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Category: Speakers

Jada McClure

JADA MCCLURE

Donor Communications Manager, Institute for Justice, Alum 2014

Jada McClure is a communications professional with a passion for storytelling that moves people to act. With a background spanning government communications, omni-channel marketing, and content strategy, she has a proven track record of producing award-winning documentary-style content for FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program and managing digital paid media campaigns across the United States.

Throughout her career, she has worked with esteemed organizations including ICF Next, Yes& Agency, and Sage Communications, and has supported federal clients such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Each experience has sharpened her ability to navigate complex projects, develop innovative strategies, and deliver results that matter.

Today, Jada brings that same strategic mindset to the Institute for Justice, where she serves as Donor Communications Manager at the Institute for Justice. In this role, she develops mission-driven content that connects supporters with the real-world impact of IJ’s work, defending the rights of everyday Americans.

Originally from North Carolina, Jada is a proud alumna of the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC). Her journey began here in 2014 and continued at George Mason University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations in 2019. She is thrilled to return to where it all started, this time as a speaker!

JADA MCCLURE

Donor Communications Manager, Institute for Justice, Alum 2014

Jada McClure is a communications professional with a passion for storytelling that moves people to act. With a background spanning government communications, omni-channel marketing, and content strategy, she has a proven track record of producing award-winning documentary-style content for FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program and managing digital paid media campaigns across the United States.

Throughout her career, she has worked with esteemed organizations including ICF Next, Yes& Agency, and Sage Communications, and has supported federal clients such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Each experience has sharpened her ability to navigate complex projects, develop innovative strategies, and deliver results that matter.

Today, Jada brings that same strategic mindset to the Institute for Justice, where she serves as Donor Communications Manager at the Institute for Justice. In this role, she develops mission-driven content that connects supporters with the real-world impact of IJ’s work, defending the rights of everyday Americans.

Originally from North Carolina, Jada is a proud alumna of the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC). Her journey began here in 2014 and continued at George Mason University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations in 2019. She is thrilled to return to where it all started, this time as a speaker!

Bria Lloyd

BRIA LLOYD

Documentary Project Manager, Loudoun County Government

Bria Lloyd is a media professional with experience in local, national, and international TV, film, and radio. She’s produced a wide array of projects including investigations, documentaries, and narrative podcasts. Her work has taken her to Norway where she produced a documentary about prison reform. That story received an Edward R. Murrow Award and was nominated for a regional Emmy. She’s also the co-host and producer of the podcast “In Absentia,” which explores the history of government scandals in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The podcast was awarded a PMJA award. She’s currently managing the production of a documentary that explores Black history in her hometown in Northern Virginia. She recently earned her master’s degree in media management from The New School where she focused her studies on TV and film acquisitions and distribution. She hopes to one day become a media executive.

BRIA LLOYD

Documentary Project Manager, Loudoun County Government

Bria Lloyd is a media professional with experience in local, national, and international TV, film, and radio. She’s produced a wide array of projects including investigations, documentaries, and narrative podcasts. Her work has taken her to Norway where she produced a documentary about prison reform. That story received an Edward R. Murrow Award and was nominated for a regional Emmy. She’s also the co-host and producer of the podcast “In Absentia,” which explores the history of government scandals in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The podcast was awarded a PMJA award. She’s currently managing the production of a documentary that explores Black history in her hometown in Northern Virginia. She recently earned her master’s degree in media management from The New School where she focused her studies on TV and film acquisitions and distribution. She hopes to one day become a media executive.

Patrick Money

PATRICK MONEY

Director of Freshman Admissions, George Mason University

Patrick Money is the Director of Admissions for Freshman Recruitment for George
Mason University. After starting as a student employee at the Admissions office in
2006, he has spent the last sixteen years as a member of the Mason Admissions
family helping students and families find the right college destination.

Patrick is a Mason alumnus x 2 with a B.A in Psychology and his M.A in Higher
Education Administration. If he is not attending a Washington Nationals game
in D.C, you will find him overseeing domestic recruitment strategy and
implementation, admissions data management, and freshmen application review for Mason. Being busy is a must, but his love for coffee carries him through most of the recruitment cycle!

One of his favorite memories was when he made his initial
decision to come to Mason back in 2006 after he saw the Men’s basketball team reach the final four live at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.! (He still talks about it like it happened yesterday, and shows no signs of changing that!!)

Patrick has a passion for higher education and even more so for George Mason University and the opportunities for an access-driven enrollment strategy. Whether it be about equitable enrollment practices, or the best places to eat while on the recruitment trail, he is always ready for a lively discussion and hopes to share it with all those who are interested.

PATRICK MONEY

Director of Freshman Admissions, George Mason University​

Patrick Money is the Director of Admissions for Freshman Recruitment for George Mason University. After starting as a student employee at the Admissions office in 2006, he has spent the last sixteen years as a member of the Mason Admissions
family helping students and families find the right college destination.

Patrick is a Mason alumnus x 2 with a B.A in Psychology and his M.A in Higher Education Administration. If he is not attending a Washington Nationals game in D.C, you will find him overseeing domestic recruitment strategy and implementation, admissions data management, and freshmen application review for Mason. Being busy is a must, but his love for coffee carries him through most of the recruitment cycle!

