Denisse Oller

Denisse Oller
Oller in 2019
Born
Denisse Marie Oller

San Juan, Puerto Rico
StatusSingle
EducationIESE
Seton Hall University
Emory University
Hunter College
University of Puerto Rico
Occupation(s)Journalist, Documentarian, Communications Specialist & Trained Chef
Notable credit(s)Edward R. Murrow and multi-Emmy Award winner Former Anchor and Correspondent (Univision, Telemundo); Food expert for AARP.
Websitehttps://www.denisseoller.org/

Denisse Marie Oller (born September 30, 1955 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a multi-talented powerhouse: Emmy Award-winning journalist, documentarian, entrepreneur, author, chef, and healthy living advocate.

For over twenty years, she served as a correspondent, interviewer, news anchor, and television host for Univision and Telemundo, the two dominant Spanish-language television networks in the United States.[1]

Her dedication and commitment to her work have been recognized by nine Emmy Awards,[2][3] five Emmy nominations, two Gracies from the American Women in Radio and Television and an Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Journalism for her coverage of the US Navy withdrawal from the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico after sixty years of military occupation.[4] In 1986, Denisse became the first news anchor of Noticiero Univision Weekend Edition.[5][6] In 1995, she joined Raul Peimbert as co-anchor of Noticiero Telemundo National News,[7] which airs weekdays in the United States and twenty-two countries in Latin America. Oller also left her mark in New York,[8] where she has lived most of her life. From 2000 to 2017, Univision-NY's 6 PM and 11 PM newscasts with Rafael Pineda and Denisse Oller[9] consistently surpassed all newscast ratings in the tri-state area in that time slot.[10]

In 2006, Oller created NEWSWORKS Productions, LLC, an independent multimedia consulting firm that develops and promotes instructional and cultural material for US Hispanic audiences. NEWSWORKS develops trendsetting, thought-provoking, inspirational, and uplifting content for Spanish speaking markets, focusing on wellness and mental health. NEWSWORKS offers communications consulting and marketing strategies for use in the U.S. Latino market and media training for senior executives.[11]

Through her advocacy work with institutions such as AARP, HealthCorps,[12] the American Diabetes Association, the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute at Seton Hall University,[13] and SOMOS Community Care,[14] Denisse Oller supports educational initiatives at the Latino community's forefront.

Background

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Denisse Oller graduated Summa Cum Laude from the prestigious University of Puerto Rico High School. She attended the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, where she majored in Finance and minored in French before attending Hunter College in New York City, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in media studies and a minor in Interpersonal Communications.[15] Denisse subsequently pursued graduate studies at Seton Hall University[16] and IESE Business School, University of Navarra, Spain. Oller lived in Madrid, Spain, during her youth before moving permanently to New York City.  

Oller is keenly aware of her ancestors' role in the history of Puerto Rico.[17][18] Her first cousin, twice removed, Francisco Oller y Cestero, is the only Latin American painter to have played a role in the development of Impressionism.[19] One of the most distinguished transatlantic painters of his day, Oller helped transform painting in the Caribbean. Her great-great-grandfather, Dr. Francisco Oller, Chief Surgeon of Spain's Royal Military Hospital in the 1800s, first brought the smallpox vaccine to Puerto Rico during an epidemic on the island.[20] Denisse's life and work are steeped in a deep sense of community involvement and love for the arts. Parallel to her work in journalism, Oller has actively collaborated with non-profit organizations such as the Puerto Rican Family Institute and the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, based in New York, advocating for educational opportunities for Hispanic children and families and women's economic empowerment.

