Alumni - Jacqui Jeras

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Jacqui Jeras

By Adam Rich

She has received the Seal of Approval from the American Meteorological Society. She has contributed to earning a Peabody award for CNN in 2005. And she has received the Iowa State University’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. Greenlee School of Journalism graduate Jacqui Jeras, 1992, has accomplished her dream and gone from a local broadcast meteorologist to international media giant, CNN.

Jeras began her career at KCAU-TV in Sioux City before taking her to WEHT-TV in Evansville, Ind. She then moved back to Iowa to work for WHO-TV, all while taking classes at Mississippi State University to receive her certificate in broadcast meteorology. After receiving the Seal of Approval from the American Meteorological Society, she was off to CNN in December, 1999. In June 2007, she and CNNs Chad Myers received the Mark Trail Award from NOAA.

Jeras says, "The Greenlee School undoubtedly got my foot in the door in this business." She notes the help and advice she received from professors saying, "Some of whom still send me critiques now and then!" She also remembers late nights at the Iowa State Daily and confesses skipping class once in a while to report for WOI-TV. For students interested in journalism, she says, "get all the practical experience you can. If you are interested in broadcast, get involved in clubs and intern at the local stations…and work your way to the job of your dreams!"

Jacqui Jeras is currently working as a weather anchor at CNN. She and her husband Mike, an Iowa State graduate in aerospace engineering, have two children, Ashton, 3, and Aurora, 6.