John Ellis is the marketing director for the University of Houston-Victoria. He oversees and coordinates the overall image of UHV. This includes advertising, promotions and public relations. He also provides leadership to the six-member marketing team. John spent 22 years with the San Antonio Express-News, starting as a graphic designer and working his way up to creative director of marketing, a job in which he established marketing strategies for the newspaper. John holds a bachelors degree in applied arts and sciences with a concentration in marketing from the University of the Incarnate Word. A native San Antonian, he and his wife, Patricia, have three sons: Seth, Zachary and William.

Paula Cobler is a communications manager in the marketing department. Her duties include supervising press releases and marketing copy, creating presentations, and assisting the media and faculty, staff and students to increase communication about UHV. Paula has a bachelor's degree in technical journalism from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. She was a newspaper reporter and editor in Colorado and Texas for nine years before becoming general manager of The Mirror, the student newspaper at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo. Prior to moving to Victoria in June, she was an adjunct journalism professor at UNC and CSU. Paula and her husband, Chris, have two children, Nicole and Paul.

Steven Nickel is the creative services manager in the marketing department. His duties include coordinating and designing marketing pieces that effectively promote the university and its departments. Steven has owned and operated a design firm and an outdoor advertising company in Houston. With more than 14 years of experience in the creative field, he also maintains a technical background and has received several Web and technical certificates. In addition, Steven has a background in commissioned fine art in sculpting and painting, and he has been a professional tattoo artist. He and his wife, Valarie, have one daughter, Abigail Isella.

Melody Vecera is a graphic designer in the marketing department. She designs creative marketing materials, including posters, brochures, postcards, advertisements and logos, to promote university programs and events and enhance the university's image. Melody earned her bachelors degree from UHV in applied arts and sciences with a concentration in communications. She also studied visual communication design at Austin Community College. Currently, she is pursuing a masters degree in counseling psychology from UHV. Prior to joining UHVs marketing department, Melody worked as a graphic artist for Graphix Unlimited and a production manager for the Victoria Business Magazine. She and her husband, John, reside in Victoria County.

Thomas Doyle is a communications specialist in the marketing department. His duties include writing stories and news releases, creating presentations, developing marketing copy and assisting members of the media with stories and information. Thomas is a former reporter and editor with the Victoria Advocate. He has almost 10 years of experience in the daily news business. Thomas has a bachelors degree in political science and print journalism from Southwest Texas State University. He is presently pursuing a masters degree at UHV.

Jeanelle Gillit is the administrative secretary in the Marketing Department. She handles the day-to-day administrative tasks that keep the office running, answers phones and e-mails, assists in marketing and research projects and supports John Ellis and the other members of the marketing team in their assigned duties. Jeanelle has worked for UHV for about seven years in several departments. She and her husband, Wendell, live in Victoria. They have two grown children, Jody and Judson.

Justine Prewitt is the student worker in the marketing department. Justine acts as the arms and legs of the department as she assists the other members in a host of ways. Her duties include assisting in research, aiding in the planning of market strategies and maintaining press clippings about UHV from numerous publications. Justine is a junior at UHV majoring in biology with a secondary teacher certification. She also is an outfielder for the UHV Jaguars softball team.