Advisory board

The Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture is honored to benefit from the guidance of a distinguished advisory board, formerly chaired by Richard T. “Dick” Robertson, alumnus and special advisor to the president of Warner Bros. Television, and currently chaired by Beth Rilee-Kelley, Chief Operating Officer of The Martin Agency.

Comprised of industry leaders representing each of the programs offered in the Robertson School, this board provides input on curriculum development, faculty development, strategic planning and fundraising. When near campus, members make guest appearances in our classrooms. We are grateful for the commitment from these outstanding professionals to make our School one of the nation’s best.

2017-2018 Advisory Board Members

Frazier Armstrong
Alumna
Strategic Marketing
Communications & Advancement Professional

Frank Batten Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Landmark Media Enterprises

Jeffrey Blount
Alumnus
Director
NBC News Washington

Doug Burford
Alumnus
President
Burford Advertising, Inc.

Dr. Hong Cheng (ex officio)
Director
Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture
Virginia Commonwealth University

Kym Grinnage
Vice President & General Manager
NBC12 / WWBT

Kirk Laughlin
Alumnus
Managing Director, Nearshore Americas

Aurelia B. Lewis
Founder & President
Lewis Media Partners

Beth Rilee-Kelley (Chair)
President
The Martin Agency

Jing Ma
Manager General
CCTV America

Mark Raper
Alumnus
President
PadillaCRT

Richard T. "Dick" Robertson (Chair Emeritus)
Alumnus
Senior Advisor (retired)
Warner Bros. Television Group

Garrett Ross
Co-founder & CEO
Mobelux

Tom Silvestri
Publisher
The Richmond Times-Dispatch

Nancy Kent-Smith
Alumna
Regional News Director
Raycom Media

Jesse Vaughan
Alumnus
27-time Emmy Award winner and VCU 2013 Alumni Star

Chet Wade
Vice President of Corporate Communications
Dominion

2016-2017 Advisory Board Members

Frazier Armstrong
Alumna
Strategic Marketing, Communications & Advancement Professional

Frank Batten Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Landmark Media Enterprises

Jeffrey Blount
Alumnus
Director
NBC News Washington

Doug Burford
Alumnus and  President
Burford Advertising, Inc.

Dr. Hong Cheng (ex officio)
Director
Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture
Virginia Commonwealth University

Kym Grinnage
Vice President & General Manager
NBC12 / WWBT

Beth Rilee-Kelley (Chair)
Chief Operating Officer
The Martin Agency

Kirk Laughlin
Alumnus
Managing Director, Nearshore Americas

Aurelia B. Lewis
Founder & President
Lewis Media Partners

Jing Ma
Manager General
CCTV America

Mark Raper
Alumnus and President
PadillaCRT

Dick (Richard T.) Robertson (Chair Emeritus)
Alumnus
Senior Advisor (retired)
Warner Bros. Television Group

Garrett Ross
Co-founder & CEO
Mobelux

Jesse Vaughan
Alumnus
27-time Emmy Award winner and VCU 2013 Alumni Star

Chet Wade
Vice President of Corporate Communications
Dominion

2015-2016 Advisory Board Members

Frank Batten Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Landmark Media Enterprises

Doug Burford
Alumnus
President
Burford Advertising, Inc.

Kym Grinnage
Vice President & General Manager
NBC12 / WWBT

Beth Rilee-Kelley
Chief Operating Officer
The Martin Agency

Jing Ma
Manager General
CCTV America

Frazier Millner
Alumna
Strategic Marketing, Communications & Advancement Professional

Mark Raper
Alumnus
Chairman and CEO
CRT-tanaka

Don (Donald S.) Richards
Vice President and General Manager
WWBT-Channel 12 (NBC)

Dick (Richard T.) Robertson (Chair)
Alumnus
Senior Advisor (retired)
Warner Bros. Television Group

Garrett Ross
Co-founder & CEO
Mobelux

Ginger Stanley
Executive Director
Virginia Press Association

Jesse Vaughan
Alumnus
21-time Emmy Award winner and VCU 2013 Alumni Star

Dr. Hong Cheng (ex officio)
Director
Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture
Virginia Commonwealth University

2014-2015 Advisory Board Members

Frank Batten Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Landmark Media Enterprises

Doug Burford
Alumnus
President
Burford Advertising, Inc.

Kym Grinnage
Vice President & General Manager
NBC12 / WWBT

Beth Rilee-Kelley
Chief Operating Officer
The Martin Agency

Jing Ma
Manager General
CCTV America

Frazier Millner
Alumna
Strategic Marketing, Communications & Advancement Professional

Diane Linen Powell
Chairman
Des Plaines Publishing Co.

