Program Staff | The Washington Journalism and Media Conference | George Mason University

Program Staff

Conference Leadership

Amy Takayama-Perez
Dean of Admissions
Executive Director of the Washington Scholars Program

Elena Johnson
Director, Washington Scholars Program

Lauren Jackman
WJMC Assistant Director and Speaker Coordinator

Rachel Cleaver
WJMC Associate Director

Ali Dodson
Assistant Director, Washington Scholars Program

Sam Wolfe
Assistant Director, Logistics

Rachel Urkowitz
Rachel is excited to be joining the team as the Senior Assistant Director of Events. She has a B.A in Global Studies from Drexel University and an M.S. in Communication Management from Temple University. Originally from the Philadelphia area, Rachel worked for several years managing education programs and events for the National Museum of American [...]

Faculty Advisors

Sue Skalicky
Faculty Advisor

Justin Turner
Faculty Advisor

Katie Fletcher
Faculty Advisor

Abrianna Nelson
Faculty Advisor

Jessica Young
Faculty Advisor

April van Buren
Faculty Advisor

Chrissy Wiedemann
Faculty Advisor

Melissa Larson
Faculty Advisor

Matt Schott
Faculty Advisor

Matt Rasgorshek
Faculty Advisor

Mark Hilburn
Faculty Advisor

Christopher Mauthe
Faculty Advisor

Britney Hernandez
Faculty Advisor

Junior Faculty Advisors

Samantha Shaw
Junior Faculty Advisor

Maggie Campbell
Junior Faculty Advisor

Lauren Devenzio
Junior Faculty Advisor

Sami Gibbs
Junior Faculty Advisor

Jordan Coddington
Junior Faculty Advisor

Gabriela Latimer
Junior Faculty Advisor

Laura Scudder
Junior Faculty Advisor

Maggie Attridge
Junior Faculty Advisor

Arthur Kennington
Junior Faculty Advisor

Haley Ziomek
Junior Faculty Advisor

I’Kesha Little
Junior Faculty Advisor

Megan Mittelhammer
Junior Faculty Advisor

Kara Imani-Moss
Junior Faculty Advisor

Advance Team

Sam Wolfe
Assistant Director, Logistics

Camden Layton
Advance Team Member

Jada McClure
Advance Team Member

Keirsten Robinson
Advance Team Member

Sydney Kirwan
Advance Team Member

Riley Noyes
Advance Team Member Riley Noyes is finishing her time at Northern Virginia Community College, and plans to seek a Management degree upon graduation this year. She will be graduating with a General Studies A.S. with a concentration is Business Information Technology Career Studies. Outside of her education, Riley has an affinity for the event industry. [...]

Kalea Perez
Advance Team Member Kalea Perez is a rising sophomore at the College of Charleston from Chantilly, VA. She is studying Communication with a minor in studio art and is involved in many activities throughout campus, including the outdoors club, fashion organization, and is a sister in Chi Omega. Kalea first attended the conference in 2017, [...]

Rachel Urkowitz
Rachel is excited to be joining the team as the Senior Assistant Director of Events. She has a B.A in Global Studies from Drexel University and an M.S. in Communication Management from Temple University. Originally from the Philadelphia area, Rachel worked for several years managing education programs and events for the National Museum of American [...]

Allison Wells
Allison is an event specialist and helps lead the Advance Team for the Washington Scholars Program. Allison earned her B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management with an Emphasis in Meeting and Event Management from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While completing her degree Allison competed for the University as a part of [...]

Interns

Allison Alberty
Conference Intern

Kobe Mosley
Conference Intern

Charles Hunter
Conference Intern

Ashley Larson
Conference Intern

Meghan A.T.B. Reese
Producer, Writer, & Photographer