About
Eric
Gerber: DirectorEric’s career in daily print journalism covered more than two decades, with positions ranging from film critic and book editor to editorial writer and daily columnist. He also worked in the online field as senior producer with Microsoft Sidewalk and as editor-in-chief of Citysearch/Houston. In addition to serving on the faculty at Sam Houston State University, he has taught courses in film, literature and communications at other area universities. He has won awards from the Texas Headliners, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the Houston Press Club. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism education and a master's in English, both from UH.
RICHARD
BONNIN: ASSISTANT DIRECTORRichard joined UH in February 2007. His previous experience includes 16 years at the Office of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, where he worked in media relations, managed and edited publications, and served as coordinator for internal communication. He also spent nine years as a reporter for the Beaumont Enterprise, covering a wide range of beats, including City Hall, federal and state courts, higher education and police. He has won numerous awards for writing and editing from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and Hearst Newspapers. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Lamar University in Beaumont.
MIKE
EMERY: FINE ARTSMike covers the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, the Creative Writing Program and the schools of Art, Music and Theatre & Dance. He also oversees communication duties for Psychology, Sociology, Communication and Anthropology. Mike has worked in both the corporate and non-profit realms as a writer and editor. He also is a seasoned free-lance entertainment journalist, having covered popular music for national magazines and weeklies. He received his bachelor's degree in mass communication from Southwest Texas State University and his master's degree in humanities/professional writing from UH-Clear Lake.
LISA
MERKL: SCIENCE/RESEARCHLisa covers science, research and medical topics, with expert resources available from the natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, pharmacy, optometry and technology. Prior to joining UH in 2003, she worked as an external communication representative for Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, an account executive at Vollmer Public Relations, a public relations account executive at Johnston & Company Advertising and a freelancer with a number of PR agencies and music publications in the Houston area. Lisa has won a number of awards for her writing and media relations work from the Public Relations Society of America, International Association of Business Communicators and Texas Public Relations Association. She has a master’s degree in public relations studies and bachelor’s degree in journalism with a music minor, both from UH.
ANGELA
HOPP: SCIENCE/RESEARCH Angela Hopp joined the Office of Communication in October 2008, after
spending a year doing communication for the Office of the Vice President
for Research. She covers the Cullen College of Engineering, the College
of Optometry, the College of Technology and the Sasakawa International
Center for Space Architecture. A UH graduate, Hopp has previously worked
at the Houston Chronicle and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. She also
has been an adjunct professor of print and digital media at the Jack
J. Valenti School of Communication at UH since 2002.
Marisa, who joined UH in 2004, covers education, social work, architecture and hotel and restaurant management. She also works to promote faculty in the UH Center for Mexican American Studies and the African American Studies program. Marisa is a veteran news radio journalist, filing stories with San Antonio’s KTSA, WOAI and Houston’s KTRH and KUHF. During her 13-year tenure in broadcasting, she covered stories on education, city and county government, women’s issues and children. She also wrote and produced a number of award-winning special news and feature stories, and served as an afternoon-drive news anchor. She graduated from the University of Houston in 2000 with a degree in English.
FRANCINE
PARKERFrancine Parker is a veteran University of Houston staff member. Prior to joining UH, Francine was a reporter for the Waco Tribune-Herald. She has received numerous honors, including two Council for the Advancement and Support of Education District IV awards. She holds a master of business administration from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and a bachelor of journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
