Board Committees & Association Representatives
STANDING COMMITTEES
Convention Program Committee
Chair: Rebecca Ann Lind, University of Chicago, 2021-23 Convention Program Chair
Stacey Irwin, Millersville University, Vice President for Academic Relations
Sandy Henry, Drake University, Chair 2021-2023 Festival of Media Arts
Amy Crawford, Youngstown State University, Interest Division Representative
Heather Birks, BEA, Executive Director
Council of Past Presidents
Any individual who has held the position of BEA President is a members of the council
Chair, Immediate Past President: Vic Costello, Elon University
Distinguished Education Service Award (DESA)
Kim Fox, American University in Cairo
Don Grady, 2022 DESA Winner
Glenda Balas, University of North Texas – Dallas
Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Chair: Jennifer Meadows, Chair, California State University, Chico
George Daniels, University of Alabama
Danielle Deavours, Samford University
Guy Harrison, University of Tennessee
Philip Powell, Trinity Christian College
Lakshmi Tirumala, Drake University
Click here for more information on the D&I Committee’s current projects and awards. Bylaws
Festival Advisory Committee
Chair: Sara Magee, Loyola University, Maryland
Lou Benjamin, Kansas State University
Vic Costello, Elon University
Scott Hodgson, University of Oklahoma
Iveta Imre, University of Mississippi
David Shabazz, Kentucky State University
Ex-officio Member: Sandy Henry, Drake University, Chair, Festival of Media Arts
Festival Committee
Chair: Sandy Henry, Drake University, 2021-2023 Chair, Festival of Media Arts
Faculty Audio Chair: Kyle Miller, University of South Dakota
Student Audio Chair: Jeffrey Schiffman, York College of Pennsylvania
Faculty Documentary Chair: Adam Kuban, Ball State University
Student Documentary Chair: Julia Largent, McPherson College
Senior Faculty Film & Video Competition Chair: Marilyn Terzic, Université du Québec à Montréal
Senior Student Film & Video Competition Chair: Ginger Blackstone, Harding University
Faculty IMET Chair: Leah Mangrum, Angelo State University
Student IMET Chair: Gina Baleria, Sonoma State University
International Chair: Tom Hallaq, Kansas State University
News Senior Chair: Chandra Clark, The University of Alabama
Faculty Scriptwriting Chair: Antonio Zarro, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Student Scriptwriting Chair: Jon Mabee, Missouri State University
Sports Senior Chair: Chris Bacon, Middle Tennessee State University
Two-Year/Small College Chair: Bob Maass, Metropolitan Community College
Ex-officio Members:
Sara Magee, Loyola University, Maryland, Festival Advisory Committee
Iveta Imre, University of Mississippi, 2019-2021 Creative Director, Festival of Media Arts
Michael Fagans, University of Mississippi, 2020-2021 Festival Producer
Heather Birks, BEA Executive Director
Festival Committee Bylaws
Finance Committee
Chair: Stacey Irwin, Millersville University
Suzy Smith, Ball State University
Mark Fratrik, BIA/Kelsey
Governance Committee
Chair: Vic Costello, Elon University
Kim Fox, American University in Cairo
Chris Merritt, Ohio Association of Broadcasters
Michael Bruce, University of Alabama
Heather Birks, BEA
On-Location Conference Committee
Senior Faculty Fellow: Michael Bruce, University of Alabama
Heather Birks, BEA
J-D Boyle, BEA
Publications Committee
Publications Committee Chair: Joe Blaney, Illinois State University
Noah Arceneaux, San Diego State University (2nd year, 2nd term)
Phylis Johnson, San Jose State University (1st year, 2nd term)
Patricia Phalen, The George Washington University (3rd year, 2nd term)
Michael Socolow, University of Maine (1st year, 2nd term)
Ex-officio Members: Publishers Representative: Pri Gibbons, Taylor & Francis
Stephen Perry, Regent University (immediate past chair)
Research Committee Chair: Michel Haigh, Texas State University
BEA Executive Director: Heather Birks
(Members are eligible for two consecutive 3-year terms)
Publication Committee Policy Handbook
Research Committee
Chair: Michel Haigh, Texas State University (term concludes April 2026)
Glenda Balas, University of North Texas (immediate past chair)
Nick Bowman, Syracuse University (2nd year, 2nd term)
Dwight Brooks, Hofstra University (2nd year, 2nd term)
Kenon Brown, University of Alabama (2nd year, 2nd term)
Flora Khoo, Regent University (1st year, 1st term)
Ilia Rodriguez, University of New Mexico (1st year, 1st term)
Tang Tang, Kent State University (1st year, 1st term)
Tameka Winston, Tennessee State University (1st year, 1st term)
Ex-officio Members: Publications Committee Chair: Joe Blaney, Illinois State University
Publisher’s Representative: Pri Gibbons, Routledge
Interest Division Representative: Amy Crawford, Youngstown State University
BEA Executive Director: Heather Birks
(Members are eligible for two consecutive 3-year terms) Research Committee Bylaws
Student Media Clubs
Chair: Chad Roberts, Stockton University
Heather Birks, BEA
Scholarship Committee
Marianne Barrett, Arizona State University
Marilou Johnson, James Madison University
Gene Manning, Manning Broadcasting Inc.
PRESIDENT APPOINTED TASK FORCES
BEA Research Grant Task Force
Chair: Augie Grant, University of South Carolina
Jennifer Meadows. California State University – Chico
Jeff Wilkinson, Florida A&M University
Roxane Coche, University of Florida
Michael Bruce, University of Alabama
Communications Task Force
Phillip Powell, Trinity Christian College
Heather Birks, BEA
Interest Divisions Task Force
Chair: Amy Crawford, Youngstown State University
Todd Holmes, California State University – Northridge
Patricia Williamson, Central Michigan University
Julian Rodriguez, University of Texas – Arlington
Adam Kuban, Ball State University
Scholastic and Student Program Initiatives Task Force
Co-Chairs: LaDonna Aiken, University of Texas – Arlington and Tom McDonnell, Metropolitan Community College
Greg Luft, Colorado State University
Phillip Powell, Trinity Christian College
Christine Taylor, Butler University
ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES
ACEJMC BEA Representatives
Michel Haigh, Texas State University
Greg Pitts, Middle Tennessee State University
Council of Communication Associations (CCA)
CCA Chair: Michael Bruce, University of Alabama
CCA Executive Director: Heather Birks, BEA
BEA Representative: Greg Newton, Ohio University
Click here for a link to CCA.