Three outstanding members of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications were recognized with University Service Awards on Friday, Sept. 6, in the Nebraska Coliseum. These awards honored the exceptional talent and dedication of regular employees who reached milestones of five calendar years of service at UNL.
Alex Fernando, assistant director of recruitment, was honored for five years of service. Since joining UNL in January 2019, Fernando has played a pivotal role in shaping the college’s undergraduate recruitment efforts. His innovative, data-driven strategies have attracted a diverse and high-achieving student body. Fernando has also significantly expanded the college’s a la carte workshop program, delivering 138 hands-on workshops to high school classes last year alone. Additionally, he developed the college’s ambassador program, providing professional development and support for student representatives. Beyond his work at the university, Fernando is an active community member, known for his roles as a disk jockey and emcee at DelRay Ballroom. He holds multiple degrees from UNL, including an MBA.
Academic advisor Karez Hassan was also honored for five years of service. Since 2020, Hassan has been a cornerstone of the college’s advising team, offering invaluable support to both undergraduate and graduate students. Her commitment to student success is reflected in her efforts to expand graduate student support, including creating a comprehensive student resource guide and training documentation for future advisors. Hassan also plays a key role in recruitment activities and teaches first-year experience courses, helping students smoothly transition into university life. She holds a Master of Arts in educational administration with an emphasis on student affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, both from UNL.
Professor Maria Marron was honored for a decade of service to UNL. A distinguished professor of journalism and mass communications and former dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, Marron has made profound contributions to both academia and the field of journalism. During her tenure as dean, she spearheaded the expansion of the college’s academic offerings, introducing a new undergraduate major in sports media and communication in 2017, which has since grown to 323 students, as well as two graduate certificates in financial communication and public relations and social media. A former journalist and public relations practitioner, Marron’s career has spanned teaching and leadership roles in the United States and overseas. Her research focuses on international media, the impact of societal norms on the media, gender and media, investigative journalism, law and ethics. Marron has also served as president of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication and as editor of Journalism and Mass Communication Educator. Her recent book, Misogyny and the Media in the Age of Trump (2019), will soon be followed by Misogyny Across Global Media in 2020. Marron holds a B.A. in English, French and Latin from University College Dublin, a master’s degree in journalism from The Ohio State University, and a doctoral degree in journalism and mass communications from Ohio University.
"These awards are a reflection of the exceptional dedication and impact that Alex, Karez and Maria have had on our college and the broader university community,” said Shari Veil, dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. “We are incredibly proud of their achievements and grateful for their contributions to the future of journalism and mass communications at UNL."
To see a full list of University of Nebraska-Lincoln Service Award recipients, visit https://hr.unl.edu/service-awards-program/.
