Elevating diverse voices through storytelling

Growing up, Lorie Acio watched The Today Show every morning with her mom. Inspired by University of Oregon alumna Ann Curry—one of the few Asian American journalists on television at the time—Acio said she knew the UO was where she wanted to be, too. 

Today, Acio, BA ’11 (electronic media, Clark Honors College), and Curry, BA ’78 (journalism), have more in common than just an alma mater. They share experiences working for national news networks, and most recently the accolade of Distinguished Young Alumni, awarded jointly by the UO Alumni Association and the university. Curry was the 1996 awardee, and Acio the 2025 awardee.  

“This award is deeply humbling,” Acio said. “I honestly feel like I’m just getting started, so to be recognized for any significant accomplishment at this stage feels surreal.”  

The Distinguished Young Alumni Award is presented to an alum within 15 years of graduation and under 40 years of age who has attained distinction in their professional field or through personal endeavors and is making an impact on their community. 

“Our award committee loved the way Lorie has built her career on what she studied at the University of Oregon,” said UOAA Executive Director Raphe Beck. “We hope that she inspires the next generation of UO journalists, just as she was inspired by those who came before her.” 

Acio came to the university eager to learn and gain new experiences. She became involved with written and broadcast journalism opportunities on campus, interned at KATU—the ABC affiliate in Portland, and wrote her Clark Honors College thesis, “Telethons: A Cinematic and Theoretical Analysis of the Factors that Influence Viewers to Donate.”  

“The University of Oregon was the first place that made me think bigger,” she said. “It was where I was first exposed to so many new ideas, cultures, and people who expanded my worldview. At the School of Journalism and Communication, I was inspired to tell stories that explored identity and representation. And at the Clark Honors College, my thesis . . . deepened my understanding of how emotion and storytelling can move people to act in the face of major tragedies and disasters.” 

During her final year at the UO, one of Acio’s professors invited a CBS News recruiter to speak to their class. That visit led to a move to New York City and an internship with 48 Hours working under legendary TV news executive Susan Zirinsky the summer after commencement.  

From there, Acio became a publicist for CBS News, before joining the NBCU News Group, where she spent a decade climbing the ladder to head of communications for MSNBC. While there are many career moments she’s proud of, from overseeing publicity for coverage of three presidential elections to amplifying award-winning host Mika Brzezinski’s Know Your Value platform dedicated to empowering women, Acio says it’s the relationships that make her work meaningful.  

“While much of my work in media relations and strategic communications involves navigating complex, high-pressure situations, it’s the personal moments that make it all so fulfilling. This includes going on book tours with my clients, securing their first national interviews, celebrating their milestones, and getting to know their families.” 

In 2024, Acio departed network news to found her own firm, Acio Communications, where she advises clients across media, fashion, philanthropy, financial technology, and more. She also serves as a strategic communications advisor with The Lede Company, a global strategy, communications, and social impact firm.  

“Having spent my entire career in news, it’s been so exciting to now work across so many different sectors. One day, I’m partnering with a global CEO, the next with a grassroots organization or a startup founder.”  

Through Acio Communications, she has also expanded pro bono work for organizations like Friends of the Philippines, supporting a three-day cultural marketplace and festival in New York City called YAMAN, in celebration of Filipino American History Month.  

For Acio—who was born in the Philippines and moved to Hawai’i at age seven—strategic communications work that lifts others up, celebrates culture, and increases representation of underrepresented voices is particularly meaningful. 

“YAMAN, which means ‘treasure’ in Tagalog, spotlighted Filipino artists, artisans, and entrepreneurs from across the Philippines and beyond—including Indigenous weavers, designers, and business owners. It was an incredible celebration of creativity, culture, and the entrepreneurial spirit of my community—and a reminder of why I do this work.” 

The UO alumna is also passionate about mentorship, especially for students aspiring to build a career in media and communications. She spent three years as an advisory board member for the Clark Honors College and now serves on the board for VOICES for AAPI, an organization striving to increase representation in communications roles. She is also a member of Gold House, the Asian American Journalists Association, and ColorComm, among others.

Returning to Eugene in November 2025 to be recognized with the Distinguished Young Alumni Award, she was energized to be back in the classroom, talking with students in the Clark Honors College and having lunch with members of the Student Alumni Association.  

“My advice is to lead with empathy and humanity,” she said. “In a world where we’re told to be the loudest voice in the room, remember that listening to what others have to say will make your words even more powerful.” 

—Story by April Miller, UO Alumni Association associate director of marketing and communications; video by Andy Nelson, University Advancement visual communications specialist