Former JPC professor Nancy Killoran remembered Memorial service on Nov. 20, 2010
by Kathleen McCoy |
Saturday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m.
Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, 17545 Eagle River Loop Rd.
Nancy B. Killoran, who taught for many years in the Department of Journalism and Public
Communications as an adjunct faculty member and later as assistant professor, died
last week after a long illness.
Killoran was warmly remembered by colleagues and students for her great enthusiasm
and dedication to her profession.
As a professor in the Department of Journalism and Public Communications at the University
of Alaska Anchorage, she was active and engaged with her students. She could see the
potential in every person and gave her hardest effort so they could reach it. Her
dedication to her students has largely impacted the careers of many people. One of
Killoran's students, Stacy Schubert, said that she was a quiet coach and mentor. She
was supportive and loved to give feedback. "You didn't want to let her down," Schubert
said, "She invested a lot of time in you." Schubert, a 2002 UAA graduate in journalism
and public communications, now works as the intergovernmental affairs director for
the Municipality of Anchorage. That time Killoran invested in her students helped
foster their professional development and their relationships in the communication
field, Schubert added.
Killoran's enjoyment in seeing people succeed went beyond the classroom. During the
2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games, she worked closely with public relations
practitioner Nance Larsen, who could remember her saying, "Every day is a gift. That's
why they call it the present." She took advantage of every day, which made working
with her a great experience. She gave students the opportunity to work in every element
of media nationally through the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games. Her major
involvement in the games was a milestone for the Department of Journalism and Public
Communications. She helped establish programs for students to gain hands-on media
experience. When she advised the UAA chapter of the Public Relations Student Society
of America, the chapter received the Dr. F.H. Teahan National Award for community
and university service.
Killoran received many accolades for her works as a member of the Public Relations
Society of America Alaska Chapter. She was involved in the CARRS Great Alaska Shootout
and worked with organizations including Alaska Press Club, Alaska Press Women (now
Alaska Professional Communicators) and the Arctic Winter Games. She was also Christian
education director, public relations chairman and webmaster for the Holy Spirit Episcopal
Church.
Her memorial service will be Saturday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. at Holy Spirit Episcopal
Church on 17545 Eagle River Loop Road in Eagle River.
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