A long-awaited dream of a Lehigh University journalism professor to appear on the nationally syndicated game show Jeopardy! has come true. Professor Kathleen Olson will appear as a contestant on an episode of the popular quiz show airing at 7 p.m. this Wednesday, May 15.
Lehigh University journalism professor Kathleen Olson will appear on the popular TV game show Jeopardy! on Wednesday, May 15. Above, she stands next to host Ken Jennings in a photo taken during the taping in Culver City, Calif. (Credit: Lehigh University)
Olson auditioned for the show four or five times over several decades before being chosen to compete in March.
“I was super excited, but I was also nervous because I feel like over the last few years, my quickness has sort of gone down,” she said. “But, I thought, you know, I have a new resolution to do things that scare me, so I certainly said ‘yes.'”
To prepare for the competition, Olson and the other contestants prepped for the taping at a TV studio in Culver City, Calif., where they were able to practice using the famous buzzer. She also reviewed topics like astronomy and U.S. geography, which are often categories from which contestants select clues.
Olson said her experience filming the episode was a positive one.
“I had just decided to see how I can do and try to have fun,” she said.
The recipient of degrees from Northwestern University, the University of Virginia School of Law, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Olson plans to retire from Lehigh in August after 24 years at the university.
Tune in on Wednesday to see how she fared on Jeopardy! Check your local listings for viewing and other information.
This local news story was reported with generative AI assistance.
