JEA welcomes Loryn Clauson and Bradley Wilson to national headquarters staff

New team members bring extensive experience in journalism, education and nonprofit leadership to strengthen service to JEA members.

The Journalism Education Association is pleased to welcome Loryn Clauson, Ph.D, and Bradley Wilson, Ph.D, MJE, as new members of its national headquarters staff. Bringing decades of combined experience in journalism, education, research and association service, the two professionals will help advance JEA’s mission of supporting scholastic journalism educators and students nationwide.

“I’m confident in our new employees abilities to serve the community as they bring energy, advanced education and deep knowledge that will be a major benefit to JEA and our members,” said JEA Executive Director Veronica Purvis, DBA, CAE.

Loryn Clauson brings education, research and association experience

Loryn Clauson, Ph.D

Clauson joins JEA as association assistant, bringing a background in education, nonprofit organizations, historical research and journalism.

Before joining JEA, Clauson worked with the Nebraska Department of Education, assisting with SkillsUSA Nebraska, and with the American Society for Virology. Her professional experience also includes work as an assistant to the editor and reporter for a local newspaper.

Clauson brings valuable experience in membership-based organizations, having previously served as administrative assistant to the secretary of the American Society for Virology at the University of Toledo. In this role, she served as the primary point of contact for the society’s physical office, managed membership records and dues, coordinated member communications and assisted with planning the organization’s annual symposium. Her experience in association administration, member services and event coordination provides a strong foundation for supporting JEA’s members and programs.

Clauson earned her doctorate in history from the University of Toledo and both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kansas State University. Her academic background, organizational experience and interest in education shows in her enthusiasm to serve JEA’s members and programs.

A resident of Wamego, Kansas, Clauson said she enjoys volunteering at her daughter’s school and church, reading and spending time with her family.

Bradley Wilson brings decades of JEA leadership and journalism expertise

Bradley Wilson, Ph.D, MJE

Wilson brings extensive experience in organizational administration, financial management and member services to his new role as business operations specialist. His high-level organizational administration background includes expense reconciliation, travel processing, purchasing, data analysis and other essential administrative functions. 

With a deep understanding of JEA’s mission and the operational needs of a national nonprofit organization, Wilson is well-positioned to support the association’s daily operations and continued commitment to serving its members. He will continue serving as editor of Communication: Journalism Education Today, JEA’s professional magazine, a role he has held since 1997.

A respected journalism educator, editor and photojournalist, Wilson brings multidisciplinary experience in scholastic media, publication management, photography and journalism education. His professional background includes leadership roles with the Texas University Interscholastic League and the National Press Photographers Association, as well as work with journalism programs at Kansas State University, North Carolina State University and Midwestern State University.

Throughout his involvement with JEA, Wilson has contributed to the organization’s educational programs, publications, contests and conventions. His dedication to providing practical, relevant resources for journalism educators has made him a familiar and respected member of the scholastic journalism community.

Wilson received JEA’s Carl Towley Award in 2006, recognizing his outstanding contributions to scholastic journalism and the organization.

His transition to a full-time staff position brings institutional knowledge, editorial expertise and a deep understanding of JEA members’ needs to the national headquarters team.

Strengthening JEA’s commitment to members

The addition of Wilson and Clauson reflects JEA’s continued investment in knowledgeable staff, strong member relationships and high-quality educational resources.

Together, they bring a combination of institutional experience and fresh perspectives that will strengthen JEA’s ability to serve journalism educators, support student media programs and advance scholastic journalism nationwide.

JEA is excited to welcome Clauson and Wilson to the national headquarters staff team and looks forward to their contributions to the organization and its members.