Chip Mosher

Teacher, author, newspaper/magazine columnist

What is Chip Mosher known for?

Born on June 23, 1947, in Chillicothe, Ohio, Charles Jon "Chip" Mosher (1947–2021) was a multifaceted personality. Mosher was an educator, poet, author, and newspaper columnist who wrote social commentary about education and history, as well as satirical fiction. His voice resonated in the fields of education and literature, leaving an indelible mark.

Mosher spent his 10th grade at Staunton Military Academy before transferring to Salem High School. During his time at this high school, he discovered his passion for writing while working for the school newspaper. He graduated in 1965, then earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio in 1969. Furthering his education, he attended a master's program at Duke Divinity School, where he was engaged in sports and the arts, playing basketball and acting in the Duke Players. He completed his master's in education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1998.

Apart from his illustrious career in academia, Mosher was a volunteer teacher in Thessaloniki, Greece from 1972 to 1974. In 1988, he began teaching history at a high-risk school within the Clark County School District in Las Vegas. His teaching experiences and intellectual observations made way for his social commentary in the media.

Starting in 2005, Mosher wrote a weekly column titled "Socrates in Sodom" for Las Vegas CityLife, an alternative newsweekly, until the paper folded in 2014. Later, in 2018, he started writing an almanac for Desert Companion magazine and Nevada Public Radio's website. His columns often sparked controversy due to his opinions about the school district he worked for, leading to frequent interviews about education issues.

In the realm of literature, Mosher's chapter titled “Memoir of a Modern Woman in the Modern World” was featured in the book "The Anarchy of Memories: Short Fiction Featuring Las Vegas Icons" released by Huntington Press in 2015. His contribution to the 2010 book "Dead Neon: Tales of Near-future Las Vegas," published by the University of Nevada Press, was praised by Publishers Weekly. Furthermore, in 2005, he released a CD titled "America, Please!" featuring 26 poems and one sci-fi short story.

For his excellent contributions, Mosher received several awards, including the 2011 Nobel Educator of Distinction Award for "excellence in teaching" from the National Society of High School Scholars. Other recognitions include a 3rd-place award in the Nevada Press Association's “Better Newspaper Contest" for a CityLife column in 2009, a 1st-place journalism award from the same association for his CityLife education column in 2008, and an honorable mention for a 2005 Nevada Arts Council fellowship in 2004.

Chip Mosher passed away on November 15, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada, but his legacy continues to inspire many in the fields of education, journalism, and literature.