I'm a native Kansan, raised in Wichita and McPherson, before coming to Lawrence to attend Kansas University. After completing my journalism degree, I worked at the Parsons Sun for about a year and a half but when the Journal-World offered me the chance to come back to Lawrence, it was sort of a no-brainer to make the move.

After stints as a reporter, features editor and the Sunday editor (working 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Saturday for six years did wonders for my social life), I took over as editorial page editor in 1987. In that job, I get to pick columns and cartoons, review letters to the editor and write editorials. When the World Company moved into the News Center in 2001, I took on the additional title of multimedia managing editor for two years, helping facilitate the merging of the company's online, print and television news staffs.

Working on a newspaper was the job I wanted since I was a kid, so I'm lucky to get to work in my field in a great place like Lawrence. I've liked all of my jobs at the World Company, but working on the editorial page gives me a chance to be involved in the community in a special way, helping other people express their opinions and offering some of my own from time to time.

That connection with the community has opened up a lot of volunteer opportunities over the years. Among other volunteer jobs, I've served as the board chair and drive chair for United Way of Douglas County, board chair of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, chair of Leadership Lawrence and currently serve on boards of the Friends of the Lied and the Douglas County Historical Society. I'm a Leadership Kansas graduate and have been fortunate to be a regular recipient of editorial writing and editing awards from the Kansas Press Association, Kansas Professional Communicators and the Suburban Newspaper Association. In 2006, I also the Inland Press Association's first place award for Editorial Excellence.

Free time is a precious commodity, but when I get a chance, I like to garden, travel and hang out with family and friends. My husband, Tom Gleason, is another KU journalism major who was smart enough to go on to law school. Tom's son, Chris, also lives in Lawrence. And thanks to the Lawrence Humane Society, we also pal around with our 17-pound (he's not fat, just big-boned) Maine Coon cat, Arthur, and the sweetest dog anywhere, Adelaide, who's mostly Australian shepherd, but we think there's some St. Bernard in there somewhere!

Recent stories

Watkins Museum to mark Veterans Day with speaker, exhibit

By Ann Gardner

November 8, 2012

The Watkins Community Museum of History will commemorate Veterans Day, on Sunday with a program on German prisoners of war in Kansas during World War II.

Around and about in local business

By Ann Gardner

October 28, 2012

Local business news for the week ending October 27, 2012.

Around and about in local business

By Ann Gardner

October 20, 2012

Local business news for the week ending October 19, 2012.

Around and about in local business

By Ann Gardner

September 30, 2012

Local business news for the week ending Sept. 28, 2012.

Injury accident reported at Lecompton KTA interchange

By Ann Gardner & Shaun Hittle

07:29 a.m., September 26, 2012 Updated 11:53 a.m.

Three people were transported to the hospital following a two-car accident at the Lecompton Interchange of the Kansas Turnpike just before 7 a.m. today, according to a report from the Kansas Turnpike Authority.

Around and about in local business

By Ann Gardner

September 16, 2012

Local business news for the week ending September 14, 2012.

Around and about in local business

By Ann Gardner

September 9, 2012

Local business news for the week ending September 7, 2012.

Entrepreneurship is focus of free seminar

By Ann Gardner

September 4, 2012

The Kansas University Small Business Development Center will host a free seminar Monday, Sept. 4, for start-up and early-stage entrepreneurs.

Fair on Saturday to feature candidates for Lawrence school board, city commission

By Ann Gardner

March 30, 2011

Candidates for Lawrence City Commission and the Lawrence school board will gather Saturday morning for a Candidate Fair sponsored by the local Voter Education Coalition.

Voter Education Coalition to sponsor events for Lawrence residents to meet and question candidates for school and city elections

By Ann Gardner

March 15, 2011

The local Voter Education Coalition has announced plans for a Lawrence school board forum and a Candidate Fair for school and City Commission candidates.

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