Social Learning Summit 2011

Want to change the world? Some say social media is helping us do just that. From building peace to managing crises, social media is playing a key role in making the world a little bit better place. This panel will talk about how it's doing this, and how you can get involved in the process.

Featured:

• Moderator: Jessica Darmawan, Student, American University - Jessica Darmawan is a budding international blogger from Jakarta, Indonesia. With her passion for travel, she blogs about the world's largest archipelago, Indonesia, and its unique culture, natural landscape, traditional cuisine, and people. Within 6 months, her blog has grown to over 5,500 followers from all over the world. She hopes to work with Indonesia's Department of Tourism in the future to further expand her blog. Jessica is a Junior in the School of International Service at American University, and she hopes to use social media to promote causes.
• Daryn Cambridge, Director of Knowledge & Digital Strategies, International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (@daryncambridge) - Daryn Cambridge is Director for Knowledge & Digital Strategies at the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict.  He is also an education and training consultant and an adjunct professor at American University, where he teaches Education for Peace and Conflict Resolution and Education for International Development. Daryn has worked for several social justice and education organizations, facilitating trainings and workshops for learners of all ages and from all across the world. He has done consulting work for organizations such as One World Education, LearnServe International, and the United States Association for the University of Peace. He served for three years as Assistant Director of the Democracy Matters Institute and then Director of Youth Programs at Common Cause, designing and facilitating trainings for youth and young adults on how to do grassroots organizing around pro-democracy issues. He has also been a Program Supervisor and Instructor with the Close Up Foundation – the nation’s largest civic education and engagement non-profit – where he taught civic engagement workshops for young people from all across the United States, the Middle East, North Africa, and Eurasia. He has also been a teacher for Putney Student Travel’s Excel Program at Amherst College where he taught the History of War and International Relations; an urban crew leader with the Student Conservation Association, working with DC area youth in conservation, trail building and environmental education; and a consultant for Project Agape, the internet company that designed the Causes application on Facebook. Daryn has a B.A. from Middlebury College, a M.A. in International Training and Education from American University, and a professional certificate in International Peace and Conflict Resolution, also from American University.  To learn more about Daryn's work you can visit his professional blog at daryncambridge.com.
• Craig Hayden, Assistant Professor, AU School of International Service - Dr. Craig Hayden is an assistant professor in the International Communication Program at American University’s School of International Service. His current research focuses on the discourse of public diplomacy, the rhetoric of foreign policy related to media technologies, as well as the impact of global media and media convergence on international relations. He is particularly interested in the comparative study of public diplomacy and media culture as a pivotal resource for international relations, as well as the impact of communication technology on international influence. Dr. Hayden received his Ph.D. from the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Southern California. Dr. Hayden's previous studies include analysis of media framing of the United States in pan-Arab media content, as well as analysis of media-based public argument by US presidential advisors prior to the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

• Nick Martin (@ncmart) - Nick is the co-founder and President of TechChange. As President, he oversees all strategy and programming for the organization. Nick is an educator, technologist, and social entrepreneur with significant international peacebuilding and development expertise. He currently teaches courses at the United Nations University for Peace (UPEACE), and has given a number of guest lectures and speeches on the role of technology in peacebuilding, development and humanitarian work.
• Anand Varghese (@vargheseanand) - Anand Varghese works in the Center of Innovation: Science, Technology, and Peacebuilding at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP). The Center develops innovative strategies for applying science and technology to the challenge of peacebuilding in fragile states, active conflict and post-conflict societies. Varghese has authored USIP reports on topics such as new media, online discourse, and science diplomacy. He graduated from Georgetown University with a masters degree in Democracy & Governance. He grew up in Bangalore, India and pronounces the “h” in “herbs.” 
• Ashleigh Zimmerman, Seeds of Peace - Ashleigh Zimmerman is an accidental technologist and Director of American and Graduate Programs for Seeds of Peace. Seeds of Peace brings youth from regions of conflict to develop the leadership skills necessary to advance reconciliation and coexistence. Ashleigh is the Director of the Seeds of Peace Graduate Association which serves as a vehicle for all Graduates, in their diversity, to network, encourage and create local and regional initiatives to end conflict and promote cross-border opportunities. Prior to joining Seeds of Peace Ashleigh worked with NGOs in the field of Peace and Conflict Resolution for over four years. She traveled and conducted research extensively in the Middle East and Arab world, including research at the University of Tehran and the American University of Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates. She has remained a strong advocate for the power of youth to make change in their societies and spoken on the topic at the United Nations and International Youth Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

Today's world is all about new media and social media, but how does this impact the old media? This panel takes a look at how social media is--and has already--revolutionized the journalistic landscape.

