Speakers

Thomas Abercrombie is a videographer at the University of Georgia, specializing in visual storytelling that showcases authentic student experiences across campus and beyond. He is particularly passionate about using drone technology to capture dynamic perspectives that bring those stories vividly to life.

Jacob is the Director of News & Media Relations at the University of Mississippi and has more than a decade of experience as a reporter and communications professional. Before returning to the University of Mississippi – his alma mater – in 2022, he spent six years managing media relations and publications at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. As a reporter for the Daily Comet and Houma Courier, Jacob won awards for his coverage of the oilfield, coastal land loss and the lingering effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. His work has appeared in Reuters, the Huntsville Times and other outlets across the South.

Leslie Colvin is Senior Director for Marketing and Brand Strategy at the University of Georgia, where she helps lead brand development, content strategy, and institutional storytelling. Leslie works across a broad range of partners to strengthen alignment and elevate UGA’s reputation for academics, research, and statewide impact.

Erin Garrett has more than 15 years of experience in higher education marketing and communications. Currently strategic communications director for her alma mater, the University of Mississippi, she is co-chair of the university’s AI working group for marketing and communications. In previous roles, she led communications for UM’s Southaven regional campus and its School of Pharmacy.

Rod Guajardo serves as Assistant to the President and University Spokesperson at the University of Georgia. He is an advisor and liaison to President Jere W. Morehead on a variety of areas including student affairs, staff, and executive communications, among others. He also serves as the University of Georgia’s primary media contact for institutional responses and formal public statements.

James Hataway is the Senior Director for Integrated Media Communications at the University of Georgia, where he leads strategic media relations and integrated communications efforts that elevate the university’s research and institutional priorities. He works closely with university leadership and faculty to amplify high-impact scholarship and strengthen UGA’s national and international visibility. Prior to joining UGA, he was a freelance health, medical, and science journalist covering scientific discoveries, health care trends, and medical policy for a range of publications and professional organizations.

Leigh is a veteran science writer and editor dedicated to making research understandable to general audiences and enhancing research visibility through strategic media relations and storytelling. A recovering journalist, Leigh has more than a decade of experience working in higher education marketing and communications.

Chloe Calvert Hicks is the Senior Social Media Content Strategist at the University of Georgia, where she leads content strategy and storytelling across eight major platforms for an audience of more than one million followers. With over four years of experience in social media management, she specializes in content strategy, audience engagement and digital community building. Chloe holds a B.S. in Communications with a certificate in Social Media from Texas A&M University and is passionate about using strategic storytelling to strengthen institutional brands.

Dean Philip Hong is an experienced higher education leader and social work researcher who focuses on social innovation and building partnerships between social work and other fields, such as business, medicine, and nonprofit. His research expertise is in workforce development, poverty, and psychological self-sufficiency, and he is the developer and master trainer of the innovative Transforming Impossible into Possible (TIP) intervention model for bottom-up system change.

Eric Johnson has spent the past 33 years working with student leaders at the University of Georgia. He served as the director of New Student Orientation in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions from 1992 to 2007. For the past 18 years, he has been the director of the UGA Visitors Center, learning from and leading a team of more than 70 student tour leaders and welcoming almost 50,000 campus visitors every year.

Dorothy Kozlowski is a senior photographer with UGA Marketing and Communications where she has been on staff since 2009. Dorothy holds degrees in journalism and landscape architecture, and has always had an affinity for chasing pretty light, even before she knew it could be a profession and that she could create it herself. When she’s not working, she’s very likely spending time with her Velcro-dog or planning her next trip.

Jamie Lewis, assistant director of digital marketing, has worked at the University of Georgia in a variety of communications roles, focused primarily on social media, for nearly twelve years. In her current role, Jamie works closely on the university’s national reputation campaign and oversees web and social media strategy. Outside of work, Jamie enjoys running, reading, and going to the movies.

Dr. LeNá Powe McDonald is Associate Commissioner for Academic Relations for the Southeastern Conference, where she leads academic and leadership initiatives across 16 universities. Her career began in economic and workforce development before moving into advancement, and later serving as Director of Internal Affairs and UA System Liaison in the Office of the President at the University of Alabama. She has also taught in the Department of Communication Studies. A three-time graduate of the University of Alabama, Dr. McDonald is passionate about innovation, expanding student opportunity, and developing leaders who make meaningful impact on their campuses and communities.

Dr. Jennifer L. Osbon is Principal Lecturer in Marketing at the University of Georgia, where she leads the Digital Marketing Area of Emphasis and develops innovative coursework in social media strategy, digital marketing privacy and ethics, and analytics. She will pilot a new course, AI for Marketing Amplification, in January 2027, reflecting her commitment to preparing students and institutions for the evolving digital landscape. With a doctorate in Higher Education Administration (UGA, 2019) and extensive industry experience, she brings a strategic, forward-thinking perspective to higher education marketing and communications.

Corey O’Quinn studied digital filmmaking at Georgia Southern University, where he also worked as a football video producer for six years. After a brief stint at Nicholls State University in south Louisiana, he found himself back home in Georgia helping UGA revamp its video production style and aesthetics.

As Vice President for Instruction and Senior Vice Provost for Academic Planning Marisa Anne Pagnattaro oversees the University of Georgia’s enrollment management, student success initiatives, academic affairs, instructional infrastructure and support services, including admissions, financial aid, registrar, academic advising, active learning, experiential learning, and online learning, as well as the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Office for Student Support and Achievement, and the First-Year Odyssey Seminars.

