The launch of a new era 2021 Annual Report


Dean & Professor
2021 marked the beginning of a new era for the College of Journalism and Mass Communications (CoJMC). Over 75 faculty, staff, alumni and industry partners came together to chart a new vision for the college as a national leader in experiential journalism and mass communications education. The first aim of our strategic plan, approved in May 2021, was to launch a college-wide Experience Lab to provide every student the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working in one of the college’s media outlets or agencies.
Over the summer we outlined the policies and procedures for the Experience Lab and trained our student leaders. In August, we added over 13,000 square feet of new space dedicated to experiential learning and welcomed 14 professionals in residence to campus to ensure our students are career ready. In September, we secured funding for a new television studio and newsroom and a new photography studio and multimedia lab. In October, we published the first issue of Heartland Webzine. In November, we launched the first broadcast of Nebraska Nightly and approved the curriculum changes requiring all students spend at least three semesters in the Experience Lab. In December, we started construction on the new Unlimited Sports Lab.
New Faculty

Kelli Boling
Assistant Professor, Advertising & Public Relations
Kelli Boling has a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina. Her research interests include media depiction and reception of traditionally marginalized audiences based on race and gender.

Shoun Hill
Visiting Professor, Photojournalism
Shoun Hill has more than15 years of experience in photojournalism working for newspapers in Louisville, Minneapolis, Jackson, Memphis and Orlando before landing at The Associated Press.

Jason Stamm
Assistant Professor, Sports Media & Communication
Jason Stamm has a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. His research interests include sports journalism practice, sports media audiences and college sports recruiting websites.

Ciera Kirkpatrick
Assistant Professor, Advertising & Public Relations
Ciera Kirkpatrick has a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. Her research interests include how messaging affects indivduals’ mental and physical health and how communicators can design messages to improve individual health outcomes.

Brian Petrotta
Assistant Professor, Sports Media & Communication
Before earning his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma, Brian Petrotta spent 15 years working in sports public relations and broadcasting. His research interests include a focus on legalized sports betting.

Brian Hubbard
Assistant Professor of Practice, Advertising & Public Relations
Before joining academia, Brian Hubbard had a long career in international advertising and public relations, founded ATTO Media and held positions with Y&R, New York; Leo Burnett, Mexico City; and J. Walter Thompson, Mexico City.
Retirements

Trina Creighton
Assistant Professor, Broadcasting
Associate professor of broadcasting Trina Creighton retired from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on August 20, 2021, after 20 years.

Joe Startia
Professor, Journalism
Journalism professor Joe Starita retired on June 30, 2021, after 21 years at the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Amy Struthers
Professor, Advertising & Public Relations
Amy Struthers, professor of advertising and public relations, retired at the end of the spring 2021 semester after 18 years.


Alumni Engagement

Knowledge on Tap brings together faculty, students and alumni
In 2021, faculty in the college presented nine Knowlege on Tap talks.
The presenters were Shari Veil, Maria Marron, Jill Martin, Jessica Fargen Walsh, Frauke Hachtmann, Kaci Richter, Brian Petrotta, Kelli Britten, Valerie Jones and Ciera Kirkpatrick.
Knowledge on Tap is a monthly series where faculty present their latest research and creative activity and then lead a discussion exploring the latest trends and techniques in advertising, broadcasting, journalism, public relations and sports media.
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Drinks with the Dean brings CoJMC to alumni
In 2021, Dean Shari Veil hosted Drinks with the Dean events in cities throughout the United States.
These small informal gatherings provide the college a chance to connect with alumni, learn about their career paths and their successes. Alumni also learn about current happenings and future plans in the college.
This year, Dean Veil hosted alumni in New York City, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Minneapolis, Lincoln, Omaha and Kansas City.

CoJMC welcomes alumni back to Andersen Hall for Homecoming
It has been difficult to get together since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. But the college was able to bring together faculty, staff and alumni for a homecoming celebration.
More than 100 joined the event in the lobby of Andersen Hall on Friday, Oct. 1, to bask in their pride of being Huskers and see the renovations completed in Andersen Hall during 2020.
Attendees got a sneak peak of The Agency and plans for the Don and Lorena Meier Studio, the Unlimited Sports Lab and the Perry Multimedia Classroom and Photo Studio.
Alumni Visits

Seline Lecture with Randy Essex
This year’s Seline Lecture guest speaker was executive editor of The Omaha World-Herald Randy Essex. The virtual event had over 50 attendees. His talk "Journalism Love Stories" covered why a news career is both important and fun

Jacht hosts master class with Wendy Guillies
Wendy Guillies is CEO of the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, one of the largest private foundations in the U.S. In April, she led a masters class for CoJMC students called "Leading from the middle: Career Lessons from a Communicator-Turned-CEO.”

Kevin Abourezk chosen as 2021 Multicultural Homecoming Distinguished Alumni
The College of Journalism and Mass Communication welcomed Kevin Abourezk, a 2012 graduate of the professional journalism master of arts program, as one of UNL’s Distinguished Alumni at the Multicultural Homecoming event on Sept. 20, 2021.
By the Numbers
Thank You For Your Support
The College of Journalism and Mass Communications is grateful for all our donors past and present, including our 2021 donors recognized here.