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Author: Allison Dodson

Mark Bauman

MARK BAUMAN

Chief Executive Officer, Virtual Wonders

Mark Bauman currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Virtual Wonders, a multi-plaform 3D media company that creates immersive experiences for every major media platform. Mr. Bauman is an award-winning International Media and Communications Executive with more than 20 years experience developing broadcasts, publications, and new media businesses and outreach strategies. Before his tenure with Virtual Wonders, he worked with The National Geographic Society and served as a radio correspondent, Bureau Chief, and Producer for ABC News both domestically and abroad.

Chuck Todd

CHUCK TODD

Podcast Host and Journalist

Chuck Todd is the 12th moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press. He also serves as Political Director for NBC News. He is a political analyst for NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, Today, and MSNBC, including Hardball with Chris Matthews. In addition to his on-air analysis, Todd has been responsible for all aspects of the network’s political coverage, including maintaining contact with the campaigns and serving as the point person for political news and information. He is based in NBC News’ bureau in Washington, D.C. Before joining NBC News, Todd was the Editor-in-Chief of National Journal’s – The Hotline, Washington’s premier daily briefing on American Politics.

CHUCK TODD

Podcast Host and Journalist

Chuck Todd is the 12th moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press. He also serves as Political Director for NBC News. He is a political analyst for NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, Today, and MSNBC, including Hardball with Chris Matthews. In addition to his on-air analysis, Todd has been responsible for all aspects of the network’s political coverage, including maintaining contact with the campaigns and serving as the point person for political news and information. He is based in NBC News’ bureau in Washington, D.C. Before joining NBC News, Todd was the Editor-in-Chief of National Journal’s – The Hotline, Washington’s premier daily briefing on American Politics.

Beth Jannery

Beth Jannery has more than 25 years experience in Communication and Media. Jannery is the Director of Journalism for the Department of Communication. Her work was recently featured in The Washington Post.   She is a former journalist who covered the Pentagon. She was the Communication Officer for Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government with the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. 

Jannery is a member of the Advisory Board for The Washington Journalism and Media Conference, Faculty Liaison for The Insight Committee and Faculty Advisor for the Society of Professional Journalists. Jannery is author of the Journalism and Communication textbook What’s the Story? The Art of Writing & Communication (2nd Edition pending publication 2018) as well as author of several non-fiction books and novels.

Ali Dodson, MS, MPP

ALI DODSON

Associate Director, Washington Scholars Program

Ali is the Associate Director of the Washington Scholars Program. She has a B.S in conservation biology from George Mason University, and an M.S. in sustainable development and conservation biology and M.P.P. in environmental policy from University of Maryland. Her master’s research focused on student perception of environmental issues. Before coming to Mason, Ali worked with the Environmental Protection Agency, where she was an ORISE fellow researching coastal wetlands. In her free time, she attempts to grow her own vegetables, hangs out in her back yard with her family, and sings karaoke as often as possible.

ALI DODSON

Associate Director, Washington Scholars Program

Ali is the Associate Director of the Washington Scholars Program. She has a B.S in conservation biology from George Mason University, and an M.S. in sustainable development and conservation biology and M.P.P. in environmental policy from University of Maryland. Her master’s research focused on student perception of environmental issues. Before coming to Mason, Ali worked with the Environmental Protection Agency, where she was an ORISE fellow researching coastal wetlands. In her free time, she attempts to grow her own vegetables, hangs out in her back yard with her family, and sings karaoke as often as possible.

Rachel Cleaver, MPA

RACHEL CLEAVER

Senior Associate Director, K-12 Partnerships

Rachel is the Senior Associate Director of K-12 Partnerships in the Office of Admissions where she creates and oversees partnerships to bring students to the George Mason campus. She works with departments and organizations across the campus and the community to talk about college access and success. Prior to coming to George Mason, Rachel led the programmatic efforts at two college access and success programs,, Let’s Get Ready and The Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund. She has experience in curriculum design and program management and in helping under-served high school students achieve their college dreams. She earned B.S. degrees in elementary education and human/organizational development from Vanderbilt University and a M.P.A. from George Mason University. She loves living in Washington, D.C. and looks forward to welcoming students to WJMC this summer!

