Summer 2022 Conference Speakers
Keynote Panel
Michele Deramo, Associate Vice Provost of Diversity Education & Engagement at Virginia Tech
Ellington Graves, Director of Africana Studies and Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion at Virginia Tech
Moderated by J. Scott Parker, CCA Board Member and Marketing and Communications Manager at Cranwell International Center at Virginia Tech
Sunni Brown
Sunni Brown, director of media and public relations, spends her days pitching faculty experts to national media to advance the recognition and academic reputation of the University of Richmond. Working closely with the STEM majors out of the School of Arts & Sciences and the Richmond School of Law, Brown's media relations efforts have resulted in placements in The New York Times, Time Magazine, Scientific American, National Geographic, Newsweek, and more. She previously served as the media spokesperson for the Virginia DMV and was an anchor and reporter in Virginia.
S.B. Chandler
S.B. “Chandler” Chandler, Ph.D. is the 508 Compliance and Digital Accessibility Officer in the Office of Equity and Accessibility at Virginia Tech and works closely with TLOS Accessible Technologies. He holds IAAP’s Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies and Web Accessibility Specialist certifications. Chandler has over 25 years of undergraduate and graduate teaching experience at Virginia Tech. His professional consulting experience spans health care, publishing, non-profits, and education. Chandler’s expertise in user experience, web design, electronic publishing, and programming provide a base for his digital accessibility evaluation, advocacy, and compliance analysis.
Kelly S. Holdcraft
Kelly S. Holdcraft manages the Career, Affinity & Regional Engagement team responsible for alumni career services, regional alumni engagement, alumni chapters/networks, military and veteran alumni, young alumni engagement and student engagement, including in-person and virtual events, signature events series, marketing and communication plans, and volunteer management. Prior to William & Mary, Kelly spent 20 years in the DC legal community directing Georgetown University’s paralegal studies program, managing attorney professional development and working as a corporate securities paralegal. Kelly is an engaged alumna of her alma mater, Michigan State University, and is a former Michigan State University Alumni Association board member. In addition, Kelly received a master’s degree in strategic communications from Georgetown University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in education in higher education administration at William & Mary.
Robin Khan
Robin Khan is Director of Communications and Marketing and Public Affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University and previously worked at the International Baccalaureate doing marketing and communications for North and South America. She holds a BA in Writing and Rhetoric from Tulane University and an MA in international Affairs from University of Washington, Seattle. She is currently pursuing a second masters in International Policy and Practice focusing on disinformation.
Joe McClain
Joe McClain joined William & Mary as Director of Research Communications in 2004, after serving various communications roles at Case Western Reserve University. He is a member of the University Research Magazine Association and the National Association of Science Writers.
Amy Ostroth
Amy Ostroth is a communications professional with more than 23 years of experience at the secondary and higher education levels. She has particular expertise in development and recruitment communications. She’s the senior director of communications at Sweet Briar College and manages all aspects of Sweet Briar's communications, including marketing, social media, media relations, videography, photography, website, emergency communications and more. In fall 2021, her work helped the College recruit its largest class in nearly a decade. Prior to coming to Sweet Briar, she served as director of development communications at Cushing Academy in Massachusetts and as publications manager in University Development at Virginia Tech. Amy earned her M.A. in English at Virginia Tech and a B.A. in English from the University of Mary Washington.
Cynthia Price
Cynthia Price, associate vice president of media and public relations, leads the media and public relations, multimedia, and UR Now teams within University Communications. The teams work with national and local reporters to advance the academic reputation of the institution, create all University-level video efforts, and produce UR Now, a digital news digest shared with the University's audience. An expert in media relations and crisis communications, she has helped universities, international non-profits, and other organizations garner favorable press. Stories she has facilitated have appeared on or in 60 Minutes, Fast Company, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and more. She has extensive experience in crisis communications and reputation management.
Howard Witt
Howard Witt is the Director of Communications at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center of Public Affairs. Before that, he was the editor of three newspapers in Indiana. From 2009 to 2013, Witt was the senior managing editor of Stars and Stripes. From 2003 to 2009, Witt was the Texas bureau chief of the Chicago Tribune. For his coverage of civil rights issues, in 2007 Witt was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in National Reporting, among other honors. During his 25-year Tribune career, he served as an editor, national correspondent, and foreign correspondent stationed in Toronto, Johannesburg, and Moscow.