Biography Laura is a second-year Doctoral Student and Graduate Lead Instructor in the School of Information. She also holds a Master's degree in Information from FSU. Her research focus is on bipolar disorder. She is currently working on a project using Twitter data about bipolar disorder and a qualitative study interviewing practitioners and individuals with bipolar disorder about treatment plan adherence. She is active in the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) especially working with the Women in AMIA group. In her free time, she likes to knit and crochet and hang out with her best friend and two cats.

Biography Laura I. Spears, PhD. (laura.spears@ufl.edu), is the Director of the Assessment & User Experience and Associate University Librarian with the University of Florida Libraries. Her job responsibilities include examining library data that demonstrate library impact on the life of all types of library users Her research examines library value in funding advocacy and values assessment in academic libraries. Recent publications focused on overnight library use perceptions, interdisciplinary examinations of library space use and the use of Appreciative Inquiry in CoLAB Workshops. Laura works closely with the UF Academic Assessment Committee to establish and expand the Smathers Libraries’ impact. Laura is currently the President of the state’s professional organization, the Florida Library Association and is co-Editor in Chief of the open-source online peer-reviewed journal, The Journal of Assessment in Higher Education.

Biography Elizabeth is a double Masters student in Musicology and Library Science studying race and genre in the barbershop and doo-wop singing traditions. Currently, she serves as the Associate Music Cataloger at FSU’s Allen Music Library where she primarily catalogs audiovisual media and local recordings. An avid barbershopper, Elizabeth also directs a female barbershop chorus called Barbershop Ladies of Tallahassee and sings tenor in the female quartet, Revised Edition.

Biography Brionna Boileau-Theresias is an Account Supervisor known for her ability to intricately weave together abstract ideas/concepts to tell a brand’s story utilizing data-driven insights and pop culture trends. As an integrated marketing specialist, Brionna specializes in client management, influencer marketing, project management, and marketing communications. She has successfully managed campaigns for national and local brands resulting in increased awareness and engagement for brands such as Huggies, The Facebook Company, The Home Depot, Knorr, The Honey Baked Ham Company, Bridgestone, SeaWorld, Truist, and Georgia-Pacific.

Biography I work as a junior art director at Chemistry Agency in Atlanta, Georgia. I'm an alumni of Florida State University's College of Communication and I was named a Most Promising Multicultural Student by the American Advertising Federation in 2020. I believe my role as a creative in advertising is to incite innovation and I am dedicated to making a positive social impact through my work.

Biography Johanna Eugenio is a second-year graduate student studying speech-language pathology in the School of Communication Science and Disorders (SCSD) at Florida State University, where she also completed her bachelor’s degree. During her time as an undergraduate student, she served as the vice president of the Student Academy of Audiology and completed an honors thesis. Her interests include early intervention, language and literacy development, and speech sound disorders.

Biography Faith Gealey joined the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority (H.S.A) in 2008 as the resident Speech Language Pathologist and is the first Caymanian to hold this position within the health care system in the Cayman Islands. She is a proud “double” alumnus of the Florida State University and holds both a B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Faith has clinical experiences with a wide variety of populations and diagnoses across the life span. She currently works as the Senior Speech and Language Therapist and serves as the Team Lead for Speech and Occupational Therapies. During her time at H.S.A., Faith re-established medical based speech therapy services for the Cayman Islands, building a thriving service from the ground up. Additionally, Faith has spearheaded several initiatives within the H.S.A. for both adult and paediatric populations in the Cayman Islands including the implementation of a newborn hearing screening programme, increased awareness on the early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder, improved assessment and treatment protocols for patients with neurological conditions and implementation of dysphagia precautions, diets and guidelines. Faith has expertise in many clinical areas including dysphagia, cognitive/linguistic rehabilitation, voice disorders and speech and language development. Faith is a member of the American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a founding member of the Caribbean Speech Hearing Association (CaribSHA). Faith is a firm believer in mentorship and provides mentorship support to student clinicians, new graduates and other colleagues in the Cayman Islands and across the Caribbean region. Faith is an active member of the Caymanian community and is particularly passionate about her work with individuals with disabilities. She was the recipient of the prestigious Young Caymanian Leadership Award, and currently serves as the Deputy Chairperson of the Cayman Islands National Council for Persons with Disabilities.

Biography Presently, Chessa is a second-year student in FSU's Communication Science and Disorders master's program, studying to become a Speech-Language Pathologist. She also attended FSU for her undergraduate degree, where she served as president for the Student Academy of Audiology as well as a member of her local NSSHLA chapter. Current interests include early intervention, autism spectrum disorder, speech sound disorders, and augmentative and alternative communication.

