Board of Directors

 
Gwendolynne Larson
President

Assistant Director, Media Relations
Emporia State University

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.

Karen Rowley
Vice-President

2019 Conference Co-Director
Louisiana Legislative Auditors Office

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
Secretary

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.

Jane Falany
Treasurer

Jane Newton Falany has more than 30 years of experience in writing and editing, including 12 years as a freelancer. She has worked in corporate public relations management; written news releases, news and feature articles; edited publications, and taught journalism and public relations courses at the University of Alabama and Samford University.

Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas
Education Fund Director

Past President

Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas 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 2017-2019. Marianne received NFPW’s highest honor in 2013 when she was selected as the National Federation of Press Women Communicator of Achievement for her commitment to the organization, her community, and her professional career. Her previous leadership roles include 14-years at the Illinois Woman’s Press Association (IWPA) including four years as President. Her work, some of which can be found on Wolf Tracks History on mariannewolf.com, and on IWPA.org under So We All May Be Heard, has led to award-winning success as an author, short-story writer, and community volunteer.  

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
Meredith Cummings Student Membership Director
Cathy Koon Publications Director
Gwen Woolf Publications Assistant
   
Kristin Netterstrom Higgins 2021 Conference Co-Director
Debbie Miller 2021 Conference Co-Director