Rowan University professor Melissa Klapper became a three-day champion on “Jeopardy!” in March 2023. Klapper is a historian in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences and specializes in American and women’s history. Her appearance on the show had a positive impact on her latest book, “Ballet Class: An American History,” which saw increased sales on Amazon following her mention of it during her first show. Klapper’s success in the show was due to her extensive preparation, including reading children’s books on topics like geography and science. She utilized her vast knowledge of history, arts, popular culture, and other topics to amass a total of $60,100 in winnings. Despite not being good at the buzzer, Klapper enjoyed her experience as a contestant on the show, and she encouraged her colleagues to participate.
Rowan University Historian Wins Over $60K as Three-Day ‘Jeopardy!’ Champion
Melissa Klapper, a historian at Rowan University’s College of Humanities & Social Sciences, became a three-day champion on the popular game show “Jeopardy!” in March 2023. The category for the clue that Klapper answered correctly was “Prof pride.” Despite the challenge of the buzzer, she utilized her vast knowledge of history, arts, popular culture, and other topics to amass a total of $60,100 in winnings.
Klapper, who specializes in American and women’s history with a focus on the late 19th and early 20th century, is in her 22nd year of teaching at Rowan. She is also the coordinator of women’s and gender studies. She humorously notes that this is the first and last time her students will think she is cool.
After completing a series of increasingly difficult online tests last June and an audition, Klapper was selected to be a contestant on “Jeopardy!” She taped her shows on January 10th during a trip to California. The production tapes five shows daily.
Before the taping, Klapper had about two weeks to prepare for the show, cramming on topics like geography and science by scouring children’s books, including a Junior World Atlas and a timeline of scientific discovery. Her preparation paid off, and she confidently answered questions in most categories, although sports remain a challenge for her.
The most daunting challenge for Klapper was mastering the “Jeopardy!” buzzer. While she practiced at home using a ballpoint pen, it was much different being on stage, where she only had milliseconds to think before the lights flashed, signaling her to buzz in with an answer.
Klapper’s reign as “Jeopardy!” champion came to an end on March 23 when she finished third in the game, won by Alec Chao, a management and program analyst from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Nevertheless, Klapper’s impressive performance showcases her expertise in various fields and her ability to master new challenges.
Rowan Historian Finds ‘Jeopardy!’ Experience Fun Despite Buzzer Woes
Despite not being good at the buzzer, Rowan University professor Melissa Klapper enjoyed her experience as a three-day champion on “Jeopardy!” in March 2023. Klapper noted that her nerves got the best of her during her final game, where she was ultimately unseated by a masterful buzzer pusher, Alec Chao.
Although Klapper was not permitted to promote herself as a Rowan professor, word spread quickly through the community. Her appearance on the show had a positive impact on her latest book, “Ballet Class: An American History,” which saw increased sales on Amazon following her mention of it during her first show.
Klapper enjoyed meeting the other contestants, who shared her passion for trivia, and she appreciated the support she received from the Rowan community. She encouraged her colleagues to participate in the show, noting that her background as a professor helped her with public speaking during the taping.
Klapper also shared her strategy for winning, which involved pursuing big money clues early in each of her games. Despite not being a game theory person, Klapper’s strategy allowed her to accumulate as much as possible, which resulted in tremendous success during her first three “Jeopardy!” shows.
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