Kelly Bartling oversees the news office in university communications. Prior to joining UNL in 1999 as senior newswriter and national news editor, she worked for 13 years as a newspaper reporter, news editor and managing editor throughout Nebraska. A 1986 graduate of the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications in news-editorial journalism, she will soon earn a master's degree in communication, marketing and advertising. She grew up in York and still lives there with her family.

As news manager, Kelly is the primary contact for local, state and national news media and often serves as university spokesperson. She oversees news releases and internal communications (Scarlet and E-news) and is a member of UNL's crisis management team. In her free time she enjoys water-skiing, motorcycling, gardening and playing and teaching guitar.