrived and promptly fired him.

“This happened in the summer of 2000 when Big Brother and Survivor premiered,” Dehnart said. “I couldn’t find any information about these shows (online).”

On July 8, 2000, his now popular and pioneering website, reality blurred, was given life.

Dehnart would search out the interesting bits of reality television, sharing and critiquing these shows that had just launched with a momentum not yet seen in the genre. What began as a blog 25 years ago blossomed into a wide social media presence and a podcast with millions who had read his work.

Dehnart was thrust into the spotlight as the resounding expert on all things related to reality television. His writing has been featured on NPR, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Buzzfeed and Wired just to name a few.

While running his wildly popular site, Dehnart again adapted when the notion of teaching came calling.

Back to the Sunshine State

A former English professor of his mentioned that Stetson was in need of some talented adjuncts. Dehnart had been doing occasional lectures and fill-ins for a colleague at Northwestern. He felt teaching came naturally, an extension of what he was doing with reality blurred in many ways, gathering and sharing information.

He packed his bags and headed back to DeLand in 2002. Going from an adjunct to lectureship position, then visiting professor to professor of practice, Dehnart taught a wide array of courses in journalism, creative writing and communications studies before leaving at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. 

Now living in Central Florida and still teaching others with organizations such as The Loft and the Flatiron Writers Room, Dehnart continues to run reality blurred and volunteer with TCA, living a great life with his husband and three cats.

And he’s about to be even busier.

Television Critics Association

Dehnart might be preparing for his biggest — or at least most notorious — adaption to date.

On June 6, he was elected to a two-year term as president of the Television Critics Association, a large group of professional journalists who cover television in the United States and Canada.

His primary goal as president is to help the organization navigate TV and Hollywood’s radical changes.

“There’ve been dramatic shifts,” he explained. “We have to figure out how to make TV criticism sustainable and how to expand what we do, adapting to this new reality.”

TCA will soon announce its 41st annual awards that acknowledge and celebrate the importance of the medium.

True to form, no matter what, Dehnart will continue to thrive and adapt.

– Trish Wieland