Board of Directors

Karen Rowley
President

Karen Rowley has been senior communications manager for the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office since January 2016. She started her career in journalism, working for daily newspapers in Florida and North Carolina and a biweekly business newspaper in Louisiana. After earning a Ph.D. in media and public affairs from Louisiana State University, she worked as a researcher for a public policy research group. She also taught beginning reporting at LSU and has had articles published in several academic journals. In addition to her Ph.D., she has a BA in journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill and a master’s in mass communication from LSU.

Julie Campbell
Vice President

Julie Campbell, writer and editor, retired in 2018 after 15 years at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, where she was associate director of communications and public affairs and editor of W&L: The Washington and Lee Magazine. Previously, she was the editor of Virginia Cavalcade magazine (1994-2002) and associate editor of The Journal of Arizona History (1987-1994). Campbell is the author of two books: The Horse in Virginia: An Illustrated History, which won prizes from NFPW and the Library of Virginia Literary Awards, and Studies in Arizona History. She serves on the board of Virginia Professional Communicators. 

Meredith Cummings
Secretary

Meredith Cummings, MJE, has experience in print, web and multimedia reporting. She is an award-winning freelance multimedia journalist who coordinates #press4education for the Society of Professional Journalists, and is a member of SPJ’s Journalism Education Committee. She directs the National Elementary Schools Press Association, the Alabama Scholastic Press Association and the Multicultural Journalism Workshop at The University of Alabama, where she is a full-time senior instructor. She is an editing consultant for WVUA 23, a professional commercial TV station. An avid college football fan, Cummings co-hosts the football show Sky Box on WVUA 90.7 each Fall. @merecummings on all social media 

Debbie Miller
Treasurer

Debbie Miller, a former journalist and higher education communication professional, serves as treasurer for NFPW. She previously served in roles as parliamentarian and assistant director for NFPW’s national communications contest. In fall 2022, she will become a full-time journalism, media, and English faculty member at NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville. She received the sweepstakes award in the NFPW professional communications contest in 2010. In her previous university teaching roles, she encouraged and championed student entries from the University of Arkansas and John Brown University. Her students at those universities entered the collegiate/education division of the NFPW contest and received national awards in public relations and writing for news, sports, and features. In addition to being a member and officer in NFPW, she is a member of College Media Association, Arkansas College Media Advisers, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Public Relations Society of America. She serves on the board of Arkansas Press Women. 

Gwendolynne Larson
Education Fund Director/Past President

Gwendolynne Larson serves as the Immediate Past-President of the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) and the Director of the NFPW Education Fund. She was President of the National Federation of Press Women from 2019-2021.  With a degree in print journalism, Gwen Larson began her career as production editor of scholarly journals before moving to Diabetes Magazine, the monthly consumer publication of the American Diabetes Association. Returning to her native Kansas brought her back to newspapers. During her 17 years at The Emporia Gazette, Gwen most enjoyed covering cops and courts while progressing from a reporter to executive editor. In 2011, she joined Emporia State University, moving from journalism to public relations. A member of NFPW and Kansas Professional Communicators since 2004, Gwen has served both organizations in multiple capacities and was named Kansas Communicator of Achievement in 2013.

Appointed Board of Directors

Paula Casey Archivist
Karen Stensrud Communicator of Achievement Director
Angela Smith FAN Co-Director
Marsha Shuler FAN Co-Director
Amy Geiszler-Jones Historian
Mary Pat Finn-Hoag Assistant Historian
Catherine Petrini Hospitality and Protocol
Allison Stein Parliamentarian
Mark Fowser POPPS President
Meg Hunt Presidential Advisor — Conference Liaison
Cynthia Price Presidential Advisor — Membership

Teri Ehresman

Presidential Advisor — Professional Contest Director
Helen Plotkin Assistant Professional Contest Director
Cathy Koon Publications Director
Gwen Woolf Publications Assistant
Meg Hunt, Richard Plotkin, Mary Jane Skala, Marsha Hoffman, Karen Rowley, Cate Langley 2023 Conference Committee
Cincinnati, Ohio