Tag: 2021

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.

Assad Khan

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.

Katie Urban

KATIE URBAN

Communications Manager, Latham & Watkins

Katie Urban is a communications manager at Latham & Watkins, leading communications for the law firm’s professional development and training initiatives. Prior to joining Latham, Katie worked on the corporate communications team at Capital One, specializing in public relations, earned media engagement, and influencer strategy for Capital One’s flagship consumer credit cards. She has also worked at Arlington-based real estate developer CRC Companies, where she developed marketing and communications strategies to assist with property lease-ups, win new business, and recruit new talent to the firm.

In college, Katie interned at Conde Nast for Glamour Magazine in New York City and at the NBC News affiliate in Charlottesville, Virginia. She also was an editor and columnist for The Cavalier Daily.

Katie holds a bachelor’s degree in media studies and American studies from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in professional studies in corporate communications and public relations from Georgetown University.

KATIE URBAN

Communications Manager, Latham & Watkins

In college, Katie interned at Conde Nast for Glamour Magazine in New York City and at the NBC News affiliate in Charlottesville, Virginia. She also was an editor and columnist for The Cavalier Daily.

Steve Taglieri

STEPHEN TAGLIERI

Marketing and Communications Consultant and Founder, Kingdom Multimedia, LLC

Gillian Brassil covers securities litigation for Bloomberg Law. Prior to joining Bloomberg, she reported on federal politics for McClatchy’s California papers in DC. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University.

STEVE TAGLIERI

Marketing and Communications Consultant and Founder, Kingdom Multimedia, LLC

Steve Taglieri is a conservation and climate communications specialist who graduated from George Mason University (Class of 2022). With a background in conservation biology and photojournalism, Steve has paired the two disciplines to assist eco-friendly organizations grow their online presence and outreach strategies. Steve has worked and written for the Smithsonian Zoo and Magazine, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Reverse the Red campaign, the Institute for Advertising Ethics, and the American Forest Foundation. Most recently, he founded Kingdom Multimedia LLC, a creative agency creating green impact through communications and marketing strategies. Actively working with the Indian Land Tenure Foundation and The Nature Conservancy, Steve merges public relations, videography, and journalism to grow climate awareness at eco-oriented organizations that have not previously allocated resources to this mission.

Kayla Sharpe

KAYLA SHARPE

Deputy Newsletter Team Leader at Bloomberg Industry Group

Kayla N. Sharpe is a Washington, D.C.-based digital journalist focused on media, society, and audience engagement. She is the deputy newsletter team leader at Bloomberg Industry Group where she oversees the production of more than 60 newsletters covering law, government, tax, and accounting. She previously served as an associate editor at Axios, working with reporters in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Twin Cities covering national and local issues. She has also worked at POLITICO as an engagement editor for subscriber strategy and as a digital producer, and at the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting supporting student and freelance journalists covering under-reported global issues.

Kayla graduated from the College of William & Mary in 2017 with degrees in film and media and American studies and served as the inaugural digital media editor for the campus newspaper, The Flat Hat. Kayla’s reporting has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, receiving their 2017 Regional Mark of Excellence Award for In-Depth Reporting, and William & Mary, receiving the university’s 2016 Rex Smith Journalism Award. She was also selected for the National Press Foundation 2024 “Widening the Pipeline” Fellowship focused on newsroom leadership skills for journalists of color.

Kayla is proud to be an engaged William & Mary alumna and currently serves as the co-chair of the Young Guarde Alumni Council and as vice chair of the William & Mary Washington Center Advisory Board. She is also a member of the Lambda Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.

Learn more about Kayla and view her work at www.kaylasharpe.com

KAYLA SHARPE

Deputy Newsletter Team Leader at Bloomberg Industry Group

Learn more about Kayla and view her work at www.kaylasharpe.com

Britney Crowe

BRITNEY CROWE

Faculty Advisor

Britney began her journey with WJMC six years ago when she nominated students for the program, and she continues to come back to this program as a faculty advisor. She is a mentor, teacher, co-worker, mother, and child of Christ. She is finishing her 27th year of teaching in Texas and she just distributed her 24th yearbook to a campus of 3000 students. She lives in central Texas near her grown children, and her companions include two kitties and her plants. Britney enjoys travel, hiking, camping, new foods, and gathering stories from strangers.

BRITNEY CROWE

Faculty Advisor

Savannah Behrmann

SAVANNAH BEHRMANN

Politics and Congress Reporter

Savannah Rose Behrmann is a political and congressional reporter who currently covers the Senate and its leadership for CQ Roll Call. Previously, she served as the Senate correspondent for National Journal and as a congressional reporter at USA TODAY, where she led the newspaper’s coverage of both chambers of Congress. Beyond the halls of the Capitol, Savannah has reported from the campaign trail, covering the 2020 and 2024 elections, as well as the White House and the Supreme Court. She also frequently appears on air to discuss her reporting and analysis of Congress. Savannah is from Utah and attended George Mason University, where she graduated in 2018. She is a proud alumna of the Washington Journalism and Media Conference, which she attended as a National Youth Correspondent in 2013 and later served as a staff member for several years.

SAVANNAH BEHRMANN

Politics and Congress Reporter

Rondene Grinam

RONDENE GRINAM

Global Email Marketing Manager, Microsoft

Rondene Grinam is a global email marketing manager at Microsoft. Previously, she was a marketing specialist at Gartner, a leading business research and advisory company. In this role, she managed marketing campaign strategy through channels like email, web content, and social media. She also served as the communications lead for Gartner’s multicultural employee group.

She developed an early interest in communications as a writer for her high school news publications and columnist for her city’s newspaper. While attending George Mason University, she was involved in a variety of opportunities to develop a career around her passions for global communication, social media, and public relations.

An alum of the Washington Scholars Program for young aspiring communications professionals, she held a number of enriching internships throughout her undergraduate career, most notably in marketing at Northern Virginia Magazine and the British Embassy Washington. She has also refined her intercultural communication skills through studying abroad in France and Italy, and through interning for Italian travel agency Florence for Fun and George Mason’s Center for Global Education.

Rondene received a bachelor’s degree in communication with a concentration in public relations and minors in journalism and global affairs from George Mason University in May 2016. In December 2018, she earned a master’s degree in International Commerce and Policy.

She loves being a part of the WJMC family and is thrilled to be a part of the conference again this year.

RONDENE GRINAM

Global Email Marketing Manager, Microsoft

She loves being a part of the WJMC family and is thrilled to be a part of the conference again this year.

Megan Tucker

MEGAN TUCKER

Communication Faculty, George Mason University

Meg Tucker is an associate term professor for the Communication department. In the past, Meg served as the BA Program Director for the department from 2017-2020, and the Director of Academic Advising from 2020-2023. Previously, Meg has also worked full time in Washington D.C. at the National Communication Association on the student learning outcomes grant. She has formerly worked as an adjunct professor at NVCC. Meg received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and English (Journalism) from Christopher Newport University. Her Master of Arts in Communication is from George Mason University. In 2015, Meg earned her PhD in Higher Education with a focus in Communication from GMU. Her research interests include student development, communication and academic advising, interpersonal and organizational communication, media, identity, small group communication, student services, learning outcomes, assessment and marginalized student groups.

MEGAN TUCKER

Communication Faculty, George Mason University

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.