New Faculty Spotlight – George Bovenizer
Posted on December 16, 2021 by Communication Department
On George Bovenizer’s first day in the classroom at the University of South Alabama one of his new students asked, “Why would you move from Los Angeles to Mobile?” He responded, “Why not? Less pollution, less traffic, less expensive, and the people here are so kind.”
In his first weeks at South, he has been reminded again and again why he and his family moved to Mobile. They have already witnessed the community’s kindness and generosity firsthand. Now it’s his turn to give back.
Bovenizer worked at NBCUniversal in Los Angeles for the last 14 years of a more than 20-year professional career that has taken him across the country and around the world. Through the years, he has gained wonderful memories and met many interesting people because of his job. His fondest memory to date is working with NBC News at the Olympics. It was the high point of his career and brought new “pinch me I’m dreaming” moments every day.
He was able to attend many of the events and interview medal winners. Of all those moments, his favorite was getting to eat lunch with Michael Phelps and his family after interviewing him. Working in Hollywood, Bovenizer rarely found himself starstruck, but being in Phelps’ presence made it hard to eat. His wish is for his students at South to one day experience the adrenaline rush a career in broadcast journalism can deliver.
In addition to being a six-time Emmy award nominee in the Breaking News and Outstanding Entertainment News categories, Bovenizer also has the honor to help pick future Emmy winners as an active voting member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Bovenizer has been blessed professionally, and feels the time is right to help students achieve academically. He will be celebrating his own academic achievements soon as he completes his dissertation and earns his Ph.D. in Communication.
We are pleased to welcome George Bovenizer to the Department.