MADDY PLOGER
Senior Marketing Manager, Freedom Forum
Maddy Ploger is the senior marketing manager at Freedom Forum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to fostering First Amendment freedoms for all. She’s been with the organization for the past seven years – starting out at the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue in the marketing department and evolving into managing email communications, advertising, branding campaigns, and design for Freedom Forum. She has been part of a multi-million dollar brand awareness campaign, launching a merchandise store, and the promotion and design of dozens of events, galas, and festivals — all striving for the Freedom Forum’s vision of an America where everyone knows, values, and defends the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.Â
A graduate of La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA, she earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations, advertising and communications and a master’s degree in professional business and communications. Maddy played Division 1 field hockey at La Salle during her four years there. In the past, she worked in sports marketing, promotions, and entertainment for La Salle Athletics, the Washington Nationals, and the Salem Red Sox.
MADDY PLOGER
Senior Marketing Manager, Freedom Forum
Maddy Ploger is the senior marketing manager at Freedom Forum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to fostering First Amendment freedoms for all. She’s been with the organization for the past seven years – starting out at the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue in the marketing department and evolving into managing email communications, advertising, branding campaigns, and design for Freedom Forum. She has been part of a multi-million dollar brand awareness campaign, launching a merchandise store, and the promotion and design of dozens of events, galas, and festivals — all striving for the Freedom Forum’s vision of an America where everyone knows, values, and defends the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.Â
A graduate of La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA, she earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations, advertising and communications and a master’s degree in professional business and communications. Maddy played Division 1 field hockey at La Salle during her four years there. In the past, she worked in sports marketing, promotions, and entertainment for La Salle Athletics, the Washington Nationals, and the Salem Red Sox.
Chandler is a U.S. History Teacher at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, Texas. Earning his bachelor’s in communications at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chandler has worked within sports journalism for 5 years throughout college and eventually landed at ESPN, working in the SportCenter department. He earned his master’s in Christian ministry from Liberty University. Chandler has used media, production, and journalistic skills to find and tell compelling stories. He has served as a yearbook advisor in previous years as well as an ambassador for media projects within the classroom, encouraging his students to find and tell stories. He is a 2013 WJMC Alumni and enjoyed the connections and new experiences that came with the conference. In his free time, he enjoys having conversations about the gospel and religion, playing his guitar and mandolin, and running half-marathons on the weekends.
Rachel is a rising junior from Knoxville, Tennessee majoring in sociology with a concentration in inequality and social change at George Mason University. On campus, Rachel is involved in the University Scholars Program, the Next System Fellows Program, the Next Constitutions Research Lab, CHSS Ambassadors, Chi Omega Fraternity, Order of Omega, and the Sociology Ambassadors program. She also works as a tele-counselor for the Office of Admissions, supporting prospective students through the application process! After graduation, she plans to pursue graduate studies and is especially interested in advancing social change through the study and design of equitable systems.
Fiona is a rising sophomore at Virginia Commonwealth pursuing a major in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in international social justice and a minor in media studies. She participated in the WJMC during the summer of ‘22 and had the best time of her life! Fiona loved Washington D.C. and the George Mason campus, and she can’t wait to go back and see everyone there!
