About the Lincoln Today People

Sriyani Tidball, editor and publisher, balances the production of Lincoln Today with various other projects for Tidball Productions. The UNL graduate holds a degree in architecture and a master’s degree in journalism. She completed 10 years on the UNL faculty teaching advertising, PR and human rights. Now she works part-time in the UNL human rights program. This energetic mother of four and grandmother of five splits her time between the U.S. and her native Sri Lanka, where she and her family have devoted themselves to projects that assist the poor and combat human trafficking worldwide. She recently published her book The Breadwinner, stories of slavery of Sri Lankan housemaids. While working as a researcher on social justice and human rights issues, she thoroughly enjoys her work with the Lincoln Today magazine.

Art director and assistant editor Rayna Collins has been a part of the Lincoln Today team since its first issue 29 years ago. After eight years in corporate graphic design in New York City, she runs her own diverse graphic design business in Lincoln, serving both local and international clients. She devotes herself to her children, cats, dogs and the pursuit of happiness and art. You can see her work at raynacollinsdesign.com, at etsy.com/shop/lonelycards, and LUX Center for the Arts.

Tom Tidball, Lincoln Today’s chief photographer, has shot wonderful photographs for numerous international, national and local publications, including five coffee table books of his own photo studies, including his tribute to Nebraska football fans with his book, A Day in the Life: the Fans of Memorial Stadium. Tom’s Pow Wow Plains photography exhibition was the main exhibit at the Great Plains Gallery from August to December 2002 and has toured the state for many years. He displayed over 160 art prints and Native narrative in the exhibit, which brought rave reviews and shared Nebraska’s Native heritage with thousands. His most recent coffee table book, People Sri Lanka, published in 2009, showcases his compelling images of a cross-cultural nation. Tom also applies his exciting photographic perspective to video production, teaching and online work with his regular blog at tomtidball.blogspot.com and his social media sites.

A graduate of UNL College of Law, Neva Winkle is a Tenant Support Specialist at Community Action of Lancaster and Saunders Counties. 

Editorial Assistant and writer Michelle O’Dea, directs a nonprofit, Domesti-PUPS, a national service organization headquartered in Lincoln whose mission is to improve the quality of life for persons with special needs through the assistance of animals by providing therapy and service dogs for persons with disabilities. She has been involved with Lincoln Today for over 20 years, working in editorial and management functions.

Matthew Boring is the Associate Director of Marketing and Patron Development at UNL’s Lied Center for Performing Arts. Matthew is a well-known local performer, and enjoys playing and writing about music. 

Charlyne Berens is professor emeritus of the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications where she taught courses in writing, reporting and editing as well as honors courses on the First Amendment. She has published two books about the Nebraska Unicameral and the political biography of Chuck Hagel, former U.S. Senator and U.S. Secretary of Defense.

Jenny Chapin is the Vice President for Marketing at the Lincoln Community Foundation. She is a passionate communicator with a demonstrated history of working in the nonprofit and philanthropy sector. She also has a strong background in marketing, media and sales 

Laura Chapman is the Communications Coordinator at the International Quilt Museum on UNL’s East Campus.

Caroline Clements is the Public Relations and Membership Coordinator/Manager for the University of Nebraska State Museum at Morrill Hall. 

Tegan Colton is a writer and journalist who has lived in Lincoln for over 23 years. She graduated from the UNL with a degree in Creative Writing before returning for a master’s degree in Professional Journalism. Tegan enjoys investigating government politics, traveling and pursuing social change. 

Amy Dickerson, Managing Director at Lancaster Event Center was raised on an acreage outside of York and graduated from UNL with a BS in management and marketing and an MBA from UC. As an experienced event manager, she executes events for groups from 12 to 36,000 people, and makes a difference in her community operating under Midwestern values of hard work, integrity and team work.

Lauren Silverman Durban is the Communications Manager at the Lied Center for Performing Arts—and a theater-obsessed former TV news anchor raising three tiny people and writing to stay sane.

Mary Friesen is a long time Lincoln resident and the owner and publisher of Family Values Magazine. She devotes the rest of her time to her three amazing children and handsome husband.

Julie Hagemeier has been General Manager of the University Theatre and the Nebraska Repertory Theatre at UNL since 1995. She is a board member of The Angels Theatre Company and is on the planning committee for the Lincoln Arts Council’s annual Lincoln Arts Festival.

Ken Hambleton retired after 44 years at the Lincoln Journal Star where he worked as a golf writer, Husker beat writer, columnist, and a prep writer. He currently drives the train at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, does freelance writing and loves playing golf.

Jeff Korbelik became the winery manager at James Arthur Vineyards in March 2018 after enjoying a 33-year career as a newspaper editor and reporter, including 22 years at the Lincoln Journal Star. He’s also the author of Lost Restaurants in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Molly Nance is the Public Relations & Communications Director of the Water for Food Daugherty Global Institute at UNL. She has 25 years of experience in marketing communications, strategic planning, advertising, public relations and event management.

Julie Nichols is a freelance writer, editor and social activist who lives in Lincoln with her very musical son. 

When not working as an IT Project Manager, Cynthia Peterson is a freelance writer, passionate advocate and board member for Fresh Start, jazz-lover, great friend, reader, genealogist and a whole lot more. 

Native Nebraskan Brian Rosenthal is a writer and creative contest specialist that has covered Nebraska football since 2001, when he wrote for the Lincoln Journal Star. He worked for UNL covering Husker sports for the past four years and recently has been exploring new opportunities that include consulting and freelance writing.

Meghan Stratman is the graphic designer and communications specialist at the Ross Media Arts Center. A Lincoln resident and graduate of UNL, Meghan has a BFA in studio art, with an emphasis in graphic design, and a minor in film studies.

Tyler A. Thomas works for UNL as their social media guru. He considers himself an online enthusiast with a passion for digital communication, content strategy and relationship building. Experienced in creating and managing brand experiences of all sizes via web and social media, Tyler loves to visit Lincoln’s restaurants and blog about it. Tyler and his wife Mandy co-founded nebraskafoodie.com.

Rama Tidball was born in Nebraska, grew up in Sri Lanka and now lives in Indonesia. A former public health consultant and lecturer for an international business management program in one of Indonesia’s top private universities, he is currently taking time off to travel and do some creative writing.

Sarah Wood is a Denver native with a background in graphic design and marketing. She is the Communications Director for the Lincoln Children’s Zoo and co-owner of White Elm Brewing Company, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, kayaking, and anything creative.

Brooke Zimmerman is the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. She works with the communications team on the planning, development and completion of the organization’s communication strategies, materials, and programming, while championing Lincoln’s business community.  

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *