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Author: Allison Dodson

April Ryan

Author & White House Correspondent, American Urban Radio Networks

April Ryan, a 30-year journalism veteran, has been the White House Correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) since January of 1997, covering three Presidents. Ryan is also the author of the best-selling book, “The Presidency In Black and White: My Up Close View of Three Presidents and Race in America” and “At Mama’s Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White.”

Prior to working for AURN, Ryan worked for several radio stations in Baltimore, including WXYV-FM, where she was news director. Over the past 18 years, Ryan has conducted one-on-one interviews with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, South African President Thabo Mbeki, Senator John Kerry and a host of others. Ryan has been credited by a White House historian as having the most radio interviews with then President Bill Clinton during his White House years.

Ryan is a CNN news analyst and has appeared as a roundtable panelist on NBC’s Meet the Press, ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, and on CBS’s Face the Nation. The Baltimore native is a second generation Morgan State University graduate (following in her mother’s footsteps).

Meghan A.T.B. Reese

MEGHAN A.T.B. REESE

Photographer and Videographer

Meghan is a producer, director, and writer whose credits include National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, History Channel, Animal Planet, Amazon Prime, PBS, Microsoft, Facebook, and NASA. She is also a photographer for the National Park Service, where she has covered three presidential administrations at her assigned park, The White House. Her photography has been featured by The National Park Service, The New York Times, The L.A. Times, The Wall Street Journal, PBS, and more. Prior to transitioning to television and film, Meghan was an award-winning writer and editor, beginning her career at USA Today. She holds a journalism degree from American University and is completing her Master’s in journalism at Emerson College.

MEGHAN A.T.B. REESE

Photographer and Videographer

Meghan is a producer, director, and writer whose credits include National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, History Channel, Animal Planet, Amazon Prime, PBS, Microsoft, Facebook, and NASA. She is also a photographer for the National Park Service, where she has covered three presidential administrations at her assigned park, The White House. Her photography has been featured by The National Park Service, The New York Times, The L.A. Times, The Wall Street Journal, PBS, and more. Prior to transitioning to television and film, Meghan was an award-winning writer and editor, beginning her career at USA Today. She holds a journalism degree from American University and is completing her Master’s in journalism at Emerson College.

S. L. Young

Author, Blogger for The Huffington Post, Radio Host, & Speaker

S. L. Young released his “It’s a Crazy World… Learn From It” series in 2012 and 2013, which contain easily understandable inspirational quotes to deal with a sometimes crazy world. Mr. Young’s book about ‘workplace bullying’ brings greater attention to an ugly topic that isn’t discussed enough, along with thoughtful solutions to address various types of workplace harassment. Mr. Young’s book about his ‘unlikely educational journey’ details his ability to overcome numerous challenges from being directed to leave high school in 10th grade and graduating in the bottom 8% of his high school class. Notwithstanding these challenges, he would later become a college professor. Other books by Mr. Young are about his battle to deal with depression and recovery from a near-suicide, ethics, and soft skills development: belief, communication, negotiation, time management, & more. Also, in December 2012, Mr. Young created a non-profit organization to provide educational services to individuals in at-risk communities (e.g., students and inmates). Furthermore, he’s a radio host in the Washington, DC metro area who addresses life and business topics from a solution-oriented perspective to help individuals live happier, healthier, and fulfilled lives.

Sonya Gavankar

SONYA GAVANKAR

Multi-Media Content Creator

Sonya Gavankar is a communicator who uses dynamic story-telling techniques as a spokesperson, television and podcast host, filmmaker and social multi-media content creator. Her work with the Newseum brings a cohesive voice to the its 250,000 square feet of exhibit and interactive programming. She can be seen hosting programs and giving commentary on everything from hard news to cooking shows on ABC and CBS affiliates, PBS, QVC and even the Puppy Bowl!

For close to two decades she has trained millennials for job interviews using a unique connection between personal brand building and social graces. The launch of HerExchange.com brings a new perspective to insightful conversations and professional development tools with a cross platform approach of the written word, podcasts and live workshops.

