JEA has begun the formal process to hire a new executive director after current director Kelly Glasscock, CJE, announced his plans to take a new role.

These five individuals will serve on the search committee:

Kelly Furnas, MJE, is a lecturer in multimedia journalism at Elon (North Carolina) University and faculty mentor to the student-run Elon News Network. He serves as JEA’s global engagement director and is treasurer of the Student Press Law Center. He is a former JEA executive director. He has worked for newspapers in Las Vegas and Tallahassee, Florida.

Larry Graham is the founder and CEO of Diversity Pledge Inc. The company prioritizes career learning and peer-to-peer networking for journalists while providing ongoing organizational support when it comes to diversity and inclusion for newsrooms. Graham is also a NewStart fellowships recipient studying Media Solutions and Innovation at the West Virginia University Reed College of Media. He spent the majority of his career leading sports journalists in newsrooms across the country. Most recently, he served as deputy director of local news transformation at the American Press Institute where he built the tablestakes.org website. Graham is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and the Online News Association.

Valerie J. Kibler, MJE, is beginning her 34th year as an educator. She advises the newspaper, website, social media and yearbook at Harrisonburg (Virginia) High School. Kibler currently teaches the Advising Student Media course for Kent State University’s online program and is serving her second term as JEA’s vice president. She was named the 2010 Dow Jones News Fund’s National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year.

Sarah Nichols, MJE, advises Whitney High Student Media in Rocklin, California, and serves as JEA’s president. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Journalism Education Committee and a frequent instructor, author and presenter in the scholastic journalism community. Nichols volunteers as a JEA Mentor and contributor to JEA Digital Media, and her past involvement for the organization includes working with the JEA Curriculum Initiative and Certification Committee as well as serving terms as a state director and vice president.

Lindsay Porter is one year into her role as JEA assistant director where she oversees the organization’s communications. Since joining the yearbook staff in middle school, she has continued to be involved in scholastic, collegiate and professional journalism and journalism education in one way or another. Porter is a graduate of Kansas State University and a former JEA intern.

“I’m excited to be a part of selecting JEA’s next executive director,” Kibler said. “It’s such an important position for our organization because this person is the glue that holds together all of the different initiatives we have in the works. We’ve been lucky to have a long line of outstanding individuals serve our members, and I want to help choose a person to continue that tradition of excellence.”

Committee members are collaborating virtually to finalize the executive director job listing and gain approval through the necessary channels in order to post the position in September. While many components of the role will match the current job description, one part is significantly different: flexibility in location. The job will include the option to be filled as a remote position rather than requiring the director to work in person at JEA Headquarters, which currently is contracted with Kansas State University through June 30, 2024.

As committee chair and JEA president, Nichols said leading the search effort will take top priority.

“I want to assure our members I will do everything possible to secure the best possible outcome for JEA,” Nichols said. “Our committee members bring extensive knowledge of both the position specifically and the industry at large, not only in terms of what has been but also what could be. I’m grateful for the background, enthusiasm and expertise each individual brings to this process. We all want to attract a deep and diverse pool of exceptional candidates for the executive director position in order to keep the organization moving forward.”

Updates throughout the process will be available at JEA.org.