Diversity Committee

Gary Kirksey is a professor in the School of Visual Communication. Gary has been active in the National Association of Black Journalists serving as the past chair of the Visual Task Force within NABJ.  In addition to his advertising work, Gary's photography has been featured in publications including the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and Life magazine.

Mark Turner is an assistant professor at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. Turner is the former executive news editor at the Akron Beacon Journal. Before joining the Pulitzer-awarded

Trevor Roycroft is Professor Emeritus in the J. Warren McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies, where he conducts graduate and undergraduate courses in regulatory policy and law, privacy, and the economics of information and telecommunication industries.

Mia Walsh is a sophomore studying journalism at OHIO and a Cutler Scholar. At Thread Magazine, she is SEAMS section editor. Mia is also the Scripps College Representative for Bobcat Student Orientation. She regularly writes for both Thread Magazine and Backdrop Magazine on campus.

Roger Cooper is an Associate Professor of Media Arts and Studies at Ohio University and Director of the OHIO-in-Los Angeles Program. He focuses on career development in the media and creative industries. He is a recipient of the University Professor Award. Roger has published research on the attributes of career success and presented papers and panels at national and international conferences.

Patricia Porter is a senior studying photojournalism with a Diversity Studies certificate at Ohio University. She is a VISCOM scholar and on the Deans’s list. She is the Marketing & Communications Manager of Athena Cinema and is a VISCOM ambassador. She has worked for Backdrop Magazine, Thread Magazine, Southeast Ohio Magazine, Soul of Athens and The Post.

Atish Baidya is the editor in chief at WOUB Public Media. He’s been at WOUB and Ohio University since 2012. Prior to WOUB, Atish served as a general assignment reporter in Charleston West Virginia, and as an anchor reporter at WHIZ-TV in Zanesville Ohio. Atish been on the committee since 2015 and served as chair from 2017 to 2019.

Iman Ikram is an international doctoral student in the health communication track at the School of Communication Studies. She practiced dentistry and health care administration in India. Currently, her interest lies in women's health specifically negotiating stigmatization against menstruation in terms of culture and gender.