A Kansas University graduate and former editor of the University Daily Kansan won a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing Monday.

Colleen McCain Nelson, who graduated from KU in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, won the award while working for the Dallas Morning News.

Tom Eblen, a former news adviser for the Kansan newspaper, recalled teaching Nelson in his advanced reporting and advanced editing classes. He called her “wicked smart.”

Nelson shared the prize with two other Morning News editorial writers for their work on a series of editorials that documented the social and economic disparities between Dallas’ southern and northern sides.

Eblen said that Nelson, who also runs marathons, was destined for greatness in whatever career she chose.

“She’s exceptionally committed to excellence in everything she does,” Eblen said.