TMU 9(7), September 4, 2012

Broadcasting student award. Heather Mead,  a leading Mav Radio announcer and outstanding undergraduate, received recognition from the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) in national competition. Her public service announcement, produced in Jodeane Brownlee's advanced radio production course, won third place in the 2012  NAB Freedom of Speech Contest. Her PSA will air nationwide, and she receives a $1000 scholarship. Mead is a broadcast news major and philosophy minor. As a Mav Radio host, she airs  a Wednesday night "Tunes from the 90s" program. Undergraduate Justin Wagner voiced the PSA.

Afghan dean visits Omaha. Kabul University Journalism Dean Waheed Gharwal visited the UNO School of Communication in August. Kabul and UNO have a partnership to develop and share curriculum. 

Dean Gharwal, shown here with International Studies Dean Thomas Gouttierre, spoke on campus and toured College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media facilities. Gharwal met with students and faculty during the 10 day visit. The trip follows a Dubai Summer Journalism Skills Academy in which UNO partnered with faculty members from Ball State University, San Jose State University and the University of Arizona in July to teach 25 Afghan journalism professors from Kabul University, Herat University, Balkh University, Nangarhar University and Sheikh Zayed University. Dean Gharwal also visited Clear Channel Radio, WOWT, KETV and the Omaha World-Herald while in Omaha. Three Kabul University journalism faculty members are expected to travel to Omaha this fall for training at UNO.

Teacher gains national recognition. Part-time UNO instructor Janet Raddish, recently retired Bryan High School journalism adviser for The Orator, was selected to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Journalism Education Association. She is one of 17 recipients from across the nation to receive this award, which will be presented at the  national conference in San Antonio Nov. 17. Raddish was nominated by local journalism teachers, who are also members of the Nebraska High School Press Association.

Director discusses 'state of now.' Professor Jeremy Lipschultz was invited to speak at the second annual #140edu Conference in New York City. Lipschultz discussed how campus administrators, faculty and students use social media to promote excellence. Lipschultz spoke to about 300 educators from the United States and Canada. The talk was broadcast live on a Ustream internet channel. The conference featured K-12 and college educators and their students, as well as community leaders. Sponsor Jeff Pulver organized the conference after speaking to high school media advisers at UNO in early 2011. He also was a speaker at the award-winning Omaha 10-10-10 conference.

AEJMC Chicago. Four School of Communication faculty members attended the 100th meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Dean Gail F. Baker and Director Jeremy Lipschultz were panelists, and Lipschultz also chaired a panel. 

He and Lecturer Jerilyn Kamm attended pre-conference workshops. Associate Professor Chris Allen represented the School at the annual Kappa Tau Alpha honor society business meeting and luncheon.

Professor's blog. Associate Professor Teresa Lamsam published a new entry on her Wellbound Storytellers website. Stories promote healthy lifestyles among native peoples. The story was titled, "A garden tour yields a bounty of healthy memories." Lamsam returned to UNO this fall after two years at the University of Kansas. She is teaching Mass Communication Research, as well as an online graduate course in community development.

Academic excellence. Graduate student Jennifer Rome had her paper accepted for presentation at the 35th Annual meeting of the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender hosted by University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington Oct. 10-14. Rome's paper, "Power to the Princesses: Disney's Postfeminist Move Toward the Androgynous Protagonist" was written for Assistant Professor Adam Tyma's seminar in spring and revised during the summer.

Isaacson Professor Bruce Johansen published a letter about budget reform and health care in the Aug. 14  Omaha World-Herald.

Alumni updates. Vanessa Hatfield-Reeker has been hired by the School of Communication as assistant director of UNO Forensics for 2012-13. Hatfield-Reeker will assist Lecturer and Coach Abbie Syrek, as the squad seeks its third consecutive top-five national finish.

Alumnus Dirk Olson recently was recognized for service since 2003 on the NATAS Heartland Board of Governors, which organizes and presents regional Emmy awards in Denver.

Calendar.

October 

19 -- Italian Night, Suneg Center, 6 p.m.