Featuring:

• Nicole Pulley, Student, American University (@nicolepulley) - Nicole Pulley is is the Marketing Program Associate at the Fair Trade Federation. She is studying international marketing and public relations at American University, and loves social media! View here LinkedIn profile hereand follow her at @nicolepulley.
  
• Paul Brandus, West Wing Report (@westwingreport) - Paul Brandus is an accredited member of the White House press corps and the White House Correspondents Association and provides reports for a variety of media outlets. Prior to working as a White House reporter, he spent many years on Wall Street and in network television with NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, and Fox News Channel, and as a reporter for WTOP in Washington. He began his career as a U.S. Senate staffer.

• Glenna DeRoy, Social Media Analyst, USA TODAY (@ghderoy) - Glenna DeRoy is a social media analyst for USA TODAY's Digital Marketing team. She measures the success of USA TODAY’s social efforts and uses data to shape social media strategy and best practices. The rare journalist who isn't scared of math, Glenna is also working toward an MBA at American University. Follow her at @ghderoy.
• Hemal Jhaveri, Assistant Managing Editor of Digital and Social Media, POLITICO (@hemjhaveri) - Hemal Jhaveri is the Assistant Managing Editor of Digital and Social Media at POLITICO. Hemal is in charge of overseeing POLITICO’s social networking initiatives, SEO efforts and mobile strategy. She spent the last 4 years at AOL, where she was an editor and senior producer for AOL.com. There she covered news, politics, sports and entertainment. Before her time at AOL, Hemal served as the online managing editor of the now defunct D.C. Style magazine. She got her start in digital journalism as one of the early editors of the popular blog DCist.com and eventually went on to serve as managing editor there. Hemal graduated from James Madison University with a double degree in Media Arts and English. She has an MA in English Lit and Cultural Studies from George Mason University. When not working, Hemal spends her free time running and tackling DIY projects around her new home.
• David Johnson, Assistant Professor of Communication, American University (@darthcheeta) - Professor David Johnson is an American University professor specializing in digital journalism, interactive storytelling and convergence media. Before coming to AU, Johnson was chief technology officer of Scripps Media Center in Washington DC. He is also a founding member of the Media Bloggers Association. Johnson currently sits on the New Media Committee and Broadcasting Task Force at the National Press Club and consults frequently on niche and community site development. Follow him at @darthcheeta.

• Andrew Pergam, J-LAB (@pergam) - Andrew Pergam is an award-winning journalist and is now editorial director at J-Lab. A former television reporter and digital newsroom leader, has taken a keen interest in local online news and the future of journalism as a whole. He has won numerous awards for his broadcast reporting and recognition for his involvement in community organizations. At J-Lab, Pergam works with J-Lab grantees, commissions and edits training modules for the Knight Citizen News Network, helps reward innovations in journalism, and builds more resources for professional and citizen journalists who are launching news initiatives in their communities.
• Frank Torres, Digital Media Leader, NBC 

Social networks have become a phenomenal resource for really standing up for what you believe in--including civil rights and equality. We're bringing some of the best advocates around to talk about how social media can perhaps help bring about modern social civil rights

Featuring:

• Moderator: Ben Loeb, Treasurer, AU Social Media Club (@loebben) - Originally from suburban New York, Ben is a sophomore studying Marketing and Public Communication at American University. He has worked in a number of different communications and marketing outlets including a congressional office, political action committee, and marketing agency.

• Adam Bink, Director of Online Campaigns, Courage Campaign (@adamjbink) - Adam Bink is the Director of Online Campaigns at the Courage Campaign, an online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots activists to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country. In that role, he manages Courage Campaign’s online organizing actions, with an added emphasis on building campaigns to advance LGBT equality. He also blogs at and manages Courage Campaign Institute’s Prop8TrialTracker.com.

• Regina Holliday (@reginaholliday) - Regina Holliday is a DC-based patient rights arts advocate. She is currently at work on a series of paintings and blog posts depicting the need for clarity and transparency in medical records. After the death of her husband, Fred Holliday II, on June 17th 2009, She began a large Mural Titled “73 cents.” This piece can be viewed at 5001 Connecticut Ave. Washington, DC 20008. This piece depicts Holliday family’s nightmare journey through the medical system during Fred’s cancer care. The painting became part of the national healthcare debate and was covered by the BBC, CNN, CBS, AOL, VOA, NPR, The Washington Post and the BMJ. Regina Holliday can be found on Twitter as ReginaHolliday and on Facebook as Regina Holliday, Wash DC. She speaks at medical conferences providing the patient voice in discussions about HIT.

