Keri Mesropov, Kelley Peterson and Andrew Ward have joined the College of Journalism and Mass Communications as professionals in residence (PIRs) as part of a new college-wide experiential program in fall 2021. Professionals will work one-on-one with program participants to provide mentorship and feedback.
Keri Mesropov, president and chief talent officer of TRG Arts in Denver, Colorado, has joined the Experience Lab to provide leadership training to student program leads. In her role at TRG, Mesropov is responsible for the scouting, recruitment, development and retention of the firm's talent for all positions throughout the global company. As with her work internally, with clients, Mesropov develops the leadership skills, presence and effectiveness of team members in the numerous ballet, opera, theatre and commercial Broadway companies TRG serves annually. Additionally, Mesropov is at the helm of TRG's newest business venture, TRG's Center for Results, the company's professional development center for current and aspiring arts leaders. She holds a passion and emerging expertise for working with the youngest professionals working in business today, Gen Z.
Kelley Peterson, vice president and nonprofit creative director at KidGlov in Lincoln, has joined Buoy as a creative director in residence this fall. Peterson has enjoyed working in marketing communications for more than 20 years. She prides herself on inspiring superstar teams to deliver top-notch creative work. She is the only creative director in the state of Nebraska to have achieved Professional Certified Marketer status by completing a rigorous American Marketing Association program.
Prior to joining KidGlov, Peterson was associate vice president of marketing communications at Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, account manager at Swanson Russell, marketing director for CEDARS Home for Children, and vice president of account service at Communication Design.
Andrew Ward, morning show host and former sports director for Channel 8 News in Lincoln, has joined UNLimited Sports and Nebraska Nightly as a PIR. Ward began his television career as the morning reporter for Channel 8 Eyewitness News. Before that, he interned at KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, the Orlando Sentinel, and the Omaha World-Herald. In 2014, he became a reporter for Channel 8 News Sports. He then moved on to become the weekend sports anchor at KWQC-TV, Davenport, Iowa.
In 2018, Ward returned to Lincoln where he was named sports director for Channel 8 Eyewitness News. After six consecutive years in sports, Ward recently became co-anchor of Channel 8 KLKN-TV’s morning shows.
During his career, he has won The Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association Eric Sevareid Award and awards for sports reporting from the Iowa Broadcast News Association and Nebraska Broadcasters Association.
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, and 90.3 KRNU. Local media outlets volunteer their staff time to help mentor these up-and-coming journalists and communicators as professionals in residence.