Philanthropy is an important part of her life. She serves on several national boards that focus on education and social change, like the Hugh O’Brian Foundation, The Miss America Organization and Ladies America.

Jennifer Keohane

Assistant Professor, Department of Communication, George Mason University

Dr. Jennifer Keohane teaches courses in rhetorical criticism, business communication, and public speaking at George Mason University. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Her expertise lies in social movement rhetoric, labor organizing, and gender. Her current research explores how advocates for the labor movement use gendered narratives to organize workers. Dr. Keohane is also invested in using rhetorical research for civic engagement, and at UW-Madison, she served as the vice president of the Teaching Assistants’ Association, the labor union of graduate students on campus. In this role, she worked with university administrators to ensure compliance with campus labor regulations. She has also previously served on the Board of Directors for the Rhetoric Society of America.

Juliette Rouge

JULIETTE ROUGE

Dean, School of Security and Global Studies, American Public University System

Dr. Juliette Rouge (Shedd) is the Dean of the School of Security and Global Studies. Before joining APUS, Dr. Rouge worked at George Mason University for 17 years where she held the positions of Associate Dean and Associate Professor at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. Her responsibilities included leading the Carter School’s administrative staff, budget, and administrative processes, along with new program and partnership development, where she spearheaded efforts to roll out effective distance education offerings.

Dr. Rouge also taught research and practice methods courses, along with courses on terrorism, peacebuilding, media and conflict, extremism, global conflicts, and ideologies. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and a BA in Political Science and Psychology from George Washington University. Dr. Rouge’s research includes work on the relationship of media to conflict, specifically focused on media coverage of terrorism and the role of women in political violence.
 
An active community practitioner, Dr. Rouge works internationally on peacebuilding in divided communities and developing local leadership capacity with communities in Ukraine, Serbia, Myanmar, and Central Asia. Locally, Dr. Rouge works with communities to collaboratively address contentious local issues. These projects include media literacy and dialogue training, conflict resolution in schools, police-community engagement, and supporting community engagement processes for local government on issues like confederate legacy street names and monuments. Her projects are funded by local governments, the Virginia Department of Education, USAID, the Department of State, and nonprofit organizations.

Amanda Gard

Junior Faculty Advisor

Amanda Gard was a national youth correspondent of WJMC15 and is currently in her second year at the University of Florida. She studies telecommunication production with an outside concentration in sport management. She is a freelance technical director for the SEC Network where she works on the broadcasts of UF sports. Amanda is also a multimedia captain for Dance Marathon and the communication’s director for the Make-A-Wish team in Chi Omega. She is extremely excited to return for her second year as a JFA to meet the correspondents of WJMC18, and hopes they are ready for the best week of their life!

Angelica Walker

Junior Faculty Advisor

Angelica Walker is a WJMC 2014 Alum from Lynchburg, Virginia. She is currently a Junior Communications major at George Mason University. She double minors in Sports Communications and African and African American Studies. On George Mason’s campus, Angelica is heavily involved in both the Black Student Alliance and the Mason Ambassadors. One of her favorite quotes is: “It always seems impossible until it is done.”–Nelson Mandela

Elysse Vernon

Junior Faculty Advisor

Elysse is a junior at Florida State University studying Public Relations and Political Science. She currently serves as the Director of Communications for both the FSU National Organization for Women and the FSU College Democrats. She previously interned for the Florida Clerks of Court and freelanced for Womensenews.org. Elysse couldn’t be more excited to return to WJMC for her second year as a JFA!

Lexie Tubell

Junior Faculty Advisor

Lexie Tubell is a rising junior in George Mason University’s honors college with a major in Communication and a concentration in Journalism. Lexie has been very involved with film and journalism for a number of years, from starting an award-winning news program at her high school and working at her local newspaper, to having a film in a New York film festival and being named Videographer in her sorority, Chi Omega. Lexie attended the Washington Journalism and Media Conference in 2015 and returned as a Speaker Intern in 2016 and a Junior Faculty Advisor in 2017. She is super excited to come back again for another year as a Junior Faculty Advisor and get to work hands on with the new correspondents and make it an amazing experience.