McNeill joins VCU University Public Affairs

By Anne Buckley

Brian McNeill has joined University Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University as a PR specialist, primarily covering the College of Humanities and Sciences, VCU Libraries, VCU Business Services and the School of Social Work.

Prior to joining VCU, McNeill was director of media relations at the University of Virginia School of Law. In that position, he received a number of awards, including a 2013-14 award of excellence from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education in writing for the media and a special merit award for his coverage of UVA Law students' successful effort to overturn the military's ban on women in combat.

From 2006 to 2011, he was a reporter for the (Charlottesville) Daily Progress newspaper, covering higher education, Virginia politics and business. Before joining the Daily Progress, he was a reporter with the Connection Newspapers in Northern Virginia, covering Fairfax County's government and Virginia politics. His newspaper reporting has received more than two dozen Virginia Press Association awards, including awards for investigative journalism, education coverage, feature writing and breaking news.

He has also worked as a freelance reporter and editor, as well as a reporter for SNL Financial in Charlottesville, covering the media and communications industry.

McNeill graduated from Virginia Tech in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in communications and an emphasis on print and online journalism. At Virginia Tech, he was editor-in-chief of the student-run Collegiate Times newspaper for two years.