Biography Shannon Mitchell earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University (FSU). She graduated magna cum laude, with a double major in English education and English: creative writing; earned a master’s degree in communications; and received two graduate certificates in project management and information management and leadership. Ms. Mitchell began her career in education in the Workforce Development department at Tallahassee Community College, working alongside program coordinators and instructional leads to create and edit curriculum and marketing materials. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, Ms. Mitchell served as a teacher and team leader for the Leon County Schools system. While serving as a language arts teacher, she had the opportunity of leading and creating new curricula for the creative writing program. Often called upon to serve in leadership capacities, Ms. Mitchell simultaneously held the following leadership positions: District Learning Walk Lead, Wellness Coordinator, New Teacher Mentor Lead, Events and Field Trip Coordinator, Tropicana Speech Coordinator, “No Place For Hate” Ambassador, and Dance and Track Coach. Ms. Mitchell was nominated as Teacher of the Year (2016–2017) and Glenn Howell Minority Teacher of the Year at Swift Creek Middle School (2016–2018). In 2017, Ms. Mitchell transitioned into a new career at the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR), where she currently serves as the Senior Manager of Quality Control and Content Management. She leads a team providing internal organizational workflow processes and editing services to ensure high-quality content in all IIR products, from planning to execution. In her current leadership capacity, Ms. Mitchell oversees the timelines and processes of more than 400 print and digital projects monthly. Ms. Mitchell is the first recipient of FSU’s College of Communication & Information Student Leadership Award (2019–2020).

Biography Shayla is a seasoned marketing professional with over 20 years of event and project management experience. She has held leadership positions in event and non-profit management for agencies, corporations, higher education and legal firms in the states of Florida and Georgia managing operations and planning events to engage clients and assist with business development. Her most notable event highlights include planning renowned events for the Palm Beach elite such as The American Red Cross International Ball and various signature events at notable Palm Beach landmarks including The Breakers and famous Worth Avenue venues. Shayla also executed planning of the 2007 American Red Cross Designers' Showhouse presented by VERANDA Magazine where she worked with top lifestyle/marketing reps at VERANDA and the Hearst Corporation. In 2013, Shayla embarked on a new career path in the automotive industry executing trade shows and events to increase B2B sales for EasyCare, one of the nation’s leading vehicle service contract firms, and their MotorTrend Certified and Covideo® by EasyCare programs. Under Shayla’s direction, new lead generation strategies were adopted which led to new business and increased conversion rates for dealerships across the country. With her automotive marketing experience, Shayla was offered the exciting opportunity to produce events at Octagon for BMW North America. In her role as Experiential Event Manager, she managed BMW Southern Region lifestyle and partnership events that targeted the luxury consumer. Event partnerships included The Masters, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hilton Head Island Concours d' Elegance, Atlanta Jazz Festival and the Houston Texans. In 2018, Shayla embarked on her entrepreneurial journey and formed Sperrywinkle, a boutique marketing firm specializing in content development, event, talent and project management for corporations and startups. She currently works as a Project Manager for the ITA Group, managing the NAPA EXPO, the largest single company automotive event in the world.

Biography Melissa Angel is the communications coordinator for the Global Landscapes Forum and since 2019 has helped lead GLF's communications and outreach efforts. Melissa Angel is a specialist in communications and behavior change, having worked in the public and private sectors for the past ten years, most notably with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the United Nations Climate Change secretariat. Originally from Florida, she has also spent time in California working with ocean nonprofits on activism and lobbying efforts to successfully shut down the driftnet industry.

Biography Carson Mitchell (she/her) is a communicator, conservation advocate, and creative campaigner. At Florida State University, she studied Communications and International Affairs with a minor in Religion. While at FSU, she participated in WVFS 89.7 FM, Seminole Productions, and the FL Public Relations Association. After graduating in 2015, she made her home in Tallahassee, where she lives with her partner, sister, and two cats. Professionally, Carson is the Communications Manager for Florida Conservation Voters, a statewide environmental nonprofit that advocates for our land, water, climate, and democracy. She enjoys exploring the great outdoors, including backyard birdwatching, gardening, hiking, and kayaking. Carson is a board member for New Leaders Council Tallahassee, a progressive leadership development organization, and the Tallahassee Area Association of Environmental Professionals. Her goal in both her work and extracurricular activities is to encourage the representation and success of young women of color in environmental advocacy, land conservation, and related industries. Carson grew up in High Springs, Florida, near Gainesville, where she gained a special appreciation for springs, rivers, and trails.

Biography Greetings! My name is Cameron Chisolm and I am a graduating senior from Columbia, SC but I now reside in Orlando, FL. I am majoring in Information, Communication, and Technology and minoring in Computer Science. During my time at Florida State, I've had the opportunity to be apart of several different organizations, internships, and research. However, my favorite opportunity has been serving on the Women in IT/ICT Sharing Experiences (WISE) executive board as the Social Media Coordinator, Vice President, and eventually the President.

