SAA Lunch with a Bunch ft. Lorie Acio

The SAA is excited to host our Lunch with a Bunch event featuring Lorie Acio, the 2025 Distinguished Young Alumni Award recipient. Lunch with a Bunch is a networking program designed by the Student Alumni Association to bring motivated students and successful alumni together. Develop connections, confidence, and ideas about future opportunities with Acio and fellow SAA members. Our first Lunch with a Bunch event has ten spots available for SAA members. 

Who is Lorie Acio? 

Lorie Acio is our 2025 Distinguished Young Alumni Award recipient! Lorie is a New York City-based global strategic communications and media relations advisor and proud alum of the Clark Honors College and School of Journalism and Communications. She graduated summa cum laude in 2011 with a degree in Electronic Media, Documentary and Reporting. She credits her experience as a first-generation nonnative English speaker at the UO with helping her find her passion for storytelling and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Immediately after graduating from the University of Oregon, Lorie moved to New York City to take a position as an unpaid intern at the CBS News newsmagazine 48 Hours. This led to a job as a news associate for CBS This Morning, then a promotion to the PR department.

After that, Lorie joined NBCUniversal News Group, where she spent the next decade, most recently serving as Head of Communications for MSNBC. There, she led the network’s overall communications and media strategy, guided thought leadership for the president, and managed publicity and talent relations for award-winning programs including The Rachel Maddow Show and Morning Joe. She spearheaded communications for major editorial and corporate initiatives from election coverage and MSNBC Films to MSNBC Podcasts and Mika Brzezinski’s “Know Your Value” platform.

She also led internal and external communications strategy for NBCUniversal News Group’s diversity and inclusion efforts, partnering with Comcast NBCUniversal leaders to launch NBCU Academy, an award-winning program supporting the next generation of journalists in media and technology.

Last year, Lorie founded her own consultancy, Acio Communications, helping executives, brands, and changemakers shape narratives, elevate visibility, and navigate moments of transformation through thoughtful storytelling, publicity strategy, and crisis management.

Trusted by C-suite executives, senior leaders, and top talent, Lorie is known for her steady counsel, discretion, and impact across complex organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors for VOICES, which represents AAPI professionals in communications, and previously on the University of Oregon’s Clark Honors College Advisory Council from 2021 to 2024. Lorie is a member of the Asian American Journalists Association, Gold House, and ColorComm.

Born in the Philippines and raised in Hawaii, Lorie brings a global perspective and community-driven approach to her work. She was nominated for this award by Dean, Carol Stabile.

Registration

Starting the summer of 2025, SAA membership is now free for all current UO students! To learn more, visit the Student Alumni Association website. New SAA members can pick up their member packet at the Ford Alumni Center, during standard business hours. 

SAA Legacy members will get first access to register. Think you're an SAA Legacy member? Email us at uosaa@uoregon.edu!

All SAA members can register starting on October 19, 2025.

Note: If registering as a guest, please type "Current Student" under the "Household" field. 

Questions?

Contact the SAA at uosaaalumni@uoregon.edu.