Tag: 2023

Allison Alberty

ALLISON ALBERTY

Advance Team Member

Allison Alberty is the Assistant Director of Outreach Events and Programs in the Office of Admissions at George Mason University. A proud (almost) double Patriot, she is both a George Mason and Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC) alumna. Allison earned her BA in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations in Spring 2023 and is currently pursuing her MA in Strategic Communication. Outside of work and graduate school, you’ll find her at rock concerts, on a yoga mat, nurturing her growing plant collection, or finding the best new brunch spots in town.

ALLISON ALBERTY

Advance Team Member

Savannah Behrmann

SAVANNAH BEHRMANN

Politics and Congress Reporter

Savannah Rose Behrmann was most recently the Senate Correspondent for National Journal, where she roamed the halls of Capitol Hill focusing on the legislative and bipartisan gridlock of Congress’ upper chamber. Prior, she served as a Congressional Reporter at USA TODAY, where she led the newspaper’s coverage of both chambers of Congress. Previously, she worked as a Politics NOW Reporter at USA TODAY, covering breaking political news that ranged from the 2020 election, Congress, the White House, and the Supreme Court. Beforehand, she was a News Associate at CNN. Savannah hails 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 then worked as a staff member for several years.

SAVANNAH BEHRMANN

Politics and Congress Reporter

Nadgeena Jerome

NADGEENA JEROME

Multimedia Journalist

A first-generation Haitian-American, Nadgeena Jerome is a dynamic multimedia journalist, on-camera host, and content creator with a focus on lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and entertainment. Over the past year, she has covered major cultural events including New York Fashion Week, Miami Swim Week, Arizona Fashion Week, and Swim Week Las Vegas, while continuing to produce engaging digital content for national media brands and her personal platform, The JooJoo Journey.

Previously, she served as a senior lifestyle reporter and assistant editor at The U.S. Sun, and has held on-air and digital roles at News 12, Talent Recap, and 2M Media Group in Washington, D.C.

Nadgeena is a proud alumna of George Mason University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in communication in 2017. She is also a proud 2012 alumna of the Washington Journalism and Media Conference and is honored to return as a featured speaker, continuing to give back to the organization that helped spark and shape her path in journalism.

Outside of journalism, Nadgeena is a signed professional model, a nationally recognized pageant competitor, and the founder of The Unbroken Collective, a mental health initiative tied to her lifestyle brand. She placed 1st runner-up at the 2024 and 2025 Miss Virginia USA pageants and is currently completing her first children’s book. She also serves as an advocacy ambassador for the National Alliance on Mental Illness and is a Girls Write Now mentor.

NADGEENA JEROME

Multimedia Journalist

Previously, she served as a senior lifestyle reporter and assistant editor at The U.S. Sun, and has held on-air and digital roles at News 12, Talent Recap, and 2M Media Group in Washington, D.C.

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

Megan Tucker is an assistant term professor and the Director of Academic Advising for the Communication department. In the past, Megan served as the BA Program Director for the department from 2017-2020. Previoulsy, Megan has also worked full time in Washington DC at the National Communication Association on the student learning outcomes grant. She has formerly worked as an adjunct professor of Communication at Johns Hopkins University, Northern Virginia Community College, and as an academic advisor at Marymount University.

Megan 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, Megan 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

Megan Tucker is an assistant term professor and the Director of Academic Advising for the Communication department. In the past, Megan served as the BA Program Director for the department from 2017-2020. Previously, Megan has also worked full time in Washington DC at the National Communication Association on the student learning outcomes grant. She has formerly worked as an adjunct professor of Communication at Johns Hopkins University, Northern Virginia Community College, and as an academic advisor at Marymount University.

Mark Hilburn

MARK HILBURN

Faculty Advisor

Mark has taught journalism for 15 years at Millard West High School in Omaha, Nebraska and advises the news broadcast, newspaper, yearbook, radio and sports live-streaming. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha teaching Media Writing and Public Speaking Fundamentals while working on a Ph.D. in educational leadership. 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 nationwide He holds master’s in journalism and mass communication from the University of Nebraska. He was named the 2015 Nebraska Distinguished Journalism Teacher of the Year, in 2019 received the Dr. Sherrie Wilson Outstanding Service Award for Journalism, and in 2020, received the Future Administrator Award from JEA.

MARK HILBURN

Faculty Advisor

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.

Dr. Richard T. Craig

DR. RICHARD T. CRAIG

MA Director, Communication, George Mason University

Richard Craig directs the MA program in the Department of Communication at George Mason University and teaches at the undergraduate and graduate level about the influence of the media. He has been a part of the university and the communications department 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. In recognition for his work, he received the 2021 Spirit of King Faculty Award as part of Mason’s annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Evening of Reflection event.

DR. RICHARD T. CRAIG

MA Director, Communication, 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

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.