Biography I am a graduating senior majoring in Information, Communication, and Technology and minoring in Social Entrepreneurship. Outside of being a full-time student, I am the Vice-President of Black in Computing, Secretary of AITP, Co-Captain of Florida State’s Cheerleading Team, Public Relations Chair of the Black Student Athlete Association, and a Spring ‘19 initiate of The Hardworking Kappa Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Besides my on-campus involvement, I work part time for JEA (the 7th largest municipally owned electric company in the country located in Jacksonville, Florida) in the Community Engagement Department as a web developer. I am also employed locally here in Tallahassee at Cheer National Athletics where I work as their Website Administrator and Marketing Manager, designing, updating, and maintaining their website and running all of their social media accounts. At Cheer Nation, I also coach cheerleading and teach the most amazing athletes my favorite sport every day!

Biography I am a senior at Florida State University pursuing a bachelor's degree in Information, Communication, and Technology. I am the current President of Women Wednesdays FSU and I am also Student Director of Marketing for FSU Campus Recreation. I have a passion for leadership and inspiring others. After graduation in the Spring, I hope to start a career in Graphic Design.

Biography A recent CCI Alumna, Natalie graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. During her time at FSU, she was actively involved in and served on the leadership boards of STARS (STARS Alliance (Students & Technology in Academia, Research & Service), Association of IT Professionals, CCI Student Leadership Council, and Dance Marathon. When Natalie was not studying or in meetings, she was volunteering with children and STEM related causes. In result, she graduated with over 1,000 volunteer hours. After graduation, Natalie brought her talents to Colorado where she works for Lockheed Martin Space as a Systems Engineer. She proudly supports our warfighters who rely on the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite system. Through Lockheed Martin's outreach programs, she has been able to continue volunteering with STEM education efforts. In her free time, you can catch Natalie exploring Colorado, working out, spending time with family, and binge watching reality TV.

Biography Kelly Newbrough is a senior at Florida State University majoring in information, communication, technology with a minor in business analytics. At FSU she is currently the president of STARS (Students in Technology Academic, Research, and Service) and the president of Delta Nu Zeta. Kelly works for the FSU College of Communication and Information as the Outreach Coordinator and is a business analytics intern at Diverse Computing.

Biography Jennifer Garner is a 16-year career marketer with a passion for leading diverse, cross-functional teams. She is current driving business transformation at Kraft Heinz as Director of Marketing Capabilities. Jennifer received her bachelor’s degree in Communication, Public Relations from Florida State University, where she was a National Hispanic Merit Scholar, in the Honors Program, a member of Delta Zeta Sorority and Dance Marathon participant. She then joined The Zimmerman Agency in Tallahassee where her business card very simply read “Storyteller,” as she choreographed the stories of her clients in the international hospitality industry. Other similar roles include Director of Communications for the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and Marketing & Advertising Manager for Southern Resorts. After a 9-year creative marketing career, Jennifer attended Cornell for her MBA as a Consortium Fellow and was an active leader in Student Council, Johnson Leadership Fellows, the Hispanic American Business Leaders Association and Wine Club. She also joined the Court of Master Sommeliers and created Ugly Apple Hard Cider with classmates. Jennifer joined Kraft Heinz in 2016 in a marketing role and became the Head of Category Marketing & Insights for Foodservice. Her love for talent development led her to a career-broadening role, where she used her experience as an innovative and consumer-focused marketer to enhance employee impact as the Head of Global Functional Learning Development. Most recently, Jennifer joined the newly formed Transformation Office as Director of Marketing Capabilities, where she is building the current and future Capabilities needed to deliver the company’s strategic plan. Jennifer lives in Tallahassee with her husband Sean and their Cavalier King-Charles Spaniel, Winston. She is a foodie, wine connoisseur, runner, indoor cyclist, amateur photographer and world traveler who has visited 5 continents, 36 countries and 46 states.

Biography I am a senior at Florida State University pursuing a bachelor's degree in Information, Communication, and Technology. I am the current President of Women Wednesdays FSU and I am also Student Director of Marketing for FSU Campus Recreation. I have a passion for leadership and inspiring others. After graduation in the Spring, I hope to start a career in Graphic Design.

Biography A graduate of the University of Alabama and Florida State University, Erika has her Master of Arts degree in Public Interest Media & Communications with a certificate in Digital Productions. She focuses on media and communication and its role to help public interest and democracy. Erika has extensive knowledge of social media campaigns, marketing strategies, and public policy research. She is currently an adjunct instructor at Tallahassee Community College, the external coordinator for the National Freedom of Information Coalition, and marketing manager for the Florida First Amendment Foundation.

Biography As the communications director for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Jenn oversees the development and execution of communications strategies to advance the organization's mission to provide free legal services to journalists and news organizations, and increase awareness and use of its resources. Jenn holds a Bachelor’s degree in studio art, and a Master’s in Media and Communication Studies with a concentration in political communication, both from Florida State University. While at FSU, she served as a sports editor and editor-in-chief of the independent student newspaper, the FSView and Florida Flambeau. She resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Ian, and their three-year-old Bernese mountain dog, Orville.