Dean's Advisory Council

Andy Alexander serves as advisor to the dean of the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University. Prior to this role, he was the ombudsman for The Washington Post, where he served as the readers' representative to ensure editorial excellence in print or online.

Prior to joining the Post in 2009, Alexander was the Washington bureau chief for Cox Newspapers, overseeing a staff of roughly 25 reporters and editors in the nation’s capital as well as bureaus in Baghdad, Jerusalem, London, Beijing, Mexico City, the Caribbean, New York and the West Coast. Alexander began his career as a reporter for the Melbourne Herald in Australia, later joining the Dayton Journal Herald where he worked as an investigative reporter and as political writer. He came to the Cox Washington Bureau in 1976 as the Journal Herald's correspondent, joined the national staff in 1984 and was named foreign editor in 1989. He became deputy bureau chief in 1994 and was named bureau chief in 1997. He has reported from more than 50 countries and covered armed conflicts in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Alexander graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree.

Kyle Bowser serves as the senior vice president of the Hollywood Bureau of the NAACP. In this capacity, Mr. Bowser is responsible for advancing NAACP's Hollywood projects, relationships, and overseeing NAACP's Image Awards production.

Kyle Bowser has worked as an entertainment industry executive for more than three decades. His experience spans the areas of film, television, music, theater, radio and digital media.

Kyle lives in Los Angeles where he produces multimedia content and where he helped to establish the Scripps College OHIO-in-LA program, an immersive work/study course for OHIO students pursuing careers in the entertainment industry.

A native of Philadelphia, Kyle earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University in radio/television communication and a Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law.

Carolyn is the senior director of Business Operations at Telesat Government Solutions (TGS), a subsidiary of satellite operator Telesat Canada. Located in Arlington, Va., TGS provides reliable and secure global communications networks to the US government. For over a decade, Carolyn has worked in business development roles for leading global satellite operators.

Prior to joining the satellite industry, Carolyn was one of the founding principals of CAO and board member for Jefferson Government Relations, LLC; and director of seminars for the federal markets group at Hill & Knowlton Public Affairs Worldwide.

Carolyn earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree from Ohio University. Carolyn and her husband Gary reside in Great Falls, Va.

Dayna Liberati DiRienzo is a freelance writer and project manager and the owner of inTandem Communications LLC, based in Pittsburgh, Pa. She has 30 years of experience in marketing communications, mainly in the health care, higher education and financial services sectors. She specializes in writing and supervising design for annual reports, marketing publications, websites and digital content and producing videos for websites.

Dayna and her husband, Guy, are the parents of one Buckeye, two Bobcats, and a Wolverine. She received both her Bachelor and Master of Science in Journalism degrees in from Ohio University.

Matt Freedman is the chief operating officer at Ologie in Columbus, Ohio. He has been building brands and leading teams in both agency and client settings for more than two decades.

Matt’s background includes a strong history of brand development, consumer promotions, retail merchandising, events, sponsorships and strategic planning for clients in financial services, higher education, consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree and a Master of Sports Administration degree from Ohio University.

Valerie’s career path has taken a few twists and turns since graduating from Ohio University. Her first job entailed purchasing responsibilities for the Delta Queen overnight paddle wheeler entailing everything from ordering roast beef to diesel fuel. Shortly after, she started reviewing restaurants and writing feature stories for Ohio Magazine. The Cincinnati Enquirer was her next career move, where she was the restaurant critic for several years while also covering travel and fashion stories.

Valerie has utilized her public relations education learned at OHIO by raising funds for Cincinnati nonprofits such as the zoo, ballet, and symphony. She is a founding board member of the Mason Dixon Steeplechase, benefitting Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and is also responsible for establishing a public-school foundation which has successfully raised well over $1 million. She has chaired the boards of Enjoy The Arts, The Indian Hill Public School Foundation, and Indian Hill Green Areas. When not volunteering, Valerie holds the position of vice president, Forte Management, an outpatient medical holding company that she co-owns with her husband.

Every fall, Valerie returns to campus and underwrites the business etiquette dinner for 50 Scripps College of Communication students. The event is designed to better prepare them for career success. She attributes her career and personal accomplishments to the foundation created by the broad-based and diverse curriculum of her OHIO communication degree. 

Thomas S. Hodson is the director emeritus of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and WOUB Public Media at Ohio University. He was the first Berman Professor of Communication in the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University. He was the director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism from July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2010.

He was director of WOUB Public Media at Ohio University from January 2011 until July 1, 2020. He was general manager of WOUB Public Media from January 2011 through June 2016.

Tom has had dual career paths throughout his professional career in law and journalism. He was a trial attorney for over 30 years and was a trial judge in both Municipal Court and Common Pleas Court in Ohio for seven years.

Tom also served as a Judicial Fellow at the Supreme Court of the United States in the Administrative Office of the Chief Justice. He also has been a visiting judge on assignment by the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Throughout his legal career, Tom pursued journalistic projects both in print and broadcast.

Tom also has been active in producing public affairs programming for radio and is the host of WOUB’s weekly public affairs podcast—Spectrum. He is the Executive Producer of six other podcasts.

He has published and continues to write numerous articles and columns for newspapers, magazines, and trade journals. He co-authored a book called "Journalists’ Handbook to Ohio Courts."

He has written and been talent for numerous public television documentaries and public affairs programs.

David Jeffries is a seasoned media professional with more than a decade of experience in the industry. A proud Ohio University alumnus (Class of 2011), David earned a bachelor's degree in communication, majoring in media arts and studies with a minor in information telecommunications systems.