Her other great passion is healthy cooking. A graduate of the prestigious Culinary Education Institute in New York City,[21] Oller was a guest instructor at the Institute, as well as a chef-collaborator for AARP, creating and hosting healthy cooking segments in Spanish and English, conducting interviews with visionary chefs and authoring articles on food and nutrition for AARP's multiple social media platforms. She also appeared on Fox Good Day NY, NBC's Today Show,[22] Martha Stewart Living, Food Network's "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" and CNN en Español, advocating for a healthier lifestyle and food choices for the Latino community.[23] Oller has repeatedly appeared as a guest chef at Puerto Rico's premiere food festival, Saborea.[24]

Television Career

Denisse Oller started her career in television journalism at Telemundo NY in the fall of 1985 as a news writer[25] and general assignment reporter. One of her first duties was to cover the Challenger disaster in January 1986. Her work caught the eye of Univision executives, who offered her a National News correspondent position based in New York. Shortly after, Oller was tapped to anchor Univision's "Weekend Edition" newscast, making history as the first Puerto Rican and the first Latina to anchor a US Spanish speaking national news weekend broadcast. She also served as a national correspondent in Los Angeles and New York.[26]

She won her first Emmy in 1991 for coverage of the Gulf War heroes' arrival in New York.[27] This honor marked the first time an Emmy was awarded to a Spanish language station (Univision) in New York.

In 1992, Oller relocated to Miami to anchor 'Primera Hora', Telemundo's early morning national news program.[28][29] Once the show ended, she moved to Washington, DC, as a correspondent for Telemundo National News, and in 1995, she became co-anchor of Telemundo Network's national newscast. Oller's work has been recognized by prominent national journalistic and advocacy institutions such as the Associated Press, the National Organization for Women (NOW),[30] the American Women in Radio and Television, the Media Institute,[31] the Emmys, and the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA.) Oller also received the Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in investigative reporting. Oller is a documentary filmmaker, having won a National Emmy for her investigative work "Hora Cero: Nicaragua in Transition".[32]

As a field reporter, Oller covered such major events as the 9/11 terrorist attacks,[33] the 1995 Oklahoma City bombings, the 1994 earthquake in Northridge, California, President Clinton's impeachment process, and the historic visit of Pope John Paul II to Cuba,[34] where she interviewed both dissidents and government officials.[35]  

In 1999, she returned to her beloved New York as co-anchor of the highest-rated newscasts in the tri-state area, Univision-NY News 41, at 6 PM and 11 PM. In November 2007, Oller officially ended her 20-year career in the news[36] to pursue independent ventures[37] and establish NEWSWORKS Productions, a multi-platform entity specializing in contemporary lifestyle subjects and current events.

Voice for the Latino Community

As Vice President of Media Relations and Engagement for SOMOS Community Care – a non-profit network that serves more than one million Medicaid recipients in underserved communities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens – Denisse developed communications and public relations initiatives to advocate for healthcare reform on behalf of SOMOS' network providers and the communities it serves.[38][39]

From 2005 to 2022, Oller led SOMOS Community Care's DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) outreach programs to inform, educate, and empower Latino individuals and families about preventive health care and healthier lifestyle choices.[40] As a prominent voice for SOMOS in the Latino community, Denisse spearheaded community outreach to improve health literacy about nutrition as prevention in underserved communities where chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and overweightness is prevalent.[41]

Before SOMOS, Oller excelled as a leader in prestigious non-profit entities. From 2010 to 2016, Denisse was the Executive Director of The Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute at Seton Hall University, an organization dedicated to supporting Latino students by providing scholarships, educational opportunities, and leadership initiatives.[42] During her time at The Unanue Institute, Oller developed and implemented public relations, marketing, and corporate communications strategies, resulting in a significant increase in media exposure for the Institute on national, local, and digital platforms, in addition to working hand-in-hand with private and other academic organizations to increase resources and expand programs and services offered to the students.

Denisse is hard at work on a book about living your best life at any age, focusing on self-esteem and mental health. She is a broad influencer reaching women worldwide through her social media platforms to inform and empower Latinas on the importance of education, economic well-being, and representation.[43] Denisse speaks Spanish, English, and French and is conversational in Italian and Portuguese.

