Beth Barbee
Law Communications Coordinator
B.A. 1999, West Texas A&M University
ebarbee@stmarytx.edu

Beth joined the University Communications team in September 2007. In her current role, she is responsible for School of Law publications and media relations as well as promoting the school's events and programs.

Beth is a member of the Texas Public Relations Association, American Advertising Federation and Public Relations Society of America. She came to St. Mary's from Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business where she was associate director of Communications and Marketing and managing editor of the award-winning Baylor Business Review.

Mary Garcia
Administrative Assistant
mgarcia135@stmarytx.edu

Mary joined St. Mary's in 2008. She brings many years of administrative support experience working in the public education system and university setting. Mary is currently the office manager for University Communications. She helps coordinate special events and meetings for University Communications. She also supervises student staff while overseeing daily office procedures.

Nicolette Good
Communications Coordinator
B.A. 2007, Trinity University
ngood@stmarytx.edu

Nicolette joined University Communications in August 2008. She is the point of contact for print communications, such as University marketing pieces, department brochures, and special publications. She also writes for E-Talk and Gold & Blue, and assists in social media, website communications, video and photography.

She participates in the University's Neighborhood Revitalization Project by assisting the director with publications and communications, maintaining the Project's website at www.stmuproject.org, and serving on the Project's marketing committee.

Previously, she worked as an arts journalist for the San Antonio Current and as a communications copywriter for the American Payroll Association.

Candace J. "Candy" Kuebker
Director, Special Projects
Executive Editor, Gold & Blue Magazine
B.A. 1978, St. Mary's University
ckuebker@stmarytx.edu

Candy has worked at St. Mary's since 1977 when she was hired as an admission counselor. She left undergraduate admission work in 1989 to become director of alumni relations. After eight years in that job, Candy moved to public relations, now the Office of University Communications, where she works on a variety of University special projects, from presidential inaugurations and academic lecture series to staffing neighborhood revitalization efforts and special writing projects. As executive editor of the University magazine, Gold & Blue, she cultivates story ideas, edits the publication, writes Class Notes and News from Around the Grove, and occasionally will pen features and profiles.

Dianne Pipes
Chief of Staff and Communications, President's Office
Executive Director, Office of University Communications
B.A.A.S. Southwest Texas University
dpipes@stmarytx.edu

Dianne works with the president of the University regarding the Executive Council and the Board of Trustees, coordinating the scheduling and communications functions for the president and related functions of the Office of the President.

Dianne also oversees the Office of University Communications and is responsible for planning, evaluating and supervising the department's programs, activities and staff. She designs and produces publications promoting the University in a positive environment and handles crisis communications.

Lucha Ramey
Media Relations Director
B.A. 1992, Berea College
M.S. 1994, Northwestern University
lramey@stmarytx.edu

Lucha started at St. Mary's in October 2008. As the Media Relations Director, she develops story ideas of interest about St. Mary's commitment to academic excellence and community service and the University's Marianist tradition for local, regional and national media outlets and reporters.

Previously she was the Marketing/Media Relations Manager at University of Louisville's Hospital and the James Graham Brown Cancer Center. Lucha has also worked in communications at the Tennessee Valley Authority in Knoxville, Tenn. She also worked as the producer of live coverage of Space Shuttle launches and landings, rocket and satellite launches, for NASA TV at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Prior to her career in public relations, Lucha was a television news producer for seven years working in markets such as Pittsburgh and Miami.

Jake Salazar
Web Director
B.A. 1999, The Catholic University of America
M.S. 2003, St. Mary's University
jsalazar2@stmarytx.edu

Jake joined the Office of University Communications in 2008 after working in Technology Services for several years. As Web Director, his primary responsibilities involve overseeing the growth of the University's website as well as providing strategy and execution for the next generation of Web services. He brings to St. Mary's many years of web development experience working in public and private sectors, corporate and start-up companies, and as a consultant in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Texas. Jake has served in a variety of positions including Web Team Leader, E-Commerce Business Manager, and Portal Architect.

Derek Smolik
Sports Information Director
B.S. 1994, Western Carolina University
dsmolik@stmarytx.edu

Derek is in his third year as sports information director at St. Mary's University. He serves as the primary contact for the school's 12 varsity athletic teams, oversees the University's official athletic website, www.stmarytx.edu/athletics, produces sports media guides, assists with game operations management, is the voice of the Rattlers for Internet broadcasts, and is the Champs/Life Skills Coordinator for the University.

Lauren Madrid
Communications Coordinator
B.A. 2005, Trinity University
lmadrid@stmarytx.edu

Lauren joined Office of University Communications in March 2008. In this position, she is the point of contact for changes to the University's website. She also manages and writes E-Talk, the University online newsletter. In addition, Lauren works on the University's social media efforts and assists with video and photography.

Previously, Lauren worked at a magazine in the payroll industry and for a local city magazine.

Steve Weed
Director of Publications
B.F.A '83, The University of Texas at San Antonio
sweed@stmarytx.edu

Steve is responsible for coordinating publications for the University, supervising publication design, illustration, production and photography, and scheduling and management of University publications. He serves as the art director and adviser for all University publications. Steve is responsible for maintaining an overall approved style that represents the University and its mission.

Steve is the art director of the University's magazine, Gold & Blue. He is also responsible for coordinating the management and brokering of the magazine and all other University publications with printers, and directs the image advertising program for the University. This includes coordinating the concept meetings, copywriting and media buying for the ads.

Steve is a member of the consulting team for the University website and assists in promoting the University through participating in events and professional organizations.