UC Communication Department Announces First Wave of 50 Communication Alumni Champions

The University of Cincinnati McMicken College of Arts and Sciences Communication Department will celebrate its 50th anniversary this fall with a series of events planned for Oct. 9-11.

The keystone of the celebration will be the honoring of 50 Communication Alumni champions, individuals graduating with a BA or MA in communication who have gone on to achieve success in their careers or professions, have made a big a difference in their local communities, or have provided significant support to UC or the department.

The Department of Communication and its new alumni organization, Friends of Communication, recently announced the first 25 Communication Alumni Champions. The list includes the current chair of the UC Board of Trustees, a current and former dean at UC, a Broadway actor, a television producer, a Cincinnati Enquirer woman of the year, a foreign TV news correspondent, an Ohio state senator, and many other successful communication professionals.

Here is the first wave of Communication Alumni Champions (listed in order of graduation year):

• Kathleen Verderber (BA 1971, MA 1973), textbook author and professor emerita, Northern Kentucky University
• Lee Wilkof (BA 1973), entertainment professional, Broadway actor
• Oscar Jarnicki (BA 1975), business owner and film producer
• Robert Sukys (BA 1977), partner, The Partnering Group, brand marketing and consulting
• Thomas Humes (MA 1977), president, Great Traditions Land; chairman, University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees
• Terry Loftus (BA 1978, MA 1987), senior director of public relations, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center
• Judy Dalambakis (BA 1980), president, Board of Trustees, Cincinnati Parks Foundation
• Nils Kahlson (BA 1980, MA, 1981), Qualitative Research/Moderator, Ipsos Understanding
  
• Judy Jarrell (BA 1986, MA 1987), professor emerita, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati
• Stephanie Freid (BA 1987), Middle East correspondent, CCTV International
• Ronald Cushing (BA 1988, MA 1990), director, International Services, University of Cincinnati
• Cheryl Jordan (BA 1988, MA 1989), senior organizational change consultant, Turner Broadcasting
• Crystal Washington (BA 1988), vice president/External Relations, Diversity and Inclusion, Scripps Networks Interactive
• Eric Watts (BA 1988, MA 1989), associate professor, Department of Communication Studies, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• Christine Carleton (BA 1990), wealth advisor, Truepoint Wealth Counsel
• Tom Carleton (BA, 1991), senior campaign manager, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
• Ronald Jackson (BA 1991, MA 1993), professor of communication and former A&S dean, University of Cincinnati
• Cady Short-Thompson (BA 1991, MA 1992), professor and dean, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash
• Shannon Walker Jones (BA,1992), Ohio state senator, District 7
• Dean Gallo (BA 1994), director of business development, LOTH
  
• Mark Jorgensen (MA 1996), president and owner, Global Recruiters of Cincinnati
• Serena Levy (BA 2002), corporate external affairs director, Coca-Cola Company
• Adrijana Kowatsch (BA 2003, MA 2005), chief operating officer, UC Economics Center
• Jeanette McClellan (BA 2003), digital strategist and consultant, 2060 Digital
• Danielle Hagen (BA 2005, MA 2008), vice president, Communications, Nahigian Strategies

Bob Sukys expressed his appreciation at being named as a champion: “I consider it a real honor to be recognized by what I've known to be a great organization that not only provided me with a great foundation for my career, but has produced so many outstanding alumni in the communications industry and our community as well. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who graduates from the department is a champion!”

This first wave of Communication Alumni Champions was nominated and selected by UC communication faculty and alumni members. The second wave will be announced later this spring.

For more information about the Department of Communication’s 50th anniversary celebration and Friends of Communication, go to http://www.artsci.uc.edu/departments/communication/anniversary.html.  The department Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/CommUC, and the Twitter handle is @CommUC. The Communication Forum blog is at www.ucfriendsofcommunication.wordpress.com.