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Tag: 2024

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Speakers

Keirsten Robinson

KEIRSTEN ROBINSON

Faculty Advisor, WJMC Alumna

Keirsten Robinson is a WJMC and George Mason alumna who currently works as a digital political strategist.  She graduated with a BA in Communication with concentrations in journalism and public relations and minored in both political communications and American government. During her time at Mason, Keirsten was a staff writer for the Fourth Estate and an anchor for Mason Cable News. In her current role, she creates digital media content for political campaigns and organizations. Most notably, she contributed to President Biden’s 2020 campaign as well as the 2 Georgia Run-Off Elections. In her free time she enjoys traveling the world, trying new food, and attending as many concerts as possible!

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Speakers

Dr. Alan Byrd

DR. ALAN BYRD

Dean of Admissions, George Mason University

Alan Byrd began his tenure as Dean of Admissions at George Mason University in November 2020. With over 20 years of experience in enrollment management and community engagement, Dr. Byrd has a long, successful track record of leading, planning, and coordinating student recruitment and retention initiatives. He brings a team-oriented, data-driven recruitment approach to Mason that prioritizes exceptional service and commitment to student success.

Prior to Mason, Dr. Byrd was the chief enrollment officer at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He led UMSL to several new milestones for enrollment growth, diversity of the student body, the academic profile of incoming students, and graduation rates. Removing financial barriers for students was central to his work in St. Louis, where he developed innovative financial aid programs such as the “UMSL Grant” and “Finish Your Degree Scholarship” that reduced the average student loan debt at graduation by 12% and earned UMSL national recognition as a top 100 institution for social mobility according to U.S. News & World Report. 

Dr. Byrd received his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at UMSL. He earned a B.A. in Communication and an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from Southeast Missouri State University.

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Faculty Advisor Staff

Britney Crowe

BRITNEY CROWE

Faculty Advisor

Britney has been teaching for 21 years north of San Antonio in a consolidated school district; eighteen years at the junior high and the last three at Samuel Clemens High School- both of which offer journalism electives. Journalism, photojournalism, advanced newspaper, and advanced yearbook are the disciplines she fosters to students who are lured by the energy and excitement she exudes because she LOVES watching the students fall in love with commitment to telling factual truth. 

Britney volunteers at photography contests to judge and critique competitors’ entries. She has students earning All-state Journalists awards, ATPI first places for digital construction, and for the first time ever The Stampede (yearbook) was awarded first place from NSPA. Britney belongs to JEA, ILPC, and ATPI and enjoys attending conventions with or without students. The high school where she advises takes pride in producing 7-9 print editions of newspapers, 4 magazines, and online newspaper, and a 296-page yearbook every year.

In her free time, Britney is raising twin fourteen-year-old girls, and a high school senior, Eagle Scout who will be graduating from both college and high school within the same month. She loves gardening, reading novels, and afternoon naps. Travel fuels her heart with confidence in humanity that “people are really good at heart.” -Anne Frank

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Advance Team Staff

Allison Alberty

ALLISON ALBERTY

Advance Team Member

Allison Alberty is the K12 Coordinator in the Office of Admissions at George Mason University and is both a WJMC and George Mason alumna. She received her BA in Communication and concentration in Public Relations in Spring of 2023 and is currently pursuing an MA in Strategic Communication. In her free time, Allison enjoys attending rock concerts, yoga sessions, adopting plants, and finding new brunch spots!

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Advisory Board Speakers

Savannah Behrmann

SAVANNAH BEHRMANN

Senate Correspondent, National Journal

Savannah Rose Behrmann is the Senate Correspondent for National Journal, where she roams 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.

