Staff Spotlights—Employee Appreciation Day 

Here at the Department of Communication we have ten amazing staff members. Read on to learn more about them and all of the wonderful contributions they make to our Department and beyond.

 

Becky Rose—Executive Secretary

No office can function without someone to schedule maintenance, answer student calls, coordinate events, and point everyone in the right direction. That person for us is the lovely Becky Rose, our Executive Secretary. Becky first came to the Department in 1990 when she was looking for a good job as a single parent. She eventually met her husband, Professor Emeritus Paul Rose, here and was was automatically connected through him. She came back permanently to the Department six years ago and we are so lucky to have her. Becky loves working with the people in the Department, trying to figure out answers to everyone's questions, and watching the Department grow and change. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and discovering new places, including Korea where Dr. Rose works at the Utah Asia Campus.

 

 

 

Jessica Finch—Administrative Officer

For the past eight years our Department has been held down by the incredible Jessica Finch. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she had the opportunity to participate in various roles of student government that included meeting with the College Dean regularly, being a student representative on the IRB board, planning large scale events for the campus, and participating in many of the functions of an academic campus. Jessica has always loved the environment of a campus community and the excitement and growth from student to administration levels. As head of Department staff, Jessica says the best part of her job is working with this incredible group of people. Both in terms of their professional excellence but even better as lovely individuals who support and care about each other. It makes all the difference in the world!

Outside of work, she cherishes the simple joys of home life with her husband, Brandon. She loves spending time in the kitchen, trying new recipes and making new additions or adjustments as she goes. She is always up for trying a new restaurant together or with family & friends. She and Brandon enjoy traveling and while they love visiting larger cities, they typically opt for places where they can enjoy nature and spend some time hiking. Whether exploring new destinations or enjoying a cozy night in, Jessica finds happiness in both the thrill of new and the comfort of home.

 

 

Emmy Darling—Administrative Assistant

Four months ago Emmy Darling traded in text books and washable paint from her time getting her undergraduate degree in the Department and working at an elementary school to become our Administrative Assistant. She has a passion for public relations and finds herself being the happiest working in education. She is enjoying getting to know the Department from a professional lens after being a student here and is floored by the kindness and warmth the other staff members and faculty exude. Her favorite parts of her work have been being able to make a difference in the Department's outward facing presence—whether she is updating a defunct website page or designing a post for social media. In her free time, Emmy is happiest spending time with her tabby cat Gus, reading a good book, baking (and then eating) a sweet treat, and dabbling in the occasional outdoor adventure with her long-term boyfriend Alex. 

 

 

 

Travis Ciaramella—Academic Program Manager

It takes a lot of coordination to run a Department, between scheduling classes, meeting curriculum requirements, introducing innovative new courses, and more. Travis Ciaramella consistently holds down the fort and makes sure that our students are getting the best from our Department. We have been so lucky to have him here for the past ten years and as an alum of the Department. When he was finishing his BS back in 2013 he was a Peer Advisor for the Department. He loved it so much that after he graduated he reached out to one of the then advisors asking if there was an advising position open, and it just so happens that there was! He left his 10 year retail career and started his career in higher education. Travis loves the people at the Department whether it's faculty, fellow staff, or students. He says he does this work because he truly wants to be a supportive force for our faculty and students. In his downtime Travis enjoys watching reality TV, traveling, sipping wine, and spending time with friends and family.

 

 

Stephanie Krusell—Senior Academic Advisor

For all your advising woes Stephanie Krusell is happy to help! She has been a staple in our Department since July 2014 and has helped countess students achieve success in our Department and beyond. Stephanie came to the Department after being laid off from a long-time job and looking for something completely new and different. She had heard the U was a fantastic place to work and applied for many different positions here, but when she saw that there was a position open in the Department, she was so excited to come back as an alum. Stephanie's favorite parts of her job are when she can inspire a student to try something new or when she can help a student figure out what their passion is. When she isn't working you can find her snuggling her dog, at a live show, vintage shopping, or binging a TV show.

