Bill O’Neill named interim director of public relations

Bill O’Neill has been named interim director of public relations, effective July 1.

O’Neill will step in for Renee Fry, J.D., who will leave UNMC to lead a newly formed institute, said Bob Bartee, vice chancellor for external affairs.

Bill O’Neill

O’Neill presently is PR’s senior associate director of advancement, a role in which he oversees the department’s marketing, social media and web efforts.

“Bill has the expertise and the institutional knowledge to sustain the momentum and progress the PR department has achieved in recent years,” Bartee said. “He has played a critical role in major departmental activities including the campuswide branding initiative and I’m certain he will do an excellent job in this new role.”

“Renee’s contributions to UNMC have been immeasurable.” Bob Bartee on outgoing PR director Renee Fry, J.D.

A search will be conducted for a full-time PR director, said Bartee, who noted that Fry deserves special credit for her work with PR and also for her establishment of the UNMC Government Relations office in 2005.

“Renee’s contributions to UNMC have been immeasurable,” Bartee said. “From her leadership of PR in the branding initiative to creating the government relations office and turning it into a powerful entity that gave campus investigators access to new avenues of funding and support, Renee has been a tireless champion for UNMC.

“She has positively affected more lives than she will ever know and we wholeheartedly wish her luck on her future endeavor.”