Awards and Recognitions

  • 2022 EMMY Senior Producer Societal Concerns Award short content category "Dr. Tallaj, The Hispanic Physician Who Faced COVID-19 in New York"
  • 2021 EMMY Senior Producer Human Interest Story Award, Short Form "The Graffiti Artist Who Became a Doctor."
  • 2021 EMMY Senior Producer Award Short Form Content Series "SOMOS Kidz in times of COVID-19".
  • 2018 Outstanding Achievement in Media Award- The Latino Institute.
  • 2018 Television - News Anchor, Institute for Latino Studies - Illustrious Awards.
  • 2017 Health Coach Certificate, Emory University. Atlanta, Georgia.
  • 2015 Graduate Certificate Program in Non-Profit Management, Seton Hall University: Department of Political Science and Public Affairs.
  • 2012 LA PRENSA DAILY NEWSPAPER 50 Most Influential Latina Women AWARD.
  • 2008 EMMY Award Evening Newscast "The Arresting of the Newark Student Massacre" Univision-41.
  • 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award and Outstanding Service to the Hispanic Community, National Conference of Puerto Rican Women NYC Chapter. August 21, 2008.
  • 2008 EMMY Award Finalist Evening Newscast "Pipeline Explosion in New York" Univision-41.
  • 2008 The Lifetime Achievement Award – Outstanding Service to the Hispanic Community. The National Conference of Puerto Rican Women - New York City Chapter.
  • 2007 Culinary Management Diploma Program. The Institute of Culinary Education.
  • 2007 HOLA Excellence in Spanish Language Media Award, Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors - HOLA Awards.
  • 2006 Premio Extraordinario ACE 2006 de Television, Association of Latin Entertainment Critics of New York (ACE) - Latin ACE Award.
  • 2005 Career Culinary Arts Program, The Institute of Culinary Education, NYC.
  • 2005 Recognition for Community Service, The Alliance Against Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma, New Jersey.
  • 2005 Beacon of Light in the Community Humanitarian Award- The Latin American Coalition.  Mar 9, 2005.
  • 2005 EMMY Finalist "Juan Luis, entre la Paz y la Guerra" multi-part human interest story UNIVISION-NY.
  • 2004 Excellence in Spanish-Language Journalism, City of Union City, New Jersey - Union Hill High School Sixth Annual Career Day.
  • 2004 Grand Marshall Cuban Day Parade, Hudson County, NJ. June 2004.
  • 2004 Excellence in Journalism Award, Los Tres Proceres Antillanos, Save Latin America Organization, New Jersey. January 29, 2004.
  • 2003 EMMY Finalist "The Death of Celia Cruz"-Single Featured Newscast UNIVISION-NY.
  • 2002 EMMY Finalist "Vieques-La Lucha de un Pueblo," multi-part hard news story UNIVISION-NY.
  • 2002 EMMY Finalist "9/11" On-Camera Achievement (news): Presenter UNIVISION-NY.
  • 2002 State of New York Puerto Rican Day Parade. May 15, 2002.
  • 2002 50 Outstanding Latinas-Award in Journalism, Diario La Prensa, NY.  March 2002
  • 2001 Hispanic Heritage Month, State of New York: Executive Chamber Proclamation.
  • 2001 Godmother National Dominican Day Parade, New Jersey.
  • 2001 The Gracies (Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television) News Story/Series Award "Mama I Have a Secret" UNIVISION-NY.
