Dear Alumni and Friends,
It's hard to believe, but I am wrapping up my fifth year as dean and am up for cumulative review. This process helps assess my performance as dean and offers valuable insights for my professional growth. I would greatly appreciate it if you would take a moment to review my self-study document and complete the online survey by May 1. I look forward to your feedback!
We had the pleasure of welcoming Jay Wilkinson (‘88) back to campus this month as our Alumni Master. He shared insights from his career with students, was recognized for his contributions to the university community and caught up with Rick Alloway on Campus Voices.
I recently attended the Nebraska Press Women’s Spring Conference, where we celebrated Marian Andersen Nebraska Women Journalists Hall of Fame inductees Kathryn Duerfeldt and Martha Stoddard (‘91). Next week, we’ll honor Mark Rhoades's (‘77) and Victoria Ayotte Brown’s (‘91) as they are inducted into the Nebraska Journalism Hall of Fame.
If you missed it, be sure to read these inspiring Nebraska Quarterly features on Tia Newcomer (‘95), Bob Wirz ('59), Wyn Wiley/Pattie Gonia (‘14) and Julie Naughton (’91).
A special congratulations to Daniel Charleston (‘77), Margaret Nongo-Okojokwu (‘22), Jay (Jia Yung) Tan and Mia Azizah (‘20) for being selected to serve on the Nebraska Alumni Association’s International Advisory Council and to all our Huskers on the Move.
We’re also grateful to our alumni and industry partners who participated in a recent panel discussion on workplace ethics and decision-making: Thank you to Kelli Britten (‘13), Nathan Wén Hé ('18), Kelley Peterson (‘94), Austin Pistulka (‘17), Erin Sorensen (‘10) and DeWayne Taylor for sharing your wisdom with our students.
I'm very proud to share that one of our academic advisors, Karez Hassan, was honored with the University of Nebraska Staff Kudos Award and Associate Dean and Lawrence L. and Ruth E. Pike Professor in Journalism Cory Armstrong was named a National Strategic Research Institute Fellow.
Congratulations also go to junior Ana Wombacher who received the 2025 Howard and Judy Vann Student Leadership Award and was inducted into the Black Masque Chapter of the Mortar Board, Nebraska Broadcasters Association EEO Scholarship winner Jacqueline Ruiz-Rodriguez, our four Roper Sports Writing award-winners, the eight students selected for Omaha Press Club scholarships and four future Huskers awarded Nebraska Broadcasters Association Scholarships.
Finally, our students and faculty traveled to Minneapolis to attend the Midwest Journalism Conference and returned home with 23 Mark of Excellence Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and 18 Eric Sevareid Awards from the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association!
If you’re in Minneapolis on Tuesday, May 27 or Denver on Friday, June 13, I hope you’ll join me for drinks and conversation with local alums!
Go Big Red!
Shari
