JEA announces 2017 election results
Sarah Nichols, MJE, of Whitney High School, Rocklin, California, has been elected as the 35th president of the national Journalism Education Association and will lead the JEA board for three years starting May 1.
Nichols received 99.17 percent of the 848 votes cast for a near unanimous endorsement of the voting members of the organization. Of the 2,433 total ballots successfully emailed, 848 were returned for a percentage of 34.8 percent of the voting members deciding the election.
Nichols teaches journalism and advises Whitney High Student Media, a comprehensive media program. She has been JEA’s vice president since 2011 and is a member of its Scholastic Press Rights and Digital Media committees. In addition, Nichols coordinates the JEA Curriculum Initiative and the organization’s social media. She developed the JEA/NSPA Adviser Outreach Program (2015) and served on a team of teacher-trainers for the program’s pilot in 2016. Previously she served on the Certification Committee (2008-2011) and as California’s state director (2009-2011).
Other positions elected include the following:
Vice President
Val Kibler, CJE, Harrisonburg (Virginia) High School — 838 out of 845 for 99.17 percent.
Scholastic Press Rights Committee
Lori Keekley, MJE, St. Louis Park (Minnesota) High School — 837 out of 840 for 99.64 percent.
Educational Initiatives
Megan Fromm, CJE, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, Colorado — 410 of 762 for 53.81 percent.
Directors at Large (East)
Joe Humphrey, MJE, Hillsborough High School, Tampa, Florida — 497 of 775 for 64.13 percent.
Directors at Large (Central)
Tom Gayda, MJE, North Central High School, Indianapolis — 413 of 772 for 53.50 percent.
Directors at Large (West)
There will be a runoff between the top two vote getters, Tom Kaup, MJE, Auburn (Washington) High School, andJulia Satterthwaite, CJE, Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, California, as neither received 50 percent or more of the votes. Voting members will be emailed a ballot March 2, and they are due back March 6.
Complete Voting Results
| Position | Votes | Total | % |
| President | |||
| Sarah Nichols, MJE | 841 | 848 | 99.17% |
| Vice President | |||
| Val Kibler, CJE | 838 | 845 | 99.17% |
| Scholastic Press Rights Committee | |||
| Lori Keekley, MJE | 837 | 840 | 99.64% |
| Educational Initiatives | |||
| Erin Coggins, MJE | 184 | 762 | 24.15% |
| Kate Klonowski, MJE | 147 | 762 | 19.29% |
| Megan Fromm, CJE | 410 | 762 | 53.81% |
| Directors at Large (East) | |||
| Karen Collier, CJE | 277 | 775 | 35.74% |
| Joe Humphrey, MJE | 497 | 775 | 64.13% |
| Directors at Large (Central) | |||
| Patrick Johnson, MJE | 207 | 772 | 26.81% |
| Tim Morley, CJE | 150 | 772 | 19.43% |
| Tom Gayda, MJE | 413 | 772 | 53.50% |
| Directors at Large (West) | |||
| Julia Satterthwaite, CJE | 291 | 757 | 38.44% |
| Karen Slusher, CJE | 114 | 757 | 15.06% |
| Matt Rasgorshek | 127 | 757 | 16.78% |
| Tom Kaup, MJE | 223 | 757 | 29.46% |