Summer 2019 Conference Speakers
Rachel DeBusk
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP: CREATIVE PUSH/PLAY
Rachel DeBusk has been a part of the Virginia Tech Student Affairs Communications team as a graphic designer for nearly 5 years. Since graduating from Radford University in 2014, she started and continues to manage her own business, offering creative services in photography, video, and design. Her love of photography and the outdoors also lead her to learn astrophotography, and she often spends free time exploring and traveling to capture new places under the stars. Among her favorite things are her dog, Norman, music (playing and listening!), and her family and friends.
Brian Yohn
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP: CREATIVE PUSH/PLAY
Brian Yohn has worked professionally as a graphic designer for 18 years, with experience at several ad agencies and on two in-house teams. Over the past 10 years in higher ed, Brian has worked as the lone creative, been part of a communications department, and currently leads the creative side of the Virginia Tech Student Affairs Communications team. He is a father of two, loves puns, gifs, and not taking himself seriously.
Liz Gross
KEYNOTE: HOW SOCIAL LISTENING CAN IMPACT COMMUNICATION STRATEGY IN HIGHER ED
Liz Gross is the founder and CEO of Campus Sonar. A recognized expert, data-driven marketer, and higher education researcher, Liz specializes in creating entrepreneurial social media strategies in higher education. She is an award-winning speaker, author and strategist who was named a 2018 Mover and Shaker by Social Shake-Up Show and a finalist on GreenBook’s 2019 GRIT Future List. Liz has more than 15 years’ experience in higher ed and strategic social listening programs. She holds a Ph.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service in Higher Education at Cardinal Stritch University, a master’s in educational policy and leadership from Marquette University, and a bachelor’s in interpersonal communication from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Michael Bartolotta
GETTING ON THE SAME PAGE: BRINGING YOUR ALUMNI STORIES TOGETHER
For nearly 20 years, Michael Bartolotta has been creating visual solutions to communication challenges by finding effective ways to get messages across in both print and digital platforms. As an award-winning art director at William & Mary, Bartolotta has led the creative direction for numerous projects and signature events including the university’s current $1 billion capital campaign and the W&M Alumni Magazine. In addition to his love for printed media, Bartolotta is an accomplished photographer who creates one-of-a-kind tintype and ambrotype images through the historic photographic process known as wet plate collodion.
Tiffany Broadbent Beker
GETTING ON THE SAME PAGE: BRINGING YOUR ALUMNI STORIES TOGETHER
Tiffany Broadbent Beker is the Director of Digital Marketing for University Advancement at William & Mary, leading the office’s efforts in strategy, analysis and management of social media, e-mail marketing, web and digital applications. She has presented at conferences including HighEdWeb, CASE Social Media & Community, Higher Ed Experts’ Higher Ed Social Media Conference and the College Communicators Association of Virginia and the District of Columbia (CCA). She serves on W&M’s Communications Committee and Social Media Users Group (SMUG), is on the board for CCA and is an Institutional Representative for W&M to the Virginia Women’s Network.
Diana Williams
BALLING ON A BUDGET: FINDING FREE AND/OR LOW COST TOOLS TO UP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA GAME
Diana Williams is the digital editor and strategist for “BackStory,” the American history podcast, a production of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities at the University of Virginia.
She creates, curates and edits content for all of BackStory’s digital platforms, communicating news and information about and for the show to all interested stakeholders including listeners, donors and external media. In addition to managing content, Diana creates and implements strategies for broadening BackStory’s reach and engagement on all digital platforms.
Diana brings more than seven years of experience in higher education communications with a keen interest in digital presence management to her role. She is a new media professional with a BA in visual communications (concentration in web development and design) from American Intercontinental University and an MA in journalism and public affairs from American University.
Karen Wormald
AP STYLE: AN UPDATE & REFRESHER
Karen Wormald provides writing, editing and proofreading services as Kew Publications. Her clients have included ChildFund, TowneBank, MCV Foundation, Newport News Shipbuilding, St. Christopher’s School and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. She wrote the first technology glossary for The Gregg Reference Manual and is author of Mastering English Skills for Word Processing and How to Work Like a CAT. She has also presented business writing workshops for the University of Richmond’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.http://www.karenwormald.com.
Megan Shearin
ROCKING THE BOAT: HOW TO SHIFT A COLLEGE CULTURE THAT SUPPORTS MARKETING
Megan Shearin is director of marketing and communications at Old Dominion University’s Darden College of Education and Professional Studies who helps to raise the visibility of the academic programs and services in the college. Megan is skilled in public relations, executive writing, marketing strategy, digital marketing, reputation management, media relations, social media and event planning/management.
