Dr. Marcus Messner
Dr. Marcus Messner – IYLEP Co-Academic Director
Dr. Messner is an assistant professor at the School of Mass Communications, teaching journalism and mass communications classes. His main research focus is on the growing influence of new media formats, especially social networks, blogs and Wikipedia. He has presented numerous research papers at national and international conferences and has published several articles in academic journals and books. He has worked as a newspaper reporter, editor and correspondent in his native Germany and the U.S. Dr. Messner is teaching in VCU’s undergraduate print journalism program as well as the graduate multimedia journalism program.
Bio: http://www.marcusmessner.com/vita/
Phone: 804-827-0252; Email: messner@vcu.edu; Twitter: @marcusmessner
Professor Jeff South
Jeff South – IYLEP Co-Academic Director
Mr. South is an associate professor in the School of Mass Communications. He received Virginia Commonwealth University’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2008. Mr. South’s research focuses on communications technology and civic engagement. He teaches such courses as introduction to mass communications, newswriting and computer-assisted reporting, and he directs the school’s Capital News Service [www.capitalnews.vcu.edu] program, in which VCU journalism students cover the state government for news outlets across Virginia. Mr. South has worked as a reporter and editor for several U.S. newspapers and continues to serve as a newsroom trainer and coach. In 2007, he served a fellowship as a newsroom trainer in Ukraine, and 2011, he oversaw a grant in which public officials from Russia came to Richmond to learn about government and democracy.
Bio: http://www.has.vcu.edu/mac/faculty_staff_info/bios/south_bio.html
Phone: 804-827-0253; Email: jcsouth@vcu.edu; Twitter: @jcsouth
Norberto Gomez
Norberto Gomez Jr.–IYLEP TEACHING ASSISTANT
Norberto Gomez Jr., a former IYLEP student/mentor, is a third year doctoral
student in VCU’s Media, Art, and Text Interdisciplinary PhD program, as well
as an art instructor, musician and visual artist. His doctoral research is on
Internet and World Wide Web cultural studies and the materiality of its
technology. He received his Masters of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing in 2009
from the University of Houston, and Bachelors of Fine Arts in 2006 from Texas A&M
University-Kingsville . He is from Alice, Texas.
Email:gomezn2@vcu.edu; Twitter: @ngomezjr; Tumbler:theparasitichead.tumblr.com; URL: norbertogomezjr.com
Shana Meganck
Shana Meganck–IYLEP TEACHING ASSISTANT
Shana Meganck is a second-year PhD student in the Media, Art and Text program at VCU. While focusing on her own research interests, she has also been an adjunct instructor in the School of Mass Communication, teaching public relations and advertising classes. Shana received her MA for the University of Georgia in Journalism and her BA from Mary Baldwin College in Mass Communication. After completing her MA, she worked for five years in the public relations industry, before deciding to pursue her PhD. Her interests include women in the media,the effects of advertising and public relations on society, public relations and new media technologies, and ethical issues in public relations and advertising.
Alix Bryan
Alix Bryan–IYLEP TEACHING ASSISTANT/WEBMASTER
Alix is a graduate of the Multimedia Journalism Master’s Program at VCU. She also participated in the IYLEP 2010 program. Alix loves learning about and implementing new media into her journalism. She is currently employed by WTVR as a production assistant and also as a reporter at Richmond.com. Her interests are good conversation, healthy eating, documentaries, video journalism, social justice, camping, running, and roller coasters.
Website: www.alixbryan.com
E-mail: alix.bryan@gmail.com
Twitter: @alixbryan