RACHEL CLEAVER

Senior Associate Director, K-12 Partnerships

Rachel is the Senior Associate Director of K-12 Partnerships in the Office of Admissions where she creates and oversees partnerships to bring students to the George Mason campus. She works with departments and organizations across the campus and the community to talk about college access and success. Prior to coming to George Mason, Rachel led the programmatic efforts at two college access and success programs,, Let’s Get Ready and The Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund. She has experience in curriculum design and program management and in helping under-served high school students achieve their college dreams. She earned B.S. degrees in elementary education and human/organizational development from Vanderbilt University and a M.P.A. from George Mason University. She loves living in Washington, D.C. and looks forward to welcoming students to WJMC this summer!

Elena Johnson, MED

ELENA JOHNSON

Director, Washington Scholars Program

Elena is the Director of the Washington Scholars Program (WSP) which includes the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC) and the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE). As the director, she works to create fulfilling Summit experiences by developing curriculum for the programs, as well as recruiting professional faculty and nationally recognized speakers in the fields of journalism and the media and environmental science. Under her leadership the programs have tripled in size and furthered their reach through key partnerships. Elena also manages college access initatives, events, and recruitment partnerships for the Office of Admissions. Elena earned a B.A. in journalism and mass communication from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and her M.Ed. from George Mason University.

ELENA JOHNSON

Director, Washington Scholars Program

Elena is the Director of the Washington Scholars Program (WSP) which includes the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC) and the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE). As the director, she works to create fulfilling Summit experiences by developing curriculum for the programs, as well as recruiting professional faculty and nationally recognized speakers in the fields of journalism and the media and environmental science. Under her leadership the programs have tripled in size and furthered their reach through key partnerships. Elena also manages college access initatives, events, and recruitment partnerships for the Office of Admissions. Elena earned a B.A. in journalism and mass communication from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and her M.Ed. from George Mason University.

Raquel DeSouza

Raquel DeSouza graduated in May from George Mason University with a BA in Communication, concentration in Journalism and minors in American Government and Global Affairs. She’s a local to the NoVA area and loved her four years at the Mason Nation. She was involved in Student Media with GMU’s Fourth Estate newspaper and had internships in Virginia and DC, including Northern Virginia Magazine. Raquel is looking forward to working in a creative field that harnesses her writing skills.

Jennie Keohane

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.

Lisa Gring-Pemble

Lisa M. Gring-Pemble is an Associate Professor in the School of Integrative Studies at George Mason University. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of St. Olaf College, she received her M.A. and Ph.D. in communication from the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on political communication and social policy. She is author of Grim Fairy Tales: The Rhetorical Construction of American Welfare Policy and a co-editor of Readings on Political Communication. Her work has appeared in The Quarterly Journal of Speech, Political Communication, and Communication Quarterly.

Gring-Pemble delights in teaching undergraduates and is a George Mason University Teaching Excellence Award recipient. Recently, she served as Director and Principal Investigator for a State Department grant that brought 120 high-achieving, underserved, Afro-Latino and indigenous undergraduates from Central and South America to the United States to study U.S. History and Government and to develop long-term solutions to pressing challenges faced in their home communities.

Richard T. Craig

Richard Craig, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication, CHSS. Photo by Creative Services/George Mason University

Dr. Craig is an Assistant Professor of Communication at George Mason University. He has been a part of the university and the communications department since the fall of 2009. Dr. Craig received his BA in Journalism from Olivet College, his MA in Telecommunications Management from Michigan State University, and his PhD in Mass Communication/Media Studies from Howard University.

His research centers on mass media political economy; addressing the production, distribution and consumption of media content. He takes particular interest in exploring the social structure/struggle embedded in media production and interpreted in media consumption. His goal is to use research to influence the development of policy to enhance opportunities for media production and distribution by marginalized cultures.