A big believer in higher education as a key factor for social mobility, Megan has worked in higher education for 13 years. Before joining ODU, she worked in the central communications offices at The College of William & Mary and Virginia Wesleyan University. She has received an award from CASE District III for “Best Article of the Year” and was the project lead/creative director for the first-ever Darden College of Education annual report which received an award of distinction in the 2018 Communicator Awards, a national competition that honors groundbreaking work from agencies, organizations and companies across the United States.
Megan lives in Chesapeake, Va., with her husband, Tyler, and her daughter, Bayleigh. She enjoys traveling, being outdoors, boating and fishing.
Sunni Brown
MAXIMIZING MEDIA PLACEMENTS
Sunni Brown is the assistant director of media and public relations at the University of Richmond. Working closely with faculty in the STEM majors and law school, she prides herself on communicating complex information to the general public. Her efforts have resulted in placements in National Geographic, Newsweek and Scientific American. Sunni previously served as the media spokesperson for the Virginia DMV and worked as an anchor and reporter at two Virginia TV stations.
Lindsey Campbell
MAXIMIZING MEDIA PLACEMENTS
Lindsey Campbell is the media relations specialist at the University of Richmond. She works closely with faculty in international education, leadership studies, and in the arts and humanities. Her placements have included Voice of America, Al Jazeera, and U.S. News & World Report. Prior to her time at University of Richmond, Lindsey served on media and public relations teams at Virginia ABC, VDOT, and Advanced Auto Parts.
Cynthia Price
MAXIMIZING MEDIA PLACEMENTS
Cynthia Price has helped universities, international non-profits and law enforcement agencies garner favorable press and tell their stories. Placements have included 60 Minutes, Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Chronicle of Higher Education and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She is the director of media and public relations for the University of Richmond. She writes a blog, Cynthia’s Communique, where she helps others navigate careers, the media and life.
Elinor Frisa
CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP: YOU REDESIGNED YOUR WEBSITE — NOW WHAT?
Elinor Frisa joined Virginia Commonwealth University as a web editor in 2012 and began managing the VCU home page in 2013. She is responsible for content strategyas well as planning, editing and occasionally writing feature stories. In 2017, she worked with an in-house team of designers and developers to redesign the website.When she’s not working on the home page, she assists with content strategy for other VCU websites.
Prior to VCU, Elinor worked at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in Washington, D.C., as a production editor for CURRENTS magazine. She has also held editorial positions at Heldref Publications and the American Meteorological Society. Elinor earned a master’s in publishing from George Washington University and a B.F.A. in writing, literature and publishing from Emerson College.
Greer Saunders
FERPA, FOIA AND THE ALPHABET SOUP OF HIGHER ED: WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW WILL HURT YOU
Greer D. Saunders has served as System Counsel and Senior Assistant Attorney General for the Virginia Community College System for the past five years. Her legal services office, which includes four attorneys and a paralegal, advise and assist the State Board for Community Colleges and VCCS employees on matters ranging from contracts and employment law to real estate transactions. Greer previously worked in the Office of Attorney General as legal representative for various institutions of higher education and as the statewide coordinator for domestic violence initiatives. In that role, she coordinated the Office’s efforts to combat sexual and domestic violence. She holds a J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law, a master’s from George Washington University and a bachelor’s from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Joy Nuckolls
THREE TITLE WINS, FIVE CITIES, 27+ EVENTS, THOUSANDS OF FANS: HOW UVA BUILT COMMUNITY AND TEAM SPIRIT ON THE ROAD
Joy Nuckolls is the Communications Projects Manager for the University of Virginia Clubs Program, which conducts approximately 1,200 events a year. She is responsible for creating and sending event communications to domestic and international UVA alumni, parents, and friends. Additionally, she spearheads marketing and communications for the UVA Clubs’ signature programming and UVA athletic events. A graduate of the University of Virginia, she is currently working on her master’s degree in Communications from Purdue University.
Beverly Wakefield
THREE TITLE WINS, FIVE CITIES, 27+ EVENTS, THOUSANDS OF FANS: HOW UVA BUILT COMMUNITY AND TEAM SPIRIT ON THE ROAD
Beverly Wakefield is a Senior Associate Director in the University of Virginia’s Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement. She is responsible for overseeing signature programming, special events, and athletic-related activities, including ACC and NCAA basketball events and Bowl game festivities for football. She also manages a small portfolio of regional UVA Clubs. Beverly has worked for UVA since 2003, serving in several leadership roles. Prior to her career in higher education, Beverly worked in the museum profession at the Smithsonian Institution and Jefferson’s Monticello. Her undergraduate degree is in Art History and her graduate work is in Museum Studies.