Tag: 2019

Juliette Rouge

JULIETTE ROUGE

Dean, School of Security and Global Studies, American Public University System

Dr. Juliette Rouge (Shedd) is the Dean of the School of Security and Global Studies. Before joining APUS, Dr. Rouge worked at George Mason University for 17 years where she held the positions of Associate Dean and Associate Professor at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. Her responsibilities included leading the Carter School’s administrative staff, budget, and administrative processes, along with new program and partnership development, where she spearheaded efforts to roll out effective distance education offerings.

Dr. Rouge also taught research and practice methods courses, along with courses on terrorism, peacebuilding, media and conflict, 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. Dr. Rouge’s 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.

An active community practitioner, Dr. Rouge works internationally on peacebuilding in divided communities and developing local leadership capacity with communities in Ukraine, Serbia, Myanmar, and Central Asia. Locally, Dr. Rouge works with communities to collaboratively address contentious local issues. These projects include media literacy and dialogue training, conflict resolution in schools, police-community engagement, and supporting community engagement processes for local government on issues like confederate legacy street names and monuments. Her projects are funded by local governments, the Virginia Department of Education, USAID, the Department of State, and nonprofit organizations.

Matt Rasgorshek

MATT RASGORSHEK

Faculty Advisor

Rasgorshek is the journalism adviser at Creighton Prep in Omaha, Nebraska. He has advised broadcast, yearbook and online publications that have received state and national recognition. Prior to teaching journalism, Matt worked in broadcasting as a newscast director, radio talent and producer, videographer and video editor. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, running and playing guitar.

MATT RASGORSHEK

Faculty Advisor

Matt Schott

MATT SCHOTT

Faculty Advisor

Matthew is the publications adviser at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., as well as a freelance photographer, specializing in high school sports. He has been the adviser at FHC for the past 21 years and has been a faculty adviser at WJMC since 2011. In addition to photography, Matt is an avid reader and consumer of all things journalism, is a huge soccer fan, Chicago Blackhawks and Cubs fan. He is married with two kids and two dogs.

MATT SCHOTT

Faculty Advisor

Melissa Larson

MELISSA LARSON

Faculty Advisor

Melissa Larson is excited to return to WJMC for her 10th year as a Faculty Advisor for the Pink Group. Melissa taught technology, photography, and journalism for 14 years, before leaving the classroom to chase dreams, and is now working at Edpuzzle making educational videos. She advised yearbook and online publications which received numerous state and national awards. In 2014, she received the “Rising Star” Award from the Journalism Education Association. In 2013, she was recognized as one of nine Apple Award Finalists for Secondary Educator of the Year in the Douglas County School District. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, photography, reading, hiking, and traveling.

Chrissy Wiedemann

CHRISSY WIEDEMANN

Student Support

As a teacher for 19 years, Chrissy enjoys working with students in English and journalism at Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virginia. Chrissy received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from George Mason University. A proud Patriot, she connected to an international community there and developed her love of writing. As part of Patriot Nation, she traveled to Indianapolis in 2006 to watch the Cinderella team head to the Final Four. (Florida continues to be her least favorite team.) When she can, Chrissy loves to see live music in DC, enjoy summers on the beach and traveling to other countries. Chrissy is excited to return to Mason for WJMC and can’t wait to meet new friends this summer!

CHRISSY WIEDEMANN

Student Support

April van Buren

APRIL VAN BUREN

Faculty Advisor

April van Buren, M.J.E., advises newspaper, broadcast and yearbook, and also teaches various digital media classes including graphic design and social media and marketing at East High School in Madison, Wisconsin. She has taught journalism for more than 20 years, including at Parkway Central High School near St. Louis, Missouri and at Mesa Vista Middle and High School in rural New Mexico. She has been an adjunct professor for the communications department at the University of New Mexico-Taos. From 2010 to 2013, she served as the New Mexico director for the Journalism Education Association (JEA) and as the vice president of the New Mexico Scholastic Press Association. She earned her National Board certification in language arts in 2012, and studied journalism, education and library sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She was the 2013 New Mexico Adviser of the Year, is the current President of the Kettle Moraine Press Association, serves on the Wisconsin JEA Board and previously ran the JEA national quiz bowl and the broadcast contests.