  • 2000 Recognition for Community Service, Puerto Rican Parade – Norwalk, CT.
  • 2000 Best News Anchor, NY, A.C.E. Award.
  • 2000 The Gracies (Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television) News Feature/Hard News Award "¿Qué Pasa en Vieques?" UNIVISION-NY.
  • 2000 Latina Leadership Award Hispanic Business Corporation, New York.
  • 2000 Edward R. Murrow Award - Feature Reporting the Association of RTNDA News Feature/Hard News: "Que Pasa en Vieques? Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television – Gracie Allen Awards.
  • 2000 Best New Anchor – Globo Awards New York City.
  • 2000 Top Television News Anchor NYC- Association of Latin Entertainment Critics of New York (ACE) - Latin ACE Award.
  • 1999 International Godmother, State of New York - Puerto Rican Parade.
  • 1999 Best Newscast- UNIVISION-NY New Jersey Associated Press Broadcast Association.
  • 1999 Hispanic Media Leader - Contributions to the Hispanic Community- Jersey City Hispanic Heritage Award.
  • 1998 Best New Anchor NY, A.C.E. Award.
  • 1998 International Godmother, Cuban Day Parade, New Jersey.
  • 1998 Emmy News Special "Senderos de Esperanza" CBS Telenoticias.
  • 1997 EMMY News Award for International News Special "Hora Cero: Nicaragua in Transition" CBS Telenoticias.
  • 1994 One of the 100 Most Influential Hispanic Personalities in the United States, Hispanic Business Magazine.
  • 1993 Recognition for Community Service, The Puerto Rican Family Institute, New York.
  • 1992 NOW "Woman of Vision" Award.
  • 1992 Best News Anchor NY, A.C.E Award.
  • 1992 Women of Vision Awards: For Excellence in Communications, The New York City Chapter of The National Organization for Women.
  • 1992 Best News Series “Racismo: NY al Desnudo” A.C.E. Award.
  • 1992 Honored by the Latino Coalition for Fair Media with the "First Annual Salute to Women in Media Awards" for her service to the Latino community in journalism.
  • 1992 EMMY Award Outstanding News Special "Racism: New York in the Nude" Producer/Reporter.
  • 1991 EMMY News Anchor/Reporter Award "Outstanding Single Newscast News 41" UNIVISION-NY.
  • 1991 Puerto Rican Woman Leadership Award for Advancement to the Hispanic Community, Governor’s Office for Hispanic Affairs, NY November 21, 1991.
  • 1991 Special Recognition as the First Puerto Rican to Lead a National Newscast in Spanish in the United States, by the Puerto Rico Senate in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Received January 22, 1991.
  • 1990 Associated Press Honorable Mention "News-41 "Outstanding Single Newscast" UNIVISION NY.
  • 1990 Grand Marshall, Hispano-American Day Parade, NY.
  • 1990 Best Continuing News Coverage – “Puerto Rico: Futuro Incierto” The Media Institute – Hispanic Journalism Awards.
  • 1990 The Media Institute National Award for Best Continuous News Coverage Local Television Station: "Puerto Rico - Uncertain Future".
  • 1989 Humanitarian Award Manhattan Valley Senior Citizen Center, NY.
  • 1988 Best Local News Anchor NY, A.C.E. Award (Asociación de Cronistas de Espectáculos).
  • 1983 John Gassner Award Excellence in Criticism     Hunter College, NY. May 7, 1983.