Mark Raper
Alumnus
Chairman and CEO
CRT-tanaka

Don (Donald S.) Richards
Vice President and General Manager
WWBT-Channel 12 (NBC)

Dick (Richard T.) Robertson (Chair)
Alumnus
Senior Advisor (retired)
Warner Bros. Television Group

Garrett Ross
Co-founder & CEO
Mobelux

Ginger Stanley
Executive Director
Virginia Press Association

Jesse Vaughan
Alumnus
21-time Emmy Award winner and VCU 2013 Alumni Star

Dr. Hong Cheng (ex officio)
Director
Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture
Virginia Commonwealth University

2013-2014 Advisory Board Members

Frank Batten Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Landmark Media Enterprises

Doug Burford
Alumnus
President
Burford Advertising, Inc.

Kym Grinnage
Vice President & General Manager
NBC12 / WWBT

Beth Rilee-Kelley
Chief Operating Officer
The Martin Agency

Jing Ma
Manager General
CCTV America

Frazier Millner
Alumna
Strategic Marketing, Communications & Advancement Professional

Mark Raper
Alumnus
Chairman and CEO
CRT-tanaka

Don (Donald S.) Richards
Vice President and General Manager
WWBT-Channel 12 (NBC)

Dick (Richard T.) Robertson (Chair)
Alumnus
Senior Advisor (retired)
Warner Bros. Television Group

Garrett Ross
Co-founder & CEO
Mobelux

Ginger Stanley
Executive Director
Virginia Press Association

Jesse Vaughan
Alumnus
21-time Emmy Award winner and VCU 2013 Alumni Star

Dr. Hong Cheng (ex officio)
Director
Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture
Virginia Commonwealth University

2012-2013 Advisory Board Members

Marcellus Alexander
Executive Vice President of Television
President of the NAB Educational Foundation
National Association of Broadcasters

Reid Ashe
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Media General Inc.

Frank Batten Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Landmark Media Enterprises

Yan Jin (ex officio)
Interim Director
The Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture
Virginia Commonwealth University

Beth Rilee-Kelley
Chief Operating Officer
The Martin Agency

Wanda Lloyd
Executive Editor
Montgomery Advertiser

Diane Linen Powell
Chairman
Des Plaines Publishing Co.

Frazier Millner
Director of Advancement & Patron Communications
Richmond Symphony

Mark Raper
Chairman and CEO
CRT-tanaka

Don (Donald S.) Richards
Vice President and General Manager
WWBT-Channel 12 (NBC)

Richard "Dick" T. Robertson (Chair)
Senior Advisor (retired)
Warner Bros. Television Group

Ginger Stanley
Executive Director
Virginia Press Association

2011-2012 Advisory Board Members

Marcellus Alexander
Executive Vice President of Television
President of the NAB Educational Foundation
National Association of Broadcasters

Reid Ashe
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Media General Inc.

Frank Batten Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Landmark Media Enterprises

Yan Jin (ex officio)
Interim Director
The Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture
Virginia Commonwealth University

Beth Rilee-Kelley
Chief Operating Officer
The Martin Agency

Wanda Lloyd
Executive Editor
Montgomery Advertiser

Diane Linen Powell
Chairman
Des Plaines Publishing Co.

Frazier Millner
Director of Advancement & Patron Communications
Richmond Symphony

Mark Raper
Chairman and CEO
CRT-tanaka

Dick (Richard T.) Robertson (Chair)
Senior Advisor (retired)
Warner Bros. Television Group

Ginger Stanley
Executive Director
Virginia Press Association

2010-2011 Advisory Board Members

Marcellus Alexander
Executive Vice President of Television
President of the NAB Educational Foundation
National Association of Broadcasters

Reid Ashe
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Media General Inc.

Frank Batten Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Landmark Media Enterprises

Beth Rilee-Kelley
Partner/EVP, Director of Creative & Human Resources
The Martin Agency

Wanda Lloyd
Executive Editor
Montgomery Advertiser

Diane Linen Powell
Chairman
Des Plaines Publishing Co.

Frazier Millner
Director of Advancement & Patron Communications
Richmond Symphony

Mark Raper
Chairman and CEO
CRT-tanaka

Don (Donald S.) Richards
Vice President and General Manager
WWBT-Channel 12 (NBC)

Dick (Richard T.) Robertson (Chair)
Senior Advisor (retired)
Warner Bros. Television Group

Ginger Stanley
Executive Director
Virginia Press Association

L. Terry Oggel (ex officio)
Interim Director
The Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture
Virginia Commonwealth University

Michael E. Hughes (ex officio)
Assistant Director for Development
School of Mass Communications
Virginia Commonwealth University

2009-2010 Advisory Board Members

Marcellus Alexander
Executive Vice President of Television
President of the NAB Educational Foundation
National Association of Broadcasters

Reid Ashe
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Media General Inc.