APRIL VAN BUREN

Faculty Advisor

Jessica Young

JESSICA YOUNG

Faculty Advisor

Jessica Young is returning for another summer with the Washington Journalism and Media Conference. She teaches yearbook, journalism, photography, video production and graphic design at Orange Glen High School in Escondido, California. Her yearbook staff was recognized as the 2025 Diversity Award winner, for their commitment to creating a multi-lingual yearbook for their diverse school population. Young earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and anthropology from San Diego State University and her master’s degree in education from University of California, San Diego. Outside the classroom, she serves as the vice president and communications chair for her school district’s teachers union. She is also the president of the San Diego Journalism Education Association and serves as the secretary for the Southern California Journalism Education Association. In addition to teaching, she also enjoys running, baking, baseball, putting glitter on things and traveling. She has conquered the Original Marathon Greece, the Inca Trail in Peru, and the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. She and her husband are on a quest to visit all the major league baseball stadiums across the country.

JESSICA YOUNG

Faculty Advisor

Jessica Young is returning for another summer with the Washington Journalism and Media Conference. She teaches yearbook, journalism, photography, video production and graphic design at Orange Glen High School in Escondido, California. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and anthropology from San Diego State University and her master’s degree in education from University of California, San Diego. Outside the classroom, she serves as the vice president and communications chair for her school district’s teachers union. She is also the president of the San Diego Journalism Education Association and serves as the secretary for the Southern California Journalism Education Association. In addition to teaching, she also enjoys running, baking, watching baseball, putting glitter on things, and traveling. She has conquered the Original Marathon Greece, the Inca Trail in Peru, and the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. She and her husband are on a quest to visit all the major league baseball stadiums across the country.

Abrianna Nelson

ABRIANNA NELSON

Faculty Advisor

Abrianna Nelson, CJE, teaches journalism and advises newspaper, yearbook, broadcast, and literary magazine at Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington, Va. She also serves as a Curriculum Coordinator for the Journalism Education Association’s Curriculum Initiative; previously she served as the Entrepreneurship Module Leader from 2013-2017. Additionally, Nelson previously advised newspaper and yearbook at Pleasant Ridge High School in Easton, Kan from 2011-2014. She majored in journalism and history at Washington and Lee University and interned with the Fairfax County Times and USA Today. Nelson also holds an M.A.Ed. in Education from The College of William and Mary and an Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia. Her specialties include web-based journalism and social media. In her free time, Nelson enjoys creative writing, binge-watching, rock climbing, and triathlon training.

Katie Fletcher

KATIE FLETCHER

Faculty Advisor

Katie (Fletch) Fletcher is a proud native Texan with a BA in political science and English from Texas Tech University. She teaches in a small town and is the sole member of the fine arts department at her school, where she oversees the production of the yearbook and the coordination of photography, teaches all art courses, and is in her 16th year of instructing journalism. Katie advises student council, fostering leadership skills and encouraging meaningful contributions to both the school and the community. She is passionate about the leadership development supported by both student council and WJMC, and she finds fulfillment in watching her students grow and succeed. Katie enjoys spending time with her family, photography, reading, attending concerts and festivals with her sister Emily, following sports, playing spades, and traveling. She is thrilled to return to WJMC!

KATIE FLETCHER

Faculty Advisor

Maggie Campbell

MAGGIE CAMPBELL

Junior Faculty Advisor

Maggie Campbell is a rising senior at Ohio University studying journalism and a Washington, D.C. area native. She attended WJMC as a correspondent in 2014 and has served as a Junior Faculty Advisor since the summer of 2017. While at Ohio University she has been active in the campus Society of Professional Journalists and the student-run publication The Post. This past year she served as president of OUSPJ and was a copy editor, social media contributor, and member of The Post’s investigations team. She has covered issues such as education, facilities, and sexual assault in schools. Maggie has previously been recognized for her public affairs reporting by the Central Ohio chapter of Society of Professional Journalists. Maggie is looking for toward to a great summer of watching aspiring journalists grow and discover D.C.