One of his favorite memories was when he made his initial decision to come to Mason back in 2006 after he saw the Men’s basketball team reach the final four live at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.! (He still talks about it like it happened yesterday, and shows no signs of changing that!!)

Patrick has a passion for higher education and even more so for George Mason University and the opportunities for an access-driven enrollment strategy. Whether it be about equitable enrollment practices, or the best places to eat while on the recruitment trail, he is always ready for a lively discussion and hopes to share it with all those who are interested.

Carmella Boykin

CARMELLA BOYKIN

Host and TikTok Producer, The Washington Post

Carmella Boykin is a host and TikTok Producer at The Washington Post. She writes, shoots and edits news TikToks that often involve dancing to explain news topics. Previously, she worked as a local TV reporter in Rochester, NY where she started her TikTok account. Carmella joined the Post in December 2021 and holds a degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from Syracuse University.

CARMELLA BOYKIN

Host and TikTok Producer, The Washington Post

Carmella Boykin is a host and TikTok Producer at The Washington Post. She writes, shoots and edits news TikToks that often involve dancing to explain news topics. Previously, she worked as a local TV reporter in Rochester, NY where she started her TikTok account. Carmella joined the Post in December 2021 and holds a degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from Syracuse University.

Richard Todd Stafford

RICHARD TODD STAFFOR

Director of Communications, Honors College, George Mason University

Richard Todd Stafford is the Director of Communications in the Honors College at George Mason University. The Honors College gives the most motivated undergraduate students from all majors and backgrounds the support that inspires them to pursue their curiosity and undertake meaningful civic engagement and experiential learning opportunities. Dr. Stafford mentors and supervises the Honors College Communication team. Dr. Stafford has written, spoken, and taught extensively about cultural dimensions of climate change, energy, and the environment, including on the “Capitalism, Climate, and Culture” podcast, in the media, and at @richardtoddstafford on Instagram.

RICHARD TODD STAFFORD

Director of Communications, Honors College, George Mason University

Richard Todd Stafford is the Director of Communications in the Honors College at George Mason University. The Honors College gives the most motivated undergraduate students from all majors and backgrounds the support that inspires them to pursue their curiosity and undertake meaningful civic engagement and experiential learning opportunities. Dr. Stafford mentors and supervises the Honors College Communication team. Dr. Stafford has written, spoken, and taught extensively about cultural dimensions of climate change, energy, and the environment, including on the “Capitalism, Climate, and Culture” podcast, in the media, and at @richardtoddstafford on Instagram.

Buzz McClain

BUZZ MCCLAIN

Director of Communications, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University

Veteran columnist, critic, reporter, and editor Buzz McClain covered movies and pop culture for 20 years at major magazines and wrote about music and musicians for a decade at the Washington Post before NBC Sports lured him away to cover rugby football.  He now is director of communications for the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, which is also his alma mater and the school that taught him everything he needed to know about surviving a career in journalism.

BUZZ MCCLAIN

Director of Communications, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University

Veteran columnist, critic, reporter, and editor Buzz McClain covered movies and pop culture for 20 years at major magazines and wrote about music and musicians for a decade at the Washington Post before NBC Sports lured him away to cover rugby football.  He now is director of communications for the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, which is also his alma mater and the school that taught him everything he needed to know about surviving a career in journalism.

Anna Layden

ANNA LAYDEN

Freelance Photojournalist

Anna Rose Layden is a freelance photojournalist in Washington, D.C. She is a regular contributor to The New York Times, Reuters, Getty Images and others. Primarily covering the White House, Congress, and D.C. news, Anna can be found traveling with presidents, in the midst of protests, or on the floor during congressional hearings. Outside of politics she finds herself working on stories on immigration, women, religion and family. Anna is a member of the Women Photojournalists of Washington, Asian American Journalists Association, and White House News Photographers Association. She graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2021. 

ANNA LAYDEN

Freelance Photojournalist

Anna Rose Layden is a freelance photojournalist in Washington, D.C. She is a regular contributor to The New York Times, Reuters, Getty Images and others. Primarily covering the White House, Congress, and D.C. news, Anna can be found traveling with presidents, in the midst of protests, or on the floor during congressional hearings. Outside of politics she finds herself working on stories on immigration, women, religion and family. Anna is a member of the Women Photojournalists of Washington, Asian American Journalists Association, and White House News Photographers Association. She graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2021. 

Sam Wolfe

SAM WOLFE

Senior Marketing Consultant, LinkedIn, Alum 2015

Sam Wolfe is an account manager on the digital marketing team at Google in San Francisco. With clients ranging from family-owned businesses and startups to national brands like HBO and Warner Brothers, Sam builds custom solutions for advertisers around the world across all Google and YouTube platforms. He is also a coach on the Grow With Google team, which is dedicated to increasing access, awareness, and education for individuals and small businesses in marginalized communities. His love for journalism led him to attend WJMC in 2014, and he has worked at the conference wearing many hats since 2015. Sam graduated from George Mason University in 2019 with a degree in Communication and Public Relations, and he is ecstatic to be back home at WJMC this summer.