Frank Batten Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Landmark Media Enterprises

C. Del Galloway, APR, Fellow PRSA
Vice President, Public Relations
United Way Worldwide

Kathleen Larey Lewton, APR, Fellow PRSA
Principal
Lewton, Seekins and Trester

Wanda Lloyd
Executive Editor
Montgomery Advertiser

Diane Linen Powell
Chairman
Des Plaines Publishing Co.

Mark Raper
Chairman and CEO
CRT-tanaka

Don (Donald S.) Richards
Vice President and General Manager
WWBT-Channel 12 (NBC)

Dick (Richard T.) Robertson (Chair)
Senior Advisor
Warner Bros. Television Group

Ginger Stanley
Executive Director
Virginia Press Association

Dennis D. Swanson
President, Station Operations
Fox Television Stations Inc.

Dr. Judy VanSlyke Turk (ex officio)
Director
School of Mass Communications
Virginia Commonwealth University

June O. Nicholson (ex officio)
Associate Director
School of Mass Communications
Virginia Commonwealth University

Carol Mawyer (ex officio)
Assistant Director for Student Services and Scholastic Journalism
School of Mass Communications
Virginia Commonwealth University

Michael E. Hughes (ex officio)
Assistant Director for Development
School of Mass Communications
Virginia Commonwealth University

2008-2009 Advisory Board Members

John Adams
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
The Martin Agency

Marcellus Alexander
Executive Vice President of Television
President of the NAB Educational Foundation
National Association of Broadcasters

Reid Ashe
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Media General Inc.

Frank Batten Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Landmark Media Enterprises

C. Del Galloway, APR, Fellow PRSA
Vice President, Public Relations
United Way Worldwide

Kathleen Larey Lewton, APR, Fellow PRSA
Principal
Lewton, Seekins and Trester

Wanda Lloyd
Executive Editor
Montgomery Advertiser

John L. Paluszek, APR, Fellow PRSA
Senior Counsel
Ketchum

Diane Linen Powell
Chairman
Des Plaines Publishing Co.

Mark Raper
Chairman and CEO
CRT-tanaka

Don (Donald S.) Richards
Vice President and General Manager
WWBT-Channel 12 (NBC)

Dick (Richard T.) Robertson (Chair)
Senior Advisor
Warner Bros. Television Group

Ginger Stanley
Executive Director
Virginia Press Association

Dennis D. Swanson
President, Station Operations
Fox Television Stations Inc.

Dr. Judy VanSlyke Turk (ex officio)
Director
School of Mass Communications
Virginia Commonwealth University

June O. Nicholson (ex officio)
Associate Director
School of Mass Communications
Virginia Commonwealth University

Michael E. Hughes (ex officio)
Assistant Director of Development and Alumni Relations
School of Mass Communications
Virginia Commonwealth University

2007-2008 Advisory Board Members

John Adams
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
The Martin Agency

Marcellus Alexander
Executive Vice President of Television
President of the NAB Educational Foundation
National Association of Broadcasters

Reid Ashe
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Media General Inc.

Frank Batten Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Landmark Communications, Inc.

David Bell
Pegasus Capital Advisor LP

C. Del Galloway
Executive Director
Public Awareness Initiative
Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Kathleen Larey Lewton, APR, Fellow PRSA
Principal
Lewton, Seekins and Trester

Caroline Little
CEO and Publisher
Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive

John L. Paluszek, APR, Fellow PRSA
Senior Counsel
Ketchum

Diane Linen Powell
Chairman
Des Plaines Publishing Co.

Mark Raper
Chairman and CEO
CRT-tanaka

Don (Donald S.) Richards
Vice President and General Manager
WWBT-Channel 12 (NBC)

Dick Robertson (Chair)
Senior Advisor
Warner Bros. Television Group

Dennis D. Swanson
President, Station Operations
Fox Television Stations Inc.

Dr. Judy VanSlyke Turk (ex officio)
Director
School of Mass Communications
Virginia Commonwealth University

Paula I. Otto (ex officio)
Associate Director
School of Mass Communications
Virginia Commonwealth University

June O. Nicholson (ex officio)
Associate Director for Graduate Studies
School of Mass Communications
Virginia Commonwealth University

Audrey K. Thomson (ex officio)
Director of Development and Alumni Relations
School of Mass Communications
Virginia Commonwealth University