Tuesday Morning Update: TMU 8(12), November 22, 2011

Cruz Latina Educator of the Year. Assistant Professor Ana Cruz was recognized by Heartland Latino Leadership (HLL) as the Latina Educator of the Year for 2011. The group presented the award at a gala dinner. HLL's community awards program recognizes achievements of Latinos contributing to the growth and development of the community. The group seeks to "inspire others to contribute and support the common good." Cruz has been active assisting immigrants with translation. Additionally, she helped pioneer an educational program for inmates in Omaha.

Heartland Latino Leadership Awards Dinner

Pickering national award. Associate Professor and Graduate Program Chair Barbara Pickering was selected by the National Communication Association (NCA) as the 2011 Outstanding Graduate Mentor in Master's Education. Pickering received the award at the NCA business meeting during the conference in New Orleans.

Maverick PR national recognition. UNO Communication's public relations chapter was recognized as one of the top chapters in the nation at the national conference in Orlando. At the same meeting, Kelsie Olson received her national leadership award. Maverick PR also recently learned that the UNO chapter has won a PRSA Nebraska 2011 Anvil Award for the program, "Business Ethics: Taking the High Road." The award will be presented Dec. 8.

For the latest news, please visit the UNO School of Communication Facebook page, and follow @CommUNO on Twitter.

UNO Forensics updates available online. Follow individual and team results at UNO Forensics on Facebook during every weekend of competition. Our competitive public speakers, fifth in the nation with four national champions in 2011, are challenging for another top national finish in 2012.

Next issue: Business Ethics

Alumni news. Ashlee Schutte (JOUR '08) is a copywriter and editor at Werner Enterprises. "It's a really fun and challenging job - keeps me very busy and I like it a lot!" Previously, she wrote for the Omaha Catholic Voice newspaper.

Excellence in action. Associate Professor Hugh Reilly appeared on the KETV 10 p.m. news about School of Communication interns and the role of internships during tough economic times. *** Assistant professor Chin-chung Chao published "Climbing the Himalayas: A cross-cultural analysis of female leadership and glass ceiling effects in non-profit organizations," in Emerald Leadership & Organization Development Journal 32(8), 760-781. *** Isaacson Professor Bruce Johansen presented the paper, "Native Americans, Treaties, and Genocide: The Battle for Fishing Rights in Western Washington," during a Genocide Conference at Clark University in Worcester, MA. *** Assistant Professor Paige Toller has been named to a seat on the UNO Faculty Senate. *** Dean Gail F. Baker's award-winning documentary DeSable to Obama received new honors - a Chicago Emmy for Outstanding Achievement for Documentary Programs.