The University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications has appointed six new members to its Dean’s Advisory Board.
The board provides strategic guidance, fosters alumni engagement and drives investment to enhance the college’s local, national and global presence. Serving as ambassadors and advocates, board members help elevate the college’s impact on the media industry and expand support for students.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dakarai, Kristin, Matt, Tari, Paula, and Juanita to the Dean’s Advisory Board,” said Shari Veil, Jane T. Olson Endowed Dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. “Their leadership and dedication to journalism and mass communications will help ensure that our college remains a vibrant place of opportunity and learning for our students and community.”
Meet the New Board Members:
Dakarai Aarons
Senior Director, Employee Philanthropy Programs
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Aarons leads employee philanthropy programs at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), creating opportunities for employees to engage with communities through volunteering, giving and learning. Previously, he served as senior program director overseeing CZI’s education policy, advocacy and systems leadership grantmaking and as a senior communications lead for CZI’s education and ventures work. Before joining CZI in 2018, Aarons was vice president of strategic communications for the Data Quality Campaign, where he led a national campaign focused on building public support for education data. An advocate for equity and social impact, Aarons also chairs the Wayfinder Foundation's board and serves on the advisory board of the Black Funders Network of the Bay Area. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Kristin Fasbender
Director of Championships and Alliances
NCAA
With 26 years of experience at the NCAA, Fasbender serves as director of championships and alliances, where she leads administration for the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship and the National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship. She has been instrumental in expanding the reach and popularity of collegiate sports, particularly volleyball, which set national records in attendance and viewership in 2023. An Omaha native and proud alumna of UNL, Fasbender graduated in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and broadcasting. Her leadership has helped increase visibility for women’s sports, contributing to greater equity in athletic programming across the NCAA.
Matt Hansen
Co-founder and Editor
Flatwater Free Press
Hansen is co-founder and editor of the Flatwater Free Press, Nebraska’s first statewide nonprofit news organization, established in 2021 to provide independent, in-depth journalism. A seasoned journalist and Red Cloud, Nebraska, native, Hansen previously worked at the Lincoln Journal Star and the Omaha World-Herald as a reporter and metro columnist. His distinguished career has taken him to places like Afghanistan and Cuba, earning him numerous state, regional and national awards for his investigative work, feature stories, and columns. In 2015, Hansen was named Great Plains Writer of the Year. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2003.
Tari Haro
Head of Marketing
3STEP Sports
Haro leads marketing, communications and sponsorships at 3STEP Sports, the nation’s largest youth sports club and event operator, where she creates impactful content and strategic partnerships. A seasoned C-suite executive, Haro has a proven track record in driving growth strategies within private equity-backed businesses. Before joining 3STEP, she served as managing director at Erie Street Growth Partners, leading the growth and transformation team responsible for the firm’s $2+ billion portfolio, which includes top agencies like 3Q Digital and Trailer Park Group. Haro’s career also includes roles at industry-leading brands and agencies such as Edelman, Cars.com and iCrossing, where she successfully launched new products and drove revenue growth. An alumna of UNL, Haro holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and advertising. She also serves on the board of 8th Light and is an active member of Chief, an executive women’s network.
Paula Lavigne
Investigative Reporter
ESPN
Lavigne, an investigative reporter with ESPN since 2008, is known for her in-depth reporting on critical issues in sports. Her work has earned her several national awards, including a Peabody Award for her investigation into sexual assault in Michigan State athletics and an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for exposing a youth football gambling ring. Her reporting has also led to Sports Emmy nominations and numerous honors for uncovering hidden issues in sports. Lavigne graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and later earned an MBA from Creighton University. She remains dedicated to using journalism to promote transparency and accountability in sports.
Juanita Page
International Programming and Content Manager
Warner Bros. Discovery
As international programming and content manager at Warner Bros. Discovery, Page oversees high-profile projects such as Shark Week and Space Launch LIVE. During her time at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she made history by placing in the top five nationally in the Hearst Journalism Awards, marking the first time in 20 years that UNL received a national placement. Page’s career is decorated with accolades, including the John Hendricks Innovation Award, the AFA-NST Outstanding Alumni Award and an Emmy for voice-over work on Fair and Free, featuring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. She is also an inductee of the Omaha Northwest High School Hall of Fame, reflecting her long-standing commitment to excellence in media and communications.
The Dean’s Advisory Board will continue to guide the college’s mission to nurture innovative thinkers prepared to excel in media and communication fields. For a complete list of board members, visit journalism.unl.edu/deans-advisory-board.
