The Team

Thomas White
Executive Director of Marketing & Communications
Thomas fosters an open and collaborative workplace where big ideas are encouraged and steady excellence is the goal. As an optimistic observer of the possibilities, he believes good marketing is equal parts realism and idealism.

Thomas also trusts that none of us is as smart of all of us, so he and his talented team work collaboratively with their University partners to provide a communications framework through which to reveal the academic might and authenticity found in abundance at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Together, they develop technology and metric-driven programs driven by compelling design and messaging that deepen the connection to target audiences in sustainable ways.

(775) 784-4832 | thomaswhite@unr.edu

Nikki Peterson
Assistant to Executive Director of Marketing and Communications & Chief Diversity Officer
Nikki is the best ever.
(775) 784-1469 |nicholep@unr.edu

John Trent
Senior Editor, News & Features
John tells the stories of the University through the eyes of faculty, staff, students and alumni.
(775) 784-4959 | jtrent@unr.edu

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Michael Brown
Director of Digital Marketing
Michael takes an analytics-driven approach in online media, marketing, and content strategy.
(775) 784-1580 | msbrown@unr.edu

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Lucy Walker
Support Specialist
Even as a part-timer, Lucy manages to offer both user support and management of digital assets.
(775) 784-1580 | lwalker@unr.edu

Creative Services

David Branby
Creative Director
As manager of the University of Nevada, Reno brand, David provides creative direction, creative campaign writing and oversight of University-wide brand compliance.
(775) 784-6187| dbranby@unr.edu

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Claudia Ortega-Lukas
Graphic Designer
Claudia creates compelling designs for many of the University's divisions, colleges and schools.
(775) 784-6127 | cortega@unr.edu

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Jodi Tenenbaum
Graphic Designer
Jodi crafts the look and feel for several University units, including the Office for Prospective Students.
(775) 784-1214 | jtenenbaum@unr.edu

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Raymond Lee
Web Developer
Ray makes the web work.
(775) 784-1581 | rlee01@unr.edu

Cindy Pratte
Web Communications Specialist
Cindy provides web content support for the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources and the College of Science.
(775) 682-6720 | cpratte@unr.edu

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Kirstin Swagman
Web Communications Specialist
Kirstin provides web content support for the College of Engineering and its five academic departments.
(775) 682-7753 | kswagman@unr.edu

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Yun Ku
Web Communications Specialist
Yun provides web content support for the College of Liberal Arts and the School of the Arts.
(775) 682-7506 | yku@unr.edu

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Alex Vanderhoff
Web Communications Specialist
Alex provides web content support for the Division of Research & Innovation.
(775) 682-7515 | alexv@unr.edu

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Brett Knadle
Web Development Intern
A Senior in Computer Science and Engineering, Brett is excellent at data analysis.
(775) 682-9247 | bknadle@unr.edu

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Ryan Battistone
Web Development Intern
Ryan has the continuous responsibility of website maintenance. He implements a full stack web development approach to research and develop ways to make sites more marketable, engaging and secure.
(775) 682-9247

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Ryan McGinnis
Creative Intern
Ryan is a journalism major who helps tell the University's stories through visual media.
(775) 784-4619

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Matthew Ravaglioli
Marketing and Communications Intern
An artist and a writer, Matt loves working in a variety of areas related to promotional development and content.
(775) 784-4542

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Jena Valenzuela
Communications Intern
Jena is a social media mastermind! Majoring in journalism and minoring in digital media, her main focus is in visual communications.
(775) 784-4542

Kerri Garcia
Director of Communications
Topic areas: 

(775) 784-1880 | kerrig@unr.edu

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Mike Wolterbeek
Communications Officer
Topic areas:

• Agriculture
• Biotechnology 
• Engineering 
• Environmental sciences, renewable energy 
• Industry collaborations, technology transfer 
• Natural resources 
• Research 
• Science

(775) 784-4547 | mwolterbeek@unr.edu

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Natalie Savidge
Senior Communications Specialist
Topics areas: 

• General University inquiries 
• Liberal arts and humanities 
• Criminal justice 
• Psychology and sociology 

(775) 784-4611 | nsavidge@unr.edu

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Nicole Shearer
Communications Officer
Topic areas:

• Business and economics
• Criminal justice 
• Education 
• Environmental issues and sustainability 
• Gaming/gambling 
• Health, including community health and nursing 
• Politics and political science 
• Student services 
• Student recruitment, success and engagement 
• Student causes, programs, events and government 
• Police Services

(775) 784-1169 | nshearer@unr.edu