Former JPC professor Nancy Killoran remembered

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 greatly 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. The 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.

"Nancy was a key member of the University Relations Office at UAA for many years," according to Mel Kalkowski, currently Director of Military Programs, JPC adjunct faculty member and past Director of University Relations.
 
"Her work on behalf of UAA with area media was widely respected and of great value to the University. She was a dedicated professional who planned and executed a wide variety of public relations activities in her time with UAA, always with the highest professional standards," Kalkowski said.

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.