Category: Speakers

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.

Hannah Menchhoff is the arts and entertainment editor for the Fairfax County Times. She has worked on a variety of exciting stories, including interviewing “See You Again” singer, Charlie Puth. She graduated from George Mason University with a degree in Communication in 2015. Hannah also does freelance writing and works to do marketing research, analysis and social media with Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters.

Jamie Smith is the Global Chief Communications Officer of The BitFury Group – a leading technology company in the transformational financial technology sector dedicated to the breakthrough innovation of the Blockchain. Jamie is leading global initiatives designed to fundamentally change the way the larger global community does business, transfers value, and opens up new doors to prosperity for billions of people throughout the world.

Jamie has dedicated her career to making lives better, enhancing security, and ensuring opportunity is available to all. Jamie brings nearly two decades of communications experience to her role as Global CCO, serving at the highest levels of government and the private sector. She previously served as Special Assistant to President Obama and deputy White House press secretary, Executive Vice President at Edelman Public Relations where she oversaw multi-channel media strategies, Director of Public Affairs for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and General James Clapper, Communications Director for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation under its then Chairman John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Traveling Press Director for Secretary Hillary Clinton’s 2008 Presidential Campaign, Communications Director for former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and The Albright Group, LLC. and policy aide to Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY).

Buzz McClain took every journalism course offered by George Mason in his freshman year (there were only two, 101 and 102); he wrote press releases and sports stories for Mason’s sports information office for four years; and he wrote entertainment stories and essays for the campus newspaper for four years, in addition to being entertainment editor for his last two years. Thoroughly prepared for a career in journalism, Buzz left Mason and began digging ditches for a swimming pool company. But his freelance writing paid off and he was hired by a bi-weekly, then a weekly, then a daily before beginning a career as a magazine writer and a music critic. To complete the circle, he is back at Mason where it all began as a communications manager, writing stories about Mason’s super-smart professors, over-achieving students and global successes.

Mallory Saleson is a global communications and media specialist with extensive experience in international development and the private sector. She was an international broadcast journalist during the 1980s and ‘90s. Recently she tacked in a new direction, taking the position of Executive Editor of platform content on the management team of a start-up professional and social network aimed at building neighborhood workplace engagement. Saleson began her career in broadcast journalism at Voice of America and spent nearly two decades as a radio correspondent covering a range of issues in Washington, D.C., Europe and southern Africa. She earned her chops reporting first-hand some of the most compelling stories of our time: Nelson Mandela’s walk to freedom and the first post-apartheid elections in South Africa; war, conflict, humanitarian and social issues throughout southern Africa; and the assassination attempt on President Reagan. Saleson joined the World Bank Group’s office in South Africa in 2003. There she was responsible for developing and implementing high impact communication, media and outreach strategies for the Bank’s regional office. She returned to Washington, D.C. in September 2008 to head up communications for the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the political risk and credit enhancement arm of the World Bank Group. She led the agency’s communications team until her retirement from the World Bank in 2016.

Settled in northern Virginia, she has more time to devote to family, her two rambunctious ridgebacks and her friends. She has maintained her healthy addiction to news and current affairs and enjoys cooking, writing, reading and hiking outdoors. She has a Masters in Journalism from Boston University and a Bachelor’s degree in Russian Studies from University of Wisconsin.

Winn Duvall is the copy editor at Northern Virginia Magazine. As copy editor, she edits both the print magazine and online content for grammar, style, structure and tone. She also functions as the magazine’s copywriter, which entails putting together content for print and online ads and writing longer narrative advertorials for clients. Duvall is a 2014 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in magazine editing. Prior to joining the Northern Virginia Magazine editorial staff, Duvall worked as an intern at city and regional magazines in both Alabama and Missouri.

Ian Bush is an anchor, reporter, and editor at KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia and a reporter for the CBS Radio News network. In 2008, he was named one of national radio’s ’30 Under 30′ by Edison Media Research. Now, sadly, he’s over 30. Bush is KYW’s technology editor, but his reporting is diverse: he was part of the Murrow Award-winning play-by-play team that broadcast the Philadelphia International Cycling Championship, and he was honored by the Associated Press for a series on young voters. Bush is a 2004 graduate of Villanova University. A proud Wildcat, he served as news director at the campus radio station, WXVU-FM, where his documentary ‘Voices of Reading’ earned the first AP award for station. He received his master’s degree in 2006 — and had the distinction of being the first to graduate in Villanova’s new master’s program in communication. He got his start in radio anchoring local news on WDIY-FM in Bethlehem, Pa., an NPR affiliate, while at Notre Dame High School (Green Pond) and in between two-a-days in the pool. Connect with Ian on Twitter: @ianthebush

Dr. Shedd is currently the Associate Dean for Administration at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University, and teaches both introductory courses and courses on terrorism, 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. Her 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. For the last three years she has Co-Directed the Benjamin Franklin Summer Institute with Central Asia, bringing 45 students a year from Central Asia and the U.S. together for a month long training and exchange program. She has shepherded S-CAR’s efforts to increase distance education and overseen a wide range of innovations in experiential and service learning.

 David Culver is a reporter with News4’s Northern Virginia Bureau and anchors the Saturday edition of News4 Today.

David has deep roots in Northern Virginia. He was born and raised in Fairfax County, and most of his family still lives there. David attended Gonzaga College High School then graduated from William and Mary with a degree in Hispanic Studies. But David always knew he wanted to be a journalist and spent a few summers at NBC in Washington. He interned at News4 and wrote a blog for NBCWashington.com while studying abroad. He was also an intern for NBC News’ Investigative Unit in Washington.

After college, David became a reporter and producer for WAVY-TV, the NBC station in Norfolk. Two years later, he began anchoring the station’s weekend morning newscasts. He joined News4 in December 2012.

David is fluent in Spanish and studied Arabic in college. He lives in Arlington.