References

  1. ^ New York Times 1997-12-03 Business Day: "Growing Latino Market Creates New Battleground of Cable TV"
  2. ^ "New York Emmy Award Winners 1991-1992" (PDF). nyemmys.org. 1992.
  3. ^ "65th Annual New York Emmy Awards" (PDF).{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Starr, Michael (2000-04-04). "THE STARR REPORT". nypost.com.
  5. ^ "Denisse Oller". dunlopmedia.com.
  6. ^ Special Recognition as the First Puerto Rican to Lead a National Newscast in Spanish in the United States. Received on the Puerto Rico Senate floor in San Juan, Puerto Rico. January 22, 1991
  7. ^ Rodriguez, America (1999-09-16). Making Latino News: Race, Language, Class (1st ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc. p. 79. ISBN 978-0761915522.{cite book}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  8. ^ "Denisse Oller". cspan.{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Famous Female TV Anchors". 2019-06-14.{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ Thielman, Sam (2007-08-05). "Spanish-language show tops ratings". Variety.
  11. ^ "Denisse Oller". LinkedIn. 2024-03-31.{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Gallina rellena". 2024-03-21.{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "Chef and Media Personality Denisse Oller Appointed Executive Director of The Joseph A. Unanue Institute for Latin American Studies at Seton Hall University". PR Newswire. 2010-09-21.{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Denisse M. Oller - VICE PRESIDENT OF MEDIA RELATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT". SOMOS Community Care. 2024-03-31.{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "Famous Hunter College Alumni". Ranker. 2019-07-22.{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Univision’s Announcement “When the New Breaks, Noticiero Univision Reports 7 Days a Week. Now Saturdays and Sundays at 6:30 PM National Weekend Newscast with Denisse Oller” (Three-page insert) February 9, 1987
  17. ^ "Bayamón Histórico" (PDF). 1986.{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Otero, Jose (2009). "Teatro Francisco Oller".{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "mpressionism and the Caribbean: Francisco Oller and His Transatlantic World". Brooklyn Museum. 2016-01-03.
  20. ^ Vallejo, José Ramón (2023-06-05). "The Smallpox Vaccine in Latin America: A New Approach (1801–1804)". Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania). 59 (6): 1093. doi:10.3390/medicina59061093. PMC 10302900. PMID 37374296.
  21. ^ Felippo, Carly (2016-03-26). "The Media Mogul: Meet Alum Denisse Oller". Institute of Culinary Education.
  22. ^ Today Recipes (2009-06-18). "Take your taste buds to Puerto Rico". today.com.
  23. ^ "Inspiration and Empty Calories in a Land of Plenty". SOMOS Community Care. 2017-06-08.{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ Kantrow, Michelle (2015-03-18). "Local, Food Network chefs headline Saborea culinary fest". News is my business.{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ Puerto Rico: Entre Estado Libre Asociado, Estadidad o Independencia, Mas Magazine, July 1991
  26. ^ 1994 One of the 100 Most Influential Hispanic Personalities in the United States, Hispanic Business Magazine
  27. ^ "NEW YORK EMMY AWARD WINNERS 1990-1991" (PDF). nyemmys.org. 1991.
  28. ^ El Nuevo Herald February 23, 1997, Denisse Oller en Miami, Unas Simbiosis de Pasiones (A Merger of Passions)
  29. ^ Villafañe, Veronica (2012-07-13). "Telemundo Rebrands Morning Show, Actress Debuts As Co-host". News Taco.{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ Oller is recognized for her first Emmy and for being the first Puerto Rican to be named anchor of a Spanish-language national newscast in the United States, Article on Caribbean Business  Magazine, January 17, 1991
  31. ^ "Mujer Noticiosa". La Nacion. 1998-06-11.
  32. ^ Hispanic Business. May 1991. p. 50.{cite book}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  33. ^ Cristina La Revista March 2002 "Que Viva Nueva York, después del 9/11"
  34. ^ Article on Pope John Paul II’s Visit to Cuba, television coverage including Denisse Oller for Telemundo/CBS Telenoticias. The Miami Herald January 26, 1998
  35. ^ Panorama, La Revista. June 21, 1997, Panama "Denisse Oller La Voz de Latinoamerica" (Denisse Oller, the Voice of Latin America)
  36. ^ "Denisse Oller last goodbye to Unvision". YouTube. 2008-01-23.
  37. ^ Villafañe, Veronica (2010-07-29). "Bon appétit for Oller… on NYC Life". Media Moves.
  38. ^ Holmes, Jeff (2018-01-08). "DENISSE OLLER, EMMY-AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST, APPOINTED VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AT SOMOS COMMUNITY CARE" (PDF). somoscommunitycare.org.
  39. ^ "Documentary produced by Aleteia and SOMOS gets an Emmy Award". Aleteia. 2022-10-13.
  40. ^ "DASH-ing to Better Health At SOMOS". SOMOS Community Care. 2019-03-05.{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  41. ^ "Category: Exercise". SOMOS Community Care. 2024-03-31.{cite web}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  42. ^ Fernandez Velez, Gabriela N. (2022-01-12). "Meet the New Executive Director of the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute". shu.edu.
  43. ^ "Una trayectoria de éxito en los medios de comunicación y más allá". Factor de Exito.

External links