It was an exhilarating end to a fabulous year.

My last day at UNR’s Reynolds School of Journalism coincided with the conclusion of our NPR Next Generation Radio bootcamp — the first such bootcamp in 4 years and the first ever offered at a J-school.

Zachary, Fil, Kamille, Regina and Alexa — Next Generation Radio Journalists

The bootcamp was a five-day intensive in multimedia reporting organized by Doug Mitchell of NPR and featuring Tom Krymkowski on photography and editing. Five students (Fil, Kamille, Alexa, Regina and Zachary) paired up with five mentors (Jenny, Charla, Jess, Catherine and Cheryl). I served as managing editor and web producer. I’m really proud of the final stories our students produced.

The bootcamp was a climatic event. But the overall joy and challenge of serving on the Reynolds School faculty is what I’m feeling now that I’m packing up my apartment.

It was a heckuva lot of work. Early mornings and late nights. Yet satisfying all the way.

I’m especially pleased with my leadership role in the launch of the Nevada Media Alliance — a partnership in journalism between the school and professional media. It took team effort. (Thanks Alex, Jeri, Abbie, Paul, Riley, Stephanie, Natasha, Scot, Laney, Molly and Lindsay!)

The teaching — ethics, broadcast, entrepreneurial partnerships — is a source of particular pride. Not just for making a difference (I hope) in the lives of so many students, but for how much I learned from them in the process.

Dean Al Stavitsky hailing the Reynolds School class of 2013

A hearty thanks to Dean Al Stavitsky for inviting me to Reno to occupy one of his prestigious Reynolds chairs. Thanks to the great staff (Barbara, Drew, Paul, Kristin, Luke) and faculty (Alan, Donica, Caesar, Larry, Howard, Bob, Todd, Ben and David). Thanks, too, to the Alliance partners — Kurt and Brent at KNPB, the folks at KUNR, and Kelly Ann Scott of the Reno Gazette Journal.

And the biggest thanks of all to my dear wife, Denise, in New Mexico.

Honey, I’m coming home.