Four more Lincoln-area professionals have joined the Experience Lab as professionals in residence (PIRs) at the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. Sports editor of the Seward County Independent, Stephanie Croston, co-host of Severe and Benning in the Morning at NRG Media Omaha, Mike’l Severe, studio/remote production supervisor at Nebraska Public Media, Ryan Dobesh, and sports reporter at The Omaha World-Herald, Dirk Chatelain, will work with students this fall. Professionals will work one-on-one with program participants to provide mentorship and feedback.
The new PIRs join Keri Mesropov, president and chief talent officer of TRG Arts, Kelley Peterson, vice president and nonprofit creative director at KidGlov, Andrew Ward, morning show host and former sports director for Lincoln’s Channel 8 News, Shaun Cummins, senior technical Director at KLKN-TV, Geoffrey Roth, senior director of news at KMTV, Derek Hernandez, director of brand & content at Mentor Collective, Serese Cole, morning news anchor at KMTV, Beau Poehlman, video production manager at Ameritas, Randy Hawthorne, product manager at Nelnet and Mikel Lauber, director of news at 10/11 News, KSNB Local 4 and KNOP News 2.
The Experience Lab is an innovative program that provides students with real-world experience working in college-sponsored media outlets related to their area of study and career aspirations. Students work four to six hours per week for at least three semesters for advertising and public relations agencies Jacht or Buoy, statewide wire service the Nebraska News Service, news show Nebraska Nightly, sports journalism outfit UNLimited Sports, Nebraska webzine Heartland or the college radio station, 90.3 KRNU. Local businesses and media outlets volunteer their staff time to help mentor these up-and-coming journalists and communicators as professionals in residence.