 

 

Justin Nistler—Senior Academic Advisor

Want to make sure you're on pace for your degree? Justin Nistler is your guy! He joined the Department of Communication in July of 2022 and has been in the College of Humanities since November 2016. He completed his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration at Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2014 and has been looking to pursue a career in academic advising ever since. He joined the Department of Lingustics in 2016 and had a very enjoyable time working with those students and was given the opportunity to join the amazing team of academic advisors in the Department of Communication in 2022 and has been fond of his time in the Department since. He enjoys helping students navigate the intricacies of their undergraduate careers, identifying and ideally removing possible barriers to their success, and making sure they feel supported as they work toward graduation. When he's not at work, he's likely biking, woodworking, reading, playing video games and/or board games with his wonderful wife Kim, and being smothered with snuggles by their two cats Moose and Goose, and pups Wilbere and Harper.

 

 

Erica Lampers—Academic Advisor

Another fellow alum is the lovely Erica Lampers who has been working in the Department since March of 2023. During her undergrad experience at the U, she worked part time as a Peer Advisor for exploring and undecided students. While she found helping students navigate major exploration to be very rewarding, she had always wanted to experience working for a specific Department. Erica would say her favorite part of this job is the people she gets to work with every day. She notes that, "we have such amazing students in this Department that are passionate about their major and will go on to do amazing things. It is amazing to see a student's growth when coming to our Department all the way through graduation. Along with that, I get to work with an amazing team. I feel very supported in this role due to the staff and faculty in this Department." Outside of work, people can find Erica reading, baking a mean apple pie, or doing a craft project. She also loves to travel and firmly believes that life is more fun when you have a ticket booked to someplace new. 

 

 

Marla Chinbold—Accountant

Money makes the world go round and Marla Chinbold is our top-notch accountant, making sure our Department is running smoothly. She has been with the Department since June of 2022 after wanting an experience in Higher Education. Marla loves that she gets the opportunity to work with talented people and the continuous learning opportunities that come with her job. She says she appreciates the meticulous nature of accounting work and how every detail counts in maintaining accuracy. As for the Department, we feel so lucky to share Marla's kindness, dedication, and skills with the College of Humanities! When she isn't working or learning Marla enjoys spending time with her family and quilting.

 

 

Michael Freemole—Telecommunication Area Supervisor

For all your audio visual needs Mike Freemole is the man. He traded in years in bands for a job in academia here at the U. In the Department he enjoys being able to help students, staff, and faculty alike troubleshooting tech needs and providing a helping hand. He supervises our telecomm area and is such a knowledgeable resource to everyone who needs technology or equipment. In his free time Mike enjoys playing the bass, spending time with his wife, and listening to all varieties of music.

 

 

 

 

George Rojas—Specialty Media Coordinator and Video Technician

If you have ever enjoyed our lobby TV screen you have George Rojas to thank! George arrived to the United States in October of 2024 from Ecuador. When searching for a job his first option was the University and when he saw a vacant position in the Department, he didn't think twice and applied. He enjoys the academic environment very much and thinks that you never finish learning—what better place to learn and serve that the University of Utah and the Department of Communication! His favorite part of his job is definitely serving the students and everyone that requires help, because a long time ago he was a student, and many people helped him too. He also enjoys to make videos for the Department so our visitors can know all our excellent team members and all the achievements that they reach. More than just making videos, George loves watching movies, books about movies, t-shirts about movies, and movie posters! His favorites are sci fi movies and series, especially Star Wars and the Alien franchise movies (Alien Romulus is a blast!). His favorite filmmakers are Ridley Scott and the Coen Brothers (he's seen O brother, where art thou? at least twenty times!). George is also learning to play the harmonica (he loves the blues!) and he likes to go to thrift stores to find hidden treasures.