Kathy Pharr serves as the University of Georgia’s Vice President for Marketing and Communications, where she guides results-oriented communications, marketing, and media efforts that advance strategic objectives. As Chief of Staff, Dr. Pharr advises the President and liaises with the University System Chancellor’s Office, UGA Foundation, and various internal administrative divisions.

A longtime UGA leader, Dr. Pharr’s roles have spanned the President’s Office, Finance and Administration, the Health Sciences Campus and School of Law, following six years in broadcast news.

Dr. Pharr holds three degrees from the University of Georgia—a bachelor’s in journalism, master’s in public administration, and doctorate in higher education management. Her contributions have been recognized with honors including the Blue Key Service Award and the inaugural UGA Foundation Distinguished Service Scroll, which established a need-based Georgia Commitment Scholarship in her name. Dr. Pharr speaks as an invited guest lecturer on such topics as crisis management, leadership development, and higher education communications.

Brian Powers is the Assistant Director of Photo and Video at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, where he works with his team to capture the life and achievements of the Terry community. He grew up outside Chicago and previously worked as a photojournalist for 15 years at newspapers across the Midwest. Outside of work, Brian is an avid runner and cyclist, but can most often be found camping and hiking in the North Georgia mountains with his wife and two children.

Lisa Robbins is a creative leader with more than 20 years of experience translating bold ideas into high-impact visual strategies rooted in real business outcomes. Known for fostering a culture of collaboration, and innovation, she empowers teams to push creative boundaries and consistently deliver their best work. As Senior Director of Integrated Creative Strategy, Lisa leads the development of dynamic digital experiences that captivate audiences while elevating the research, impact, and student experience that define the University of Georgia.

Billy Schuerman was a staff photographer at The Virginian-Pilot newspaper prior to his role at the University of Georgia. He has been working in photography since he was an undergraduate at the University of Mississippi. He likes to run, go bird watching and collect postcards.

Dr. Brian Simmons is a Public Service Assistant at the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, where he has worked since 2013 helping organizations make sense of their data and communicate insights that lead to better decisions. With a strong background in evaluation design, analytics, and applied research methods, Dr. Simmons specializes in transforming complex findings into clear, compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences. Throughout his work, Dr. Simmons focuses on building capacity for data use and storytelling, helping teams move beyond reporting numbers to communicating insights that inspire understanding, engagement, and action.

Chamberlain Smith is a staff photographer at her alma mater, the University of Georgia, where she studied photojournalism and art. Her career has spanned the Southeast in newsrooms, photo studios, university marketing, and as a freelancer for professional sports teams and journalism organizations.

In addition to his other duties, Trevor manages the Office of Public Safety’s website, staysafe.uga.edu. He conducts crisis communications training exercises for faculty, staff and students, and is a guest lecturer at UGA, across North America and in Europe. Before coming to UGA in 2016, Trevor served as Senior Director for News and Media Relations at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. He previously served as Senior Information Officer for The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Trevor is a survivor of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. His first-person account of those attacks has been published worldwide. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in American Government from the University of Virginia.

Andy Tucker is the Assistant Director for Photography in the Division of Marketing & Communications at the University of Georgia where he has served for the last 18 years. He loves having the opportunity to lead a team of three photographers that collaborate together daily to produce storytelling images for UGA. He also enjoys mentoring and inspiring younger photographers and teaching students through workshops in collaboration with professors and programs at the Grady College of Journalism. Andy worked in newspapers for 10 years before coming to the university. His favorite assignments include covering sports, shooting anything underwater, traveling internationally and across the state and getting the chance to chase the pretty light while flying a drone (usually early in the morning.) When not mashing a button for a living, Andy enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, fishing and hunting.

Abbigail Tumpey is Vice President for Institute Communications at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she leads the Institute’s marketing and communications strategy, overseeing brand and reputation management across media relations, research communications, marketing, executive and internal communications, creative services, events, and digital strategy. Prior to joining Georgia Tech, she spent 25 years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including 21 years in senior leadership roles, serving as head of communications during the COVID-19 emergency response. Throughout her CDC career, she built public-private partnerships, expanded clinical outreach, and led communications for major public health responses, including Ebola, COVID-19, and mpox, as well as national initiatives such as World Rabies Day and antibiotic resistance awareness. She has been recognized by PRWeek as both a Champion of PR and a Health Influencer. Abbigail holds a B.S. from Michigan State University and an M.P.H. from the University of South Florida and is married to influenza researcher Terrence Tumpey; they have two sons, Blake, a member of the University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band, and Pierce.

Mr. Webber is the Director of the Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPaR) at Augusta University. In this role, he plans, organizes, oversees, and directs Augusta University emergency management operations and activities. Mr. Webber co-chairs the President’s Emergency Action Team, a committee comprised of senior university leadership and chairs the University Emergency Preparedness Team. Mr. Webber transitioned from a law enforcement career to emergency management in 2013 and has since maintained an active leadership role across regional preparedness and response initiatives. He serves on the Georgia Region 6 EMS Council, the Executive Committee of the East Central Regional Healthcare Coalition, the #StrongAugusta Executive Committee, and the Regional Trauma Advisory Committee.