Tag: 2024

Leah Garofalo

LEAH GAROFALO

Junior Faculty Advisor

Leah Garofalo is a Political Science student at Boston University. She was a National Youth Correspondent in 2023 and an Intern in 2024. She is excited to come back to the program for a third time this summer! WJMC has taught her so many lessons that she carries with her each day. In her free time, Leah is a part of the BU Mock Trial Organization, which is currently ranked 8th in the nation. She loves music, playing guitar, writing, and reading!

LEAH GAROFALO

Junior Faculty Advisor

Skylar Yung

SKYLAR YUNG

Junior Faculty Advisor

Skylar is a rising sophomore studying Advertising and Public Relations at the University of North Carolina’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media with a focus in Business Communications. In her free time, Skylar enjoys traveling, trying new things and talking about food. Skylar attended WJMC as a high school junior and returned the next summer as WJMC’s Logistics Intern. She jumped at the chance to return as a JFA to make more memories and deepen her understanding of journalism. WJMC has introduced many opportunities in Skylar’s life. As a JFA, she hopes to give students the same experience and impact that WJMC has given her.

SKYLAR YUNG

Junior Faculty Advisor

Patrick Money

PATRICK MONEY

Director of Freshman Admissions, George Mason University

Patrick Money is the Director of Admissions for Freshman Recruitment for George
Mason University. After starting as a student employee at the Admissions office in
2006, he has spent the last sixteen years as a member of the Mason Admissions
family helping students and families find the right college destination.

Patrick is a Mason alumnus x 2 with a B.A in Psychology and his M.A in Higher
Education Administration. If he is not attending a Washington Nationals game
in D.C, you will find him overseeing domestic recruitment strategy and
implementation, admissions data management, and freshmen application review for Mason. Being busy is a must, but his love for coffee carries him through most of the recruitment cycle!

One of his favorite memories was when he made his initial
decision to come to Mason back in 2006 after he saw the Men’s basketball team reach the final four live at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.! (He still talks about it like it happened yesterday, and shows no signs of changing that!!)

Patrick has a passion for higher education and even more so for George Mason University and the opportunities for an access-driven enrollment strategy. Whether it be about equitable enrollment practices, or the best places to eat while on the recruitment trail, he is always ready for a lively discussion and hopes to share it with all those who are interested.

PATRICK MONEY

Director of Freshman Admissions, George Mason University

Patrick Money is the Director of Admissions for Freshman Recruitment for George Mason University. After starting as a student employee at the Admissions office in 2006, he has spent the last sixteen years as a member of the Mason Admissions
family helping students and families find the right college destination.

Patrick is a Mason alumnus x 2 with a B.A in Psychology and his M.A in Higher Education Administration. If he is not attending a Washington Nationals game in D.C, you will find him overseeing domestic recruitment strategy and implementation, admissions data management, and freshmen application review for Mason. Being busy is a must, but his love for coffee carries him through most of the recruitment cycle!

One of his favorite memories was when he made his initial decision to come to Mason back in 2006 after he saw the Men’s basketball team reach the final four live at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.! (He still talks about it like it happened yesterday, and shows no signs of changing that!!)

Carmella Boykin

CARMELLA BOYKIN

Host and TikTok Producer, The Washington Post

Carmella Boykin is a host and TikTok Producer at The Washington Post. She writes, shoots and edits news TikToks that often involve dancing to explain news topics. Previously, she worked as a local TV reporter in Rochester, NY where she started her TikTok account. Carmella joined the Post in December 2021 and holds a degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from Syracuse University.

CARMELLA BOYKIN

Host and TikTok Producer, The Washington Post

Holly Bourquin

HOLLY BOURQUIN

Faculty Advisor

Holly teaches and advises the student newspaper at Allen D. Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, Florida. In addition to teaching journalism for more than 10 years, she also teaches IB Film and has taught English at the high school, dual enrollment, and college levels. She is the advisor for her school’s Quill & Scroll International Honor Society chapter and oversees student print, web, and podcast media. She has over 20 years of writing, editing, and publishing experience and has overseen the publication of an international magazine and served on the Florida Magazine Association board of directors. She holds a master’s in English with a concentration in technical and professional communication from East Carolina University. Holly is passionate about delivering media instruction to students that is hands-on and mirrors real-world industry practices. Outside of the classroom, she works as a freelance writer, editor, and consultant. She loves to spend time with her family, travel, read, and cook.

HOLLY BOURQUIN

Faculty Advisor

Buzz McClain

BUZZ MCCLAIN

Director of Communications, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University

Veteran columnist, critic, reporter, and editor Buzz McClain covered movies and pop culture for 20 years at major magazines and wrote about music and musicians for a decade at the Washington Post before NBC Sports lured him away to cover rugby football. He now is director of communications for the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, which is also his alma mater and the school that taught him everything he needed to know about surviving a career in journalism.

BUZZ MCCLAIN

Director of Communications, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University

Camden Layton

CAMDEN LAYTON

Faculty Advisor

Camden Layton is a WJMC and George Mason University alum who now works as the Director of Public Affairs with the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers and AFT Virginia. He graduated from Mason with his BS in Public Administration and a Master of Public Policy, specializing in Education Policy. At his current job, he helps lead digital advocacy and organizing efforts for school staff across Virginia, and educates members on how to effectively use social media and their networks to move their campaigns forward. Camden is very excited to be back with WJMC for his 10th summer!

CAMDEN LAYTON

Faculty Advisor

Eva Bramesco

EVA BRAMESCO

Counselor

Eva Bramesco is the Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, and the Director of the University Scholars Program here at George Mason University. Beginning with her involvement in the admissions office at her alma mater, Eva has spent over a decade working with students and families of all backgrounds to overcome the various hurdles of the college admissions process. In her role as Associate Director, Eva supports students before they even apply, all the way through their decision making process. Eva is also responsible for Honors College enrollment and the university’s only full-tuition scholarship program, and loves working closely with Mason’s most motivated and ambitious students.

Prior to her time at George Mason, Eva worked in international development, first with the American Red Cross, and then for a consulting firm. Originally from Danvers, Massachusetts, Eva graduated with honors from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania with degrees in International Relations, Spanish and a minor in Latin American Studies, and received her Master’s in Public Policy from the Schar School at George Mason University. In addition to her work at Mason, Eva is a long-time mentor, tutor, and advocate for educational equity.

Anna Layden

ANNA LAYDEN

Freelance Photojournalist

Anna Rose Layden is a freelance photojournalist in Washington, D.C. She is a regular contributor to The New York Times, Reuters, Getty Images and others. Primarily covering the White House, Congress, and D.C. news, Anna can be found traveling with presidents, in the midst of protests, or on the floor during congressional hearings. Outside of politics she finds herself working on stories on immigration, women, religion and family. Anna is a member of the Women Photojournalists of Washington, Asian American Journalists Association, and White House News Photographers Association. She graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2021.

ANNA LAYDEN

Freelance Photojournalist

Stephanie Strange

STEPHANIE STRANGE

Faculty Advisor

After eight years as a journalism teacher, Stephanie has mastered the art of meeting deadlines and managing classroom chaos. While she loves the classroom, her real joy comes from her faith and her family. She is a passionate follower of Jesus, a happy wife and a proud mama to three incredible daughters, one fantastic son-in-law and the cutest little grandboy she’s ever seen. Whether she is editing copy or spoiling her grandboy, she’s incredibly grateful for the beautiful, busy life she gets to enjoy.