SAM WOLFE

Senior Marketing Consultant, LinkedIn, Alum 2015

Sam Wolfe is an account manager on the digital marketing team at Google in San Francisco. With clients ranging from family-owned businesses and startups to national brands like HBO and Warner Brothers, Sam builds custom solutions for advertisers around the world across all Google and YouTube platforms. He is also a coach on the Grow With Google team, which is dedicated to increasing access, awareness, and education for individuals and small businesses in marginalized communities. His love for journalism led him to attend WJMC in 2014, and he has worked at the conference wearing many hats since 2015. Sam graduated from George Mason University in 2019 with a degree in Communication and Public Relations, and he is ecstatic to be back home at WJMC this summer.

Andrias White Murdaugh

ANDRIAS WHITE MURDAUGH

Anchor, This Morning on WTVR CBS 6

Andrias White Murdaugh, MBA, CMP, CSEP, CVP is an award-winning event producer and broadcast journalist, but her story begins right here on the campus of George Mason University.  

After many undergraduate achievements, she was hired by the Office of Admissions and the Washington Scholars Program to serve as Director of Logistics for WJMC and WYSE. Little did she know, her time on staff provided her the foundation for her unexpected role as co-host of Virginia This Morning on WTVR CBS 6, Central Virginia’s only live, local, entertainment show. Simultaneously, she serves as Director of Events for McKesson Medical-Surgical, a fortune 9 company. 

Before her days on-camera, she served as Senior Event Manager at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Senior Facility and Sales Manager for the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center, Vice President of Strategic Events for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), and CEO of Andrias Events, LLC. 

Her most notable events include United States Presidential Inaugural Balls, the World Gas Congress, the National Football League’s Washington Redskins Training Camp and Amazon re:Invent. While at CBCF, she also worked with 58 congressional offices to produce star studded award shows and televised productions, broadcasted on BET.

Andrias earned both a Bachelor of Science in Tourism & Event Management and a Master of Business Administration from Mason and served as adjunct faculty in the Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management Program. Andrias now lives in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia with her husband and fellow Mason alum David W. Murdaugh III, MBA and their two sons, David IV and Deion. 

ANDRIAS WHITE MURDAUGH

Anchor, This Morning on WTVR CBS 6​

Andrias White Murdaugh, MBA, CMP, CSEP, CVP is an award-winning event producer and broadcast journalist, but her story begins right here on the campus of George Mason University.  

After many undergraduate achievements, she was hired by the Office of Admissions and the Washington Scholars Program to serve as Director of Logistics for WJMC and WYSE. Little did she know, her time on staff provided her the foundation for her unexpected role as co-host of Virginia This Morning on WTVR CBS 6, Central Virginia’s only live, local, entertainment show. Simultaneously, she serves as Director of Events for McKesson Medical-Surgical, a fortune 9 company. 

Before her days on-camera, she served as Senior Event Manager at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Senior Facility and Sales Manager for the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center, Vice President of Strategic Events for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), and CEO of Andrias Events, LLC. 

Her most notable events include United States Presidential Inaugural Balls, the World Gas Congress, the National Football League’s Washington Redskins Training Camp and Amazon re:Invent. While at CBCF, she also worked with 58 congressional offices to produce star studded award shows and televised productions, broadcasted on BET.

Andrias earned both a Bachelor of Science in Tourism & Event Management and a Master of Business Administration from Mason and served as adjunct faculty in the Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management Program. Andrias now lives in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia with her husband and fellow Mason alum David W. Murdaugh III, MBA and their two sons, David IV and Deion. 

Assad Khan

Assad Khan, Undergraduate Programs Coordinator, COS. Photo by Creative Services/George Mason University

ASSAD KHAN

Director of Undergraduate Student Affairs, George Mason University

Assad worked in DC radio veteran for over 15 years. Having started as an intern and
eventually an on-air personality at the Legendary 99-1 HFS, Assad was on iHeartRadio’s DC101 as a weekend/swing DJ. Focusing primarily on the alternative rock format, he has worked to engage the audience, build a rapport with
the listeners and educate students on the industry of radio. During college,
he was the promotions and public affairs director as well as a DJ of various
specialty shows at WWVU-FM (U92) at West Virginia University. In his
free time, he works as the Director of Undergraduate Student Affairs in the
College of Science at George Mason University.

ASSAD KHAN

Director of Undergraduate Student Affairs, George Mason University​

Assad Khan, Undergraduate Programs Coordinator, COS. Photo by Creative Services/George Mason University[/caption]

Assad worked in DC radio veteran for over 15 years. Having started as an intern and eventually an on-air personality at the Legendary 99-1 HFS, Assad was on iHeartRadio’s DC101 as a weekend/swing DJ. Focusing primarily on the alternative rock format, he has worked to engage the audience, build a rapport with the listeners and educate students on the industry of radio. During college, he was the promotions and public affairs director as well as a DJ of various specialty shows at WWVU-FM (U92) at West Virginia University. In his free time, he works as the Director of Undergraduate Student Affairs in the
College of Science at George Mason University.