Tag: 2017

Emily Vraga

Assistant Professor, George Mason University

Emily K. Vraga joined the faculty at George Mason University in 2012 as an assistant professor in the Department of Communication. She received her Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and spent one year as a Post-Doctoral Research Instructor in the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University.

Dr. Vraga’s research focuses on how individual predispositions and motivations influence the processing of media content, particularly in the evolving digital environment. Her work has investigated a wide range of new media formats, including political blogs, social media networks like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, and television programs that blur the lines between entertainment and information. Dr. Vraga is particularly interested in the ways in which partisans process messages to match their predispositions, as well as techniques that can limit biased information processing and the spread of misinformation.

Ron Meyer

Editor, Red Alert Politics

Ron Meyer is editor of Red Alert Politics (RAP), which focuses on younger and millennial readers, reaching more than one million monthly readers. RAP also produces an annual “30 under 30” list of influential conservatives under 30.

In 2015, Ron was elected to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and is Northern Virginia’s youngest elected official. He often appears on Fox News, Fox Business, and radio shows nationwide.

Previously, he was spokesman of Young America’s Foundation.

Rene Marsh

CNN Correspondent

Rene Marsh is CNN’s aviation and government regulation correspondent, based in the network’s Washington bureau. In this position, Marsh reports on all issues related to aviation and transportation – from safety and security to passenger issues, in addition to government regulation.

Marsh joined the network in 2012, and has since reported on several high profile assignments including the disappearance of commercial passenger plane, MH370. Marsh also covered the shoot down of MH17 over Ukraine. During her tenure at CNN Marsh also reported on the ill-fated Asiana flight 214, the U.S Supreme Court Affordable Care Act, and the death of 25 year old Baltimore man, Freddie Gray, who died in police custody.

Prior to CNN, Marsh was a general assignment correspondent for WSVN in Miami, Florida, covering breaking news, local politics, education and sports. She also worked as an investigative reporter and weekend anchor at CBS 6 in Albany, New York. Marsh started her career as a reporter and anchor at KTAL in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Marsh graduated with honors from Binghamton University and earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Kera White

Photography Junior Faculty Advisor

Kera is a rising junior at George Mason University from Newport News, VA, and is studying Communication with a concentration in Media Production Criticism and a minor in African American Studies and Film and Media Criticism. She attended the Washington Journalism & Media Conference in 2014, returned as a Junior Faculty Advisor in 2016, and will return for her third year as the photo junior faculty advisor. Kera currently works in the Office of Student Media as the General Manager for Mason Cable Network. Her freshman year, she held the titles of Assistant News Director, News Director, and the creator of “Freshmen’s Corner” before being promoted to General Manager her sophomore year. Her other on-campus involvements currently include Black Student Alliance, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Chase Dreams Not Boys, and the Black Literary Project Marketing Advisor. In her free time, Kera enjoys writing poetry, taking photos for her business “Amethyst Films” and hanging out with friends and family. She looks forward to meeting all of the Correspondents and capturing all of the beautiful moments that this conference has to offer!

Laura Townsley

Advance Team Member

Laura is a senior at Virginia Tech studying Human Development and Psychology. She is on the leadership board for Cru at Virginia Tech, as the Production Manager where she has found her love of event planning and management. Laura is also involved in Chi Delta Alpha, a service sorority, where she has completed over 100 hours of community service. Laura studied abroad in Switzerland and Rwanda last fall, and after graduating hopes to continue to travel the world. She is very grateful for this opportunity to serve on the Advance Team and is looking forward to everything she will experience and learn through this position.

Madison O’Conner

Advance Team Member

Madison will be a graduating senior at George Mason University in the Fall 2017 semester. She will be the first of her family to be completing her bachelor’s degree and hopes to inspire other first generation students to achieve the same. Madison is studying Tourism and Events Management within George Mason University’s School of Recreation Health and Tourism. She has had the unique opportunity to work with the Office of Admissions helping prospective students and working as an events intern. Throughout Madison’s undergraduate career she has been involved in many campus organizations and activities including Greek life, GMU Upcycling club, intramural sports and various dance clubs. She has held leadership roles in the GMU Upcycling club, as a member if her sorority’s executive council and will be a panhellenic recruitment counselor in the Fall 2017 semester. Madison cannot wait to help the students attending the Washington Scholars Program prepare for their future!

Michael Latimer

Advance Team Member

Michael Latimer is a recent graduate of George Mason University and a native of Miami, Florida. A member of the Honors College, he received his Bachelor of Science studying Environmental Science with a concentration in Conservation. A Washington Youth Summit on the Environment alumnus, he always had a passion for environmental conservation and the Washington Scholars Program (WSP). Here at Mason, he has been an intern with the Admissions Office for WSP and the events management team and previously was a Junior Faculty Advisor for the conferences. In the fall of 2016, he attended the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC) in Front Royal, VA, exploring the ways that science, management and policy address current conservation issues in and out of the field. While at SMSC, he had the amazing opportunity working with the institute’s small animal population on site and was a resident advisor as well. Other opportunities he has had were being part of the Green Patriots, Mason’s club volleyball team, and worked with the restoration of pine rocklands in Miami Dade County. Michael can’t wait to work at the conference and meet all the amazing people!

Brianna “Bree” St. Clair

Event Coordinator & Advance Team Member

Brianna (“Bree”) is an Event Coordinator for George Mason’s Office of Admissions and the Overnight Advance Team Member for the Washington Scholars Program (WSP). In her role as Event Coordinator, she works alongside Selina, the Event Manger, to plan and run all recruitment events for George Mason University. As the Overnight Advance Team Member, Brianna will handle matters that may arise after normal conference hours in addition to facilitating the on-campus logistics for the conference. Brianna earned her BA in Theater with a minor in Tourism and Event Management from George Mason University in May 2015 and is currently pursuing an MA in Arts Management. Brianna can’t wait to work her second conference season with her new WSP family!

Alex Rosenwald

ALEX ROSENWALD

Senior Director of Strategic Communications and Publicity, MediaDC

Alex Rosenwald is Senior Director of Strategic Communications and Publicity for MediaDC, where he is responsible for the communications and publicity of the operating company and the Washington Examiner. At MediaDC, he focuses on strategic communications and tactical implementation: extending MediaDC and the Washington Examiner among traditional and new media, and the staff to implement it. He earned a BS degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University. A diehard Angels fan, Alex and his wife Maddie and hound Stella live in the City of Fairfax.