The Washington Journalism and Media Conference

Kara Imani-Moss

KARA MOSS

Junior Faculty Advisor

Kara-Imani Moss is a rising junior at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is a Communication Studies major with a minor in Journalism. Upon graduating, she plans to use her passion for writing to advocate for marginalized communities. She currently works with Prison Fellowship as a Justice Ambassador pushing for reform in the criminal justice system. While words and activism are her first loves, she also enjoys hiking, photography, and traveling abroad. Kara attended WJMC back in 2015 and is excited to be back again this summer!

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!

Samantha Shaw

SAMANTHA SHAW

Faculty Advisor, WJMC Alum 2016

Samantha earned her B.A. in English and comparative literature and M.A. in teaching from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was named Student Teacher of the Year in 2022. Now, she teaches English and has started a journalism program at Carrboro High School. In 2023-24 she was recognized as the runner up Beginning Teacher of the Year for the state of North Carolina. Sam loves inviting students’ passions into a project based and equity focused classroom. It’s true: words have the power to change us — whether that’s a potent literary work or the unique power of the press. Her teaching has been inspired by her experiences at WJMC. She is a WJMC 2016 alumna, worked as an intern and a JFA; she’s ecstatic to be back for her third year as an FA! When she’s not in the classroom, Sam is managing social media or editing books for the author Katie Cross, listening to audiobooks, or going on hikes with her fiancé.