Over the years, David has played a pivotal role in OHD Studios' growth and success. His journey with the company has allowed him to experience all aspects of the business — starting at an entry-level position and ultimately advancing to the role of CEO. Under David's leadership, the company has expanded significantly, increasing its workforce to over 15 employees and establishing two locations in Columbus, Ohio, and Louisville, Ky. OHD Studios is dedicated to supporting other media companies by offering essential services including crews, equipment, and studio space.

When not immersed in the world of media, David enjoys spending quality time with his family, including his wife, a fellow Ohio University Scripps College of Communication graduate. Together, they enjoy traveling and chasing their kiddos around, as they find new things to do in central Ohio.

Ken Klein recently retired from the Out of Home Advertising Association of America, where he led federal advocacy for the growing out-of-home media industry. Ken has a deep understanding of policy issues that intersect media, advertising, politics, the First Amendment and regulation of out-of-home media. Ken forged award-winning partnerships that support public safety and the environment. He is widely published and frequently quoted on topics like fast delivery of emergency messages and other public service communications as well as innovation in digital technology. He also serves as an expert witness.

Ken’s career spans four decades in media (AP wire service, print journalism), politics (U.S. Senate staff), and trade association leadership. He and his wife Susan DeFord live in Silver Spring, Md.; they are parents of three adult sons. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree from Ohio University. 

Hebah Abdalla is an Emmy award-winning producer with more than 20 years of experience in broadcast news, working in an array of television markets—from local to international. She also serves as the Semester-in-DC program director for the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University. As a media professional, she was an integral player in the launch of a statewide news channel in Ohio and two news channels for a global broadcast network. She currently serves as the on-site program director for the Semester in D.C. study away program in the Ohio University Scripps College of Communication.

Hebah's passion for mission-driven pursuits led her to the role of communications director for a non-profit where she was later promoted to vice president. Her leadership in designing and implementing communications strategy led to measurable successes in brand marketing and donor engagement.

As both journalist and communicator, she has the demonstrated ability to communicate to a variety of audiences across platforms. She helped to launch one of the first digitally integrated television programs, The Stream, recognized globally for innovation and in the U.S. cable television industry for its reporting on public affairs.

Her career began at CNN in Atlanta, where she became an assignment editor for the award-winning show World Report. Hebah later returned to her hometown of Columbus, Ohio, managing daily and breaking news coverage as an assignment editor for CBS affiliate WBNS and helping to launch its statewide news channel, the Ohio News Network.

She received the Emmy Award as an assignment producer and in 2011, contributed to news coverage of the Arab Spring that merited a Peabody Award. During her tenure on The Stream, the program received an Emmy nomination, the Royal Television Society Award for Most Innovative Program, the Gracie Award for Outstanding News Talk Show, and Webby People’s Choice Award for News and Politics Series.

Hebah earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree from Ohio University.

Eric Mayville is the co-founder and CEO of Fairgame. Previously, he co-founded the digital agency, Wondersauce, where he focused on ensuring that the company was run efficiently with an environment that spurs creativity, innovation and respect. Wondersauce grew from two people to more than 115 entrepreneurial individuals with offices in New York City, Columbus, Los Angeles, London and Costa Rica during Eric's time with the company.

Eric has held a variety of roles within companies such as Code & Theory, Razorfish and MTV. Those roles included motion design, front-end development, visual design, creative strategy and user experience design and planning. At Wondersauce, his entrepreneurial spirit has been paramount to Wondersauce’s growth and strategy. Eric, in partnership with a co-founder, lead the acquisition of the agency by Project Worldwide. Eric was named one of Business Insider’s Most Creative People in Advertising 30 Under 30 and is involved in the charity organization, The Caddie Scholarship Fund, where he represents Sleepy Hollow Country Club and their caddies in pursuit of college degrees. Beyond all of that, during his downtime, Eric is an avid golfer, cook, photographer and ATV rider.

Eric earned a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication from Ohio University. 

With more than 30 years of experience in the television industry, Paula M. Shugart has been a driving force in entertainment television production for domestic and international audiences. As president of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), and producer of the MISS UNIVERSE®, MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® pageants, Paula oversees all business transactions and is responsible for the production of the live, worldwide telecasts each year. She is also a mentor and role model to the company’s three titleholders as they travel the globe as spokeswomen for several charitable alliances on behalf of MUO.

Shugart joined MUO in 1998 as the Vice President of Production and in 2001, was appointed President by Donald J. Trump. Paula has made it her goal to break the stereotypes typically associated with beauty pageants. She has also increased the company’s philanthropic impact around the world. In 2002, Paula oversaw the sale of 50% of MUO to NBCUniversal. In 2015, Donald Trump sold the organization to WME|IMG, the global leader in entertainment, sports, events, media and fashion. In addition to overseeing yearly, multi-million-dollar sponsorship deals, Paula has further expanded the Miss Universe brand by introducing several new product licensing ventures for the company.

Prior to her time with MUO, Paula lived in Los Angeles and worked on some of the world’s largest live television productions: The Academy Awards, American Music Awards Golden Globes, International Rock Awards and President Clinton’s 50th Birthday Celebration, among many others. She also served as producer on the original talent competition, “Star Search” for seven years, as well as a multitude of other programs. Paula has also worked on the television productions of two of the music industry’s greatest driving forces: Madonna and the Rolling Stones. Paula has also been a daytime television producer.

She is currently an active member of the Directors Guild of America, the Producers Guild of America and the Women's Leadership Board at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, elected for her professional accomplishments and demonstrated commitment to women and girls.

Paula earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Ohio University, where she has since received the Medal of Merit Award. She and her husband Carl have been married for nearly 20 years and share their time residing in both New York City and Charleston, S.C.