Advisory board
The Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture is honored to benefit from the guidance of a distinguished advisory board. The board is currently chaired by Chester G. "Chet" Wade, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Dominion Energy.
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.
Frazier Armstrong
Alumna
Strategic Marketing
Communications and advancement professional
Jeffrey Blount
Alumnus
Award-winning author and director (Retired)
NBC News Washington
Doug Burford
Alumnus
President
Burford Advertising, Inc.
Sergio Bustos
Alumnus
Deputy Opinion Editor
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Brian Ellis
Executive vice president
Padilla
Kym Grinnage
Vice president and general manager
NBC12 / WWBT
Kirk Laughlin
Alumnus
Managing director
Nearshore Americas
Trina Lee
Alumna
Assistant Vice President for Public Relations and Communications
CarMax
Aurelia B. Lewis
Founder and president
Lewis Media Partners
Marcus Messner, Ph.D. (ex officio)
Interim Director
Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richard T. "Dick" Robertson (Chair Emeritus)
Alumnus
Senior adviser (retired)
Warner Bros. Television Group
Danny Robinson
Chief Client Officer
The Martin Agency
Tom Silvestri
Publisher
The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Nancy Kent-Smith
Alumna
Principal
Media Solutions LLC
and
Regional news director (retired)
Raycom Media
Jesse Vaughan
Alumnus
27-time Emmy award winner and VCU 2013 Alumni Star
Chet Wade (Chair)
Principal
AftonRock Communications LLC
and
Vice president for corporate communications (retired)
Dominion Energy
Frazier Armstrong
Alumna
Strategic Marketing
Communications and advancement professional
Jeffrey Blount
Alumnus
Award-winning author and director (Retired)
NBC News Washington
Doug Burford
Alumnus
President
Burford Advertising, Inc.
Hong Cheng, Ph.D. (ex officio)
Director
Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture
Virginia Commonwealth University
Brian Ellis
Executive vice president
Padilla
Kym Grinnage
Vice president and general manager
NBC12 / WWBT
Kirk Laughlin
Alumnus
Managing director
Nearshore Americas
Aurelia B. Lewis
Founder and president
Lewis Media Partners
Mark Raper
Alumnus
President (retired)
PadillaCRT
Richard T. "Dick" Robertson (Chair Emeritus)
Alumnus
Senior adviser (retired)
Warner Bros. Television Group
Garrett Ross
Co-founder and 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 (Chair)
Principal
AftonRock Communications LLC
and
Vice president for corporate communications (retired)
Dominion Energy
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, Fall 2017)
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 (Chair, Spring 2018)
Vice President of Corporate Communications
Dominion
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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