ACEJMC’s member associations represent educators and professional practitioners.

The Accrediting Council is composed of representatives of professional and educational organizations, and up to three public members. The Council president is a non-voting member.

The Accrediting Council usually meets twice a year. It considers accrediting decisions at a meeting in the spring; the fall semester meeting is devoted to policies and other considerations. The Accrediting Council makes all final accrediting decisions.

Steve Geimann, President, ACEJMC
Bloomberg News, retired
Washington, DC
steve.geimann@acejmc.org
(Officer term expires 2028)

Greg Pitts, Vice President, ACEJMC
Professor
School of Journalism and Strategic Media
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN
greg.pitts@acejmc.org
Representing:
Broadcast Education Association
(Officer term expires 2028)

Bradley Akubuiro
Partner, Bully Pulpit International
Chicago, IL
bradley.akubuiro@acejmc.org
Representing:
Institute for Public Relations

Dorothy Bland
Professor
Mayborn School of Journalism
University of North Texas
Denton, TX
dorothy.bland@acejmc.org
Representing:
Association for Education in Journalism
and Mass Communication
(Term expires: 2027)

Jenny Buschhorn
AAF’s National Education Executive Council
Associate Professor
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX
jenny.buschhorn@acejmc.org
Representing:
American Advertising Federation

Joie Chen
‍Special Correspondent
Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien/HMPG (Hearst)
Washington, DC
‍Joie.Chen@acejmc.org
‍Representing:
Asian American Journalists Association

Michael Cherenson
Executive Vice President Public Relations
SCG Advertising
& Public Relations
Whippany, NJ
mike.cherenson@acejmc.org
Representing:
Public Relations Society of America

Heidi de Laubenfels
Founder & CEO
Arcus Pace, Inc.
Seattle, WA
heidi.delaubenfels@acejmc.org
Public Member
(Term expires 2028)

Rosanna M. Fiske
APR, Fellow PRSA
Global Head of Corporate Affairs
Signature Aviation
Orlando, FL
rosanna.fiske@acejmc.org
Representing:
Public Relations Society of America

Rochelle Ford
CEO
Page Society
New York, NY
rochelle.ford@acejmc.org
Representing:
Page Society

Louisa Ha
University Distinguished Research Professor
School of Media and Communication
Bowling Green State University
louisa.ha@acejmc.org
Representing:
Association for Education in Journalism
and Mass Communication
(Term expires: 2028)

Michel Haigh
Professor
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX
michel.haigh@acejmc.org
Representing:
Broadcast Education Association

Denise Hill
APR
Mooresville, NC
denise.hill@acejmc.org
Representing:
Public Relations Society of America

David Kurpius
Dean
Missouri School of Journalism
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO
david.kurpius@acejmc.org
Representing:
Alliance of Schools and Colleges
of Communication and Journalism ‍

Mark Lodato
Dean
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
mark.lodato@acejmc.org
Representing:
Association of Schools of Journalism
and Mass Communication
(Term expires 2026)

Herbert Lowe
Senior Lecturer
Department of Journalism
College of Journalism and Communications
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
herb.lowe@acejmc.org
Representing:
National Association of Black Journalists

Jairo Alfonso Lugo-Ocando
Dean
College of Communication
University of Sharjah
jairo.lugo-ocando@acejmc.org
Representing: Association for Education in Journalism
and Mass Communication
(Term expires 2027)

Felicia McGhee
Associate Dean, Professor
School of Journalism & Graphic Communication
Florida A & M University
Tallahassee, FL
felicia.mcghee@acejmc.org
Representing:
Association of Schools of Journalism
and Mass Communication
(Term expires 2027)

Andrea Miller
Dean
Gaylord College
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK
andrea.miller@acejmc.org
Representing:
Association of Schools of Journalism
and Mass Communication
(Term expires 2027)

Jessica Pucci
Senior Associate Dean
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Arizona State University
Phoenix, AZ
jessica.pucci@acejmc.org
Representing:
Association for Education in Journalism
and Mass Communication
(Term expires 2026)

Dan Shelley
President
Chief Executive Officer
Radio-Television Digital News Association
Washington, DC
dan.shelley@acejmc.org
Representing:
Radio-Television Digital News Association

Jason Shepard
Interim Dean
College of Communications
California State University, Fullerton
Fullerton, CA
jason.shepard@acejmc.org
Representing:
Association of Schools of Journalism
and Mass Communication
(Term expires 2026)

Alicia Ybarbo
Coordinating Producer
TODAY Show at NBC News, NBCUniversal
New York, New York
Alicia.Ybarbo@acejmc.org
Representing:
National Association of Hispanic Journalists

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