September 20, 2023

Dr. Shari Veil joins Bailey Lauerman’s Board of Directors, bringing an innovative perspective to a unique academic and professional partnership

Bailey Lauerman, an industry-leading Nebraska-based advertising agency, has appointed Dr. Shari Veil to its Board of Directors. Shari R. Veil, MBA, Ph.D., is a professor and dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Veil is known for bringing an innovative perspective to a traditional academic approach and understands the importance of gaining real-world experience in today’s job market. “Our vision for the college is to be the leader in experiential education in journalism and mass communications,” she said.

With this vision, she spearheaded the launch of UNL’s Experience Lab. This college-wide program provides students with opportunities to gain hands-on experience beginning with their first semester in college. Students work four to six hours weekly in one of the college’s media outlets or student-run agencies. The program includes two student leads, a faculty liaison and professionals-in-residence.

The Experience Lab was explicitly designed to weave real-world experience and mentorship into a UNL student’s journey. Veil stated that since the launch of the Experience Lab, the college has seen an increase in first-semester freshmen and improved student retention.

Veil’s appointment begins a unique union between academia and professional practice—marrying innovative approaches and providing everyone involved with diverse points of view.

Veil strives to allow students to experiment, play, fail and fall in love with media during their time in the Experience Lab. “The media landscape is changing so fast, and we have to prepare students to be nimble. They’re going to have to adjust. This is not something you can simply teach in a classroom and send them out the door,” Veil said.

Her hands-on model and mentality closely align with Bailey Lauerman’s agency values, which encourage employees to continue learning and finding new ways to engage with today’s evolving landscape.

For 53 years, Bailey Lauerman has championed recruiting young, Nebraska-based talent who create award-winning campaigns for local and national clients. “This appointment further enhances our efforts to be a talent destination for the next generation of industry leaders in Nebraska and the country,” said Andersen.

“Bailey Lauerman has been a wonderful partner to the college over the years, supporting scholarships, competitions and facility upgrades,” Veil stated. “The agency employs a number of our alumni throughout its departments and continues to recruit more talented graduates. It is a joy to see them return as guest speakers, mentors, professionals-in-residence and even faculty.”

As dean, Veil oversees CoJMC’s strategic, programmatic, financial, fundraising and management operations. She came to Nebraska in July 2020 from the University of Kentucky, where she was associate dean and department chair in the College of Communication and Information. Prior to that, she taught strategic communication and served as the director of the Center for Risk and Crisis Management at the University of Oklahoma.

“I’m delighted to accept this appointment,” Veil said. “I look forward to learning more about the agency’s inner workings, which will allow me to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing our alumni in advertising and public relations. This collaboration will better prepare our students as they launch their careers in this exciting field.”

Veil joins six additional board members, including Chairman Carter Weitz alongside Doug Parrott, Spencer Peery, Ron Plageman, Jim Lauerman and Greg Andersen.