Troy Fedderson has been named interim chief communication and marketing officer for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

The leadership change is prompted by the upcoming departure of Deb Fiddelke, who has accepted a new role with SC Johnson as a vice president of global communication. The transition takes effect June 1.

Fiddelke, a public/private sector veteran who worked at the White House under President George W. Bush, has served as CCMO since April 2018. She holds bachelor’s degrees from UNL in advertising and political science and was among the first cohorts of the University Honors Program.

Fiddelke

“For the second time in my life, I’m leaving UNL a better person. So much of what I’ve been fortunate to accomplish is grounded in the undergraduate education and student experiences I had at UNL. That’s because of the wonderful people here,” Fiddelke said. “Just as I was blessed to have incredible professors many years ago, I consider myself lucky to have worked with the talented team in UComm. I would put their talents and their impact against any other team in higher education, and I know Troy will do an outstanding job leading the team.”

During Fiddelke’s tenure, University Communication and Marketing developed and launched a new university brand and the “In Our Grit, Our Glory” tagline; won national awards for TV commercials produced in-house; developed stronger processes for crisis communications; managed campus communications during COVID; and became more strategically focused on having impactful external communications.

“I was exceptionally pleased in 2018 to welcome alumna Deb Fiddelke to lead the communications and marketing enterprise at Nebraska’s flagship land-grant university,” Chancellor Ronnie Green said. “She is a consummate professional who has had great success in elevating our UNL communications, marketing and public relations. Her work has led to us being recognized as a leader in the Big Ten, a remarkable accomplishment with our sizably lower budget and very lean professional communications and marketing team.

“We all wish Deb well in what undoubtedly will be significant future success and thank her for a job well done for her alma mater.”

Fedderson, also a graduate of UNL’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications, is an award-winning reporter who has worked in newsrooms across the Cornhusker State. He has served with UComm for 18 years, covering faculty and staff news while leading internal communications for the university.

Under his leadership, The Scarlet, a weekly newspaper for faculty and staff, transitioned to what has become Nebraska Today, a website and electronic newsletter that connects thousands of Huskers. Fedderson helped guide campus communications during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has taken on an expanded leadership role within the University Communication and Marketing team, developing broader content as senior director of strategic communications.

“I am equally pleased and grateful that Troy Fedderson is assuming the interim leadership role of CCMO during the upcoming transition,” Green said. “Troy has been a longtime effective servant leader in University Communications and is well positioned to provide stable and confident leadership as CCMO in the months to come.

“The process and search for a permanent leader will be developed by UNL’s new chancellor in the new academic year.”