The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff recently welcomed Chabella Guzman as its new communications specialist. She will be responsible for news media, social media, web content, video content, meeting technology, and other communications roles related to PREEC and extension in western Nebraska.

She was appointed by John Westra, PREEC director, and took over responsibilities on March 13, 2023.

Guzman has been part of the media in the Panhandle of Nebraska since 2003. She worked at the Star-Herald newspaper as a news clerk and reporter, owned a weekly newspaper The Index based in Mitchell, and was farm director at KNEB, a part of the Rural Radio Network.

“I’m looking forward to working with the Nebraska Extension specialists, staff, administration and the public. Agriculture is important to all of us, and I want to share all the great work going on right here in our backyard at the extension,” she said.

Guzman grew up in Mitchell on a small acreage, attended Scottsbluff Senior High School, and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She lived in Alaska, California, Kansas and Missouri, before returning in 2001 to be closer to family.