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Faculty Advisor Staff

Mark Hilburn

MARK HILBURN

Faculty Advisor

Mark Hilburn is in his fourteenth year teaching journalism at Millard West High School in Omaha, Nebraska, where he advises the MWHS Wildcat News Broadcast, Catalyst Newspaper, Prowler Yearbook and Striv live-streaming.  Mark is also an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha where he teaches Media Writing while working on his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. Currently, Mark is serving as 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 is a Master Journalism Educator, Mentor and serves on the Certification Committee through the Journalism Education Association. He holds Master’s degrees in Journalism and Mass Communication and Secondary Education: Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nebraska. His publications have been Pacemaker, Gold Crown and All-American award winners, received 1st place in the NSPA Best of Show competition, won State Journalism Champions in 2017 and 2014 and State Runner-Up in 2018, 2016 and 2013. Mark advised the 2022, 2019, and 2018 Nebraska Journalists of the Year and received the Excellence in Broadcasting Award from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2022, 2020 and 2018. Mark was named the 2015 Nebraska Distinguished Journalism Teacher of the Year, in 2019 was the first adviser to receive the Dr. Sherrie Wilson Outstanding Service Award for Journalism, and in 2020, received the Future Administrator Award and Scholarship from the Journalism Education Association. This is his fifth year with WJMC.

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Faculty Advisor

Matt Rasgorshek

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MATT RASGORSHEK

Faculty Advisor

Matt Rasgorshek is the journalism advisor at Creighton Prep High School in Omaha, NE. He has advised video and online publications that have received state, regional and national recognition. Rasgorshek has been recognized as a Distinguished Broadcast Advisor of the year by the Journalism Education Association as well as as one of the country’s top journalism advisors by the Dow Jones News Fund. Prior to teaching journalism, Matt worked behind the camera as a newscast director, producer, videographer and editor in local affiliates in Omaha and Phoenix. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, running and playing golf.

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Faculty Advisor

Matt Schott

MATT SCHOTT

Faculty Advisor

Matt Schott is the publications adviser at Francis Howell Central High School in St. Charles, Mo., where he just completed his 17th year.  He advises the newspaper, yearbook, website and broadcast at FHC, where students have been the recipients of numerous local, state and national awards. He’s been honored with two teaching awards by the Dow Jones News Fund, was the 2010 Journalism Teacher of the Year in Missouri and was named one of six recipients of the Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award in 2019. Prior to teaching, Matt was a designer and editor at newspapers in Missouri, Illinois and Florida. Matt also is a freelance photographer for various clients around St. Louis in his free time and loves soccer and reading.

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Faculty Advisor

April van Buren

APRIL VAN BUREN

Faculty Advisor

April van Buren, MJE, advises yearbook (Tower Tales), broadcast (Tower TV), and a new journalism website (Tower Media), and also teaches various digital media classes including graphic design and web design at East High School in Madison, WI.  She has taught journalism for about 18 years, including at Parkway Central High School in suburban St. Louis and at Mesa Vista Middle and High School in rural New Mexico. She has also been an adjunct professor for the Communications Department at the University of New Mexico-Taos. From 2010 to May of 2013, she served as the New Mexico director for the Journalism Education Association and as the Vice President of the NM 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 NM Adviser of the Year and currently serves on the Board for the Kettle Moraine Press Association and as the Broadcast Contest Director for the Journalism Education Association. In her free time, she likes to read young adult fiction, and plays roller derby and ice hockey.

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Faculty Advisor

Jessica Young

JESSICA YOUNG

Faculty Advisor

Jessica Young is returning for another summer with the Washington Journalism and Media Conference.  Young teaches yearbook, journalism, photography, video production and graphic design at Orange Glen High School in Escondido, Calif. 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. She serves as the Vice President and Communications Chair for her school district’s teachers union. Young is the President of the San Diego Journalism Education Association and serves on the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees for the Quill and Scroll International Journalism Honor Society. She is an active member of the scholastic journalism community and teaches at workshops and conventions around the country. She was recognized as a “Rising Star” by the Journalism Education Association in 2012. In addition to teaching, Young works as freelance writer, photographer and graphic designer. 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. In 2020, she fostered and adopted an Australian Cattle Dog, named Juno, who is now her best friend and #1 sidekick.