Tag: 2019

Christopher Mauthe

CHRIS MAUTHE

Faculty Advisor

As an educator for 10 years, Chris has enjoyed working with both students and adults as a classroom teacher and instructional coach. Currently, he teaches Sociology, and US/VA Government at Yorktown High School in Arlington, VA. Prior to his placement there, he worked for two years in the North Clackamas School District outside Portland, OR as an instruction and equity coach for K-12 Health and Social Studies teachers around teaching for social justice across the content. In the spring of 2017, Chris was invited by the Ugandan Ministry of Education to travel to Uganda where he presented workshops on leadership in the field of education as part of the team that organized and presented “Teachers Transform the Nation” in Kampala. He started his career as a middle school Social Studies teacher at Swanson Middle School in Arlington, VA. Chris received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from James Madison University. When he’s not traveling, Chris spends his spare time seeing live music at all the amazing venues and cheering on the Washington Nationals. Chris is thrilled to be joining the WJMC family and can’t wait to work with everyone!

Mark Hilburn

MARK HILBURN

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Mark Hilburn is an assistant principal at Millard West High School in Omaha, Neb., and adjunct professor in the College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media at the University of Nebraska Omaha where he was named the 2026 Adjunct Professor of the Year. For 16 years, Mark taught journalism and advised the MWHS Wildcat News broadcast, Catalyst newspaper, Prowler yearbook, Uproar radio, and Wildcat Sports Network livestreaming. His publications have been Pacemaker, Crown, All-American, Best in Show and NSAA State Journalism Championship winners, the first school inducted into the NHSPA Cornhusker Hall of Fame, and Mark has advised four Nebraska Journalists of the Year. Mark was named the Nebraska Journalism Teacher of the Year in 2015, was the first adviser to receive the Dr. Sherrie Wilson Outstanding Service Award for Journalism in 2019, and the JEA Future Administrator Award in 2020. Mark is the past President of the Nebraska High School Press Association, presents and judges at national JEA/NSPA and CSPA conventions and teaches journalism workshops across the country. He holds a doctoral degree in Education Leadership, and two Master’s degrees, Journalism and Mass Communication and Secondary Education Curriculum and Instruction, from the University of Nebraska. Mark is looking forward to his 9th summer as a faculty adviser at WJMC.

MARK HILBURN

Faculty Advisor

Sami Gibbs

SAMI GIBBS

Junior Faculty Advisor

Sami is a sophomore at George Mason University where she is majoring in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and double minors in Political Communication and Global Affairs. This past summer, Sami served as a Speaker Intern for WJMC 2018. She enjoys staying involved on campus as a Mason Ambassador, a News writer for The Fourth Estate, a member of Mason Cable News, an intern for the Washington Scholars Program, and a Student Government Senator. Recently, Sami has covered the much-anticipated appearance of Rep. John Lewis, which was featured on the cover of The Fourth Estate and has also co-anchored Mason Cable News on several occasions. Back at her hometown, Brentwood, California, Sami was a 2-year Editor-in-Chief of her high school’s paper, The Lion’s Roar, which earned a nationally-ranked first place award. She also created and ran a “Humans of Liberty” social media page and served as the student representative to the school board. WJMC will always hold a special place in Sami’s heart and she is grateful for the program, and those who were a part of it, for motivating her to pursue a career in the field. She looks forward to all the success that WJMC 2019 will bring!

Lauren Devenzio

LAUREN DEVENZIO

Junior Faculty Advisor

Lauren Devenzio is a freshman Political Science major and Journalism minor at Texas A&M University. She is the founder and current President of the Texas A&M University Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. She is also involved in Greek life, Aggie Experience Council as a campus tour guide, Fish Camp, the Dean’s List, and she works at a television show called the Texas Bucket List as their Production Assistant. Lauren couldn’t be more thrilled to return to WJMC for her third summer, and she can’t wait to get to know all of the incredible correspondents! Feel free to reach out to her with any questions or just to be friends via Instagram @laur.devv or Twitter @LaurenDevenzio.

Diane Roberts

DIANE ROBERTS

Sports Anchor/Reporter, WUSA9; Correspondent, Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien

Diane has more than 20 years experience in broadcasting, and is a sports anchor and reporter on WUSA9, where she specializes in feature reporting. She enjoys telling the stories about athletes persevering through adversity and getting to the heart of what makes players tick. She has interviewed athletes from Michael Jordan and Bryce Harper to the second chance high school coach who turned around a team and the cheerleader who fought cancer with the help of her community.

She is also a correspondent with Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, a nationally syndicated political magazine program rated the #1 new weekend show in syndication. Diane is also the President and Founder of Diane’s Talking, a company that assists with all broadcasting and communications needs, from producing high quality videos that tell the story of companies and businesses to voice over work and media coaching.

Scott Jackson

SCOTT JACKSON

Freelance Sports Broadcaster and Talk Show Host, SiriusXM

Scott Jackson is a freelance broadcaster in Washington D.C. He is a fill-in talk show host at Team 980 and 106.7 The Fan, part time sports anchor at SiriusXM and WTOP, and the TV play-by-play voice for ODU Basketball. A Northern Virginia native and lifelong D.C. sports fan, Jackson is also the official Washington Commanders Football Post-Game Show co-host. He also calls high school basketball and lacrosse for Monumental Sports Network. His career includes time in Raleigh, NC and Jacksonville, FL.

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.

Dr. Richard T. Craig

DR. RICHARD T. CRAIG

Associate Chair Professor, Communications, George Mason University

Dr. Craig is a Professor of Communication at George Mason University. He has been a part of the university and the Department of Communication 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.

DR. RICHARD T. CRAIG

Associate Chair Professor, Communications, George Mason University

Meghan A.T.B. Reese

MEGHAN A.T.B. REESE

Photographer and Videographer

Meghan is a producer, director, and writer whose credits include National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, History Channel, Animal Planet, Amazon Prime, PBS, Microsoft, Facebook, and NASA. She is also a photographer for the National Park Service, where she has covered three presidential administrations at her assigned park, The White House. Her photography has been featured by The National Park Service, The New York Times, The L.A. Times, The Wall Street Journal, PBS, and more. Prior to transitioning to television and film, Meghan was an award-winning writer and editor, beginning her career at USA Today. She holds a journalism degree from American University and is completing her Master’s in journalism at Emerson College.

MEGHAN A.T.B. REESE

Photographer and Videographer

Sonya Gavankar

SONYA GAVANKAR

Multi-Media Content Creator

Sonya Gavankar is a communicator who uses dynamic story-telling techniques as a spokesperson, television and podcast host, filmmaker and social multi-media content creator. Her work with the Newseum brings a cohesive voice to the its 250,000 square feet of exhibit and interactive programming. She can be seen hosting programs and giving commentary on everything from hard news to cooking shows on ABC and CBS affiliates, PBS, QVC and even the Puppy Bowl!

For close to two decades she has trained millennials for job interviews using a unique connection between personal brand building and social graces. The launch of HerExchange.com brings a new perspective to insightful conversations and professional development tools with a cross platform approach of the written word, podcasts and live workshops.

Philanthropy is an important part of her life. She serves on several national boards that focus on education and social change, like the Hugh O’Brian Foundation, The Miss America Organization and Ladies America.