In April, we celebrated the achievements of our students, faculty and staff at the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. Adam Wagler was named the April Professor of the Month, Naren Narasimhan was named the April Student of the Month, and Shari Veil, Barney McCoy and Alisa Smith received the April Not Too Shabby Awards.
Wagler joined the faculty in 2013 as an assistant professor in advertising and public relations, teaching design, development and strategy courses for interactive and traditional media. His research delves into the effective utilization of interactive and immersive media for communication, notably in UX, instructional technology and emerging technologies. Transitioning into college administration in 2020 as the associate dean for academic programs, Wagler continues to drive innovation in education and research. Wagler was nominated by Director of Business and Operations Haley Hamel, who praised his handling of course scheduling for fall 2024 while skillfully balancing the needs of students with financial limitations.
Narasimhan is a senior sports media and communication major from Omaha. Assistant Professor Brian Petrotta nominated him, saying, “Naren exhaustively vetted several of the most highly regarded Sports Management graduate programs in the country. He applied (and was accepted) to his top choices and ultimately decided to attend Columbia University after graduation in May. His strategic approach to both the search and how he presented himself paid handsome dividends.”
The CoJMC Student Advisory Board selects the professor and student of the month based on the kudos they received during the previous month. Professors receive an award plaque, and student winners can choose from three prizes: a college T-shirt, a Starbucks gift card, or lunch with CoJMC Dean Shari Veil.
The CoJMC Staff Council presents the Not Too Shabby Awards to faculty and staff members who go above and beyond the call of duty and have earned the appreciation of their peers.
Smith joined the college in 2023 as the Director of Advising. Before joining CoJMC, Smith spent more than 25 years in higher education, most recently serving as the Dean of Student Success at Lourdes University in Ohio. Smith was nominated by Hamel and Career Development Specialist Natalie Becerra for her recent efforts to enhance student success programming in the college.
Veil is the Jane T. Olson Dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. She joined the college in 2020 after serving as the associate dean for undergraduate affairs at the University of Kentucky. Associate Professor Rick Alloway nominated Veil for her unwavering willingness to engage with students.
McCoy is the Gilbert and Marth Hitchcock Professor of Journalism. He joined the college in 2006 after a 25-year career as a full-time broadcast journalist. Professor Maria Marron nominated McCoy for his dedication to the field and his willingness to go above and beyond to engage students.
CoJMC kudos serve as the nominations for all CoJMC monthly awards. To nominate faculty, staff or students, submit Kudos at https://journalism.unl.edu/kudos.