• Asher Huey, New Partners (@asherhuey) - Asher Huey is a new media political consultant based of out Washington, DC. He has a background as an organizer and works to use online tools as organizing resources. He is a graduate of American University. To learn more about asher: newpartners.com/about-us/asher-huey.php

• Bradley P. Moss, Esq., James Madison Project - A 2006 graduate of American University's Washington College of Law, Bradley P. Moss received his undergraduate degree from The George Washington University in 2003 with a major in International Relations and a minor in Peace Studies. During his law school tenure, he co-founded the non-partisan National Security and Law Society, Inc., an international non-profit with chapters across the U.S. and the world. After clerking for the National Security Archive, Mr. Moss joined the Law Office of Mark S. Zaid, Esq. as a law clerk and became an Associate in January 2007. He joined the James Madison Project in June 2007 and continues to work in both offices. Mr. Moss is a member of the Bar of the District of Columbia and the State of Illinois, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and the U.S. District Courts for the District of Columbia, the District of Maryland and the Northern District of Illinois.

• James Walker, Socially Diverse (@jaywalk1) - James S. Walker is a Gen-Y Communications professional interested in Public Relations, Diversity, Marketing and Social Media. Tagged with the nickname “jaywalk,” James is paving his own way through the streets of life, passing up traditional conventions in search of sensible, innovative and effective communication. His thoughts on all of these topics can be found at PRPrescriptons.com. In 2010, James combined two major interests of his to launch Socially Diverse, a six month online journey seeking out diverse conversations, discussion leaders and ways to connect through social media channels. After connecting with bloggers and online leaders in over 10 cities and 5 continents, his passion for exploring this topic has grown even more. He continues to chronicle this journey at http://sociallydiverse.posterous.com.  

• Shireen Mitchell (@digitalsista) - I was born in the 70's in New York's projects, fell in love with technology and almost lost my life in the 80's. Worked on creating tech firms and enhancing my education in the 90's. In 2000, I founded a nonprofit and became a huge advocate for women in technology, media and politics. Currently, I am known in social media as digitalsista, but I have also used geekette '84, hashtag diva, social media uhura, coder girl and a few others.

With an iPhone or Android in seemingly every pocket, today's popular mobile slogan is "an app for everything." Perhaps this applies for education, too. This panel will explore how mobile devices and technology fit into the classroom equation--if at all.

Featuring:

• Moderator: Greg Saperstein, Student, American University (@gsaperstein) - Greg Saperstein is currently a student at American University in their School of Communications. He is expected to graduate in May of 2012.  His interests include social media (he is a member of the American University Social Media Club for Education), working on cars, photography, web design, and reading about law enforcement and organized crime. In the future, he hopes to become a police officer in his home state of New Jersey, and upon gaining experience in law enforcement, he wishes to open his own private security firm.

• Ali Allage (@ali_allage) - Ali has 14+ years experience in the online space working as an entrepreneur, web developer, and web marketer.  Since 1996, using his diverse skill set, Ali has built four high traffic online social communities into industry market leaders, several website concepts, two web development consulting companies, and now a web marketing technology firm.
• Vince Buscemi, VP Client Services, Mindgrub Technologies (@VinceBuscemi) - Vince Buscemi is VP Client Services for Mindgrub Technologies, a Innovation Technology Agency located in Baltimore, Maryland. Vince has been an educator and web & mobile developer for over 14 years, spearheading mobile application development and social media integration for a multitude of applications including for Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore’s Blue Sky Factory, Sonoma County California and the University of Maryland (UMBC). Vince leads the charge to engage local and national communities in the facilitation of Location Based Experiences (LBE) and Instant Information travel and has been featured in several technical journals
• Glenna DeRoy, Social Media Analyst, USA TODAY (@ghderoy) - Glenna DeRoy is a social media analyst for USA TODAY's Digital Marketing team. She measures the success of USA TODAY’s social efforts and uses data to shape social media strategy and best practices. The rare journalist who isn't scared of math, Glenna is also working toward an MBA at American University. Follow her at @ghderoy.

• Aram Zucker-Scharff (@chronotope) - Aram Zucker-Scharff is the Community Manager for the Office of Student Media at George Mason University. He manages social media for the office and works with student media outlets to build their own online brands. He also works with the Mason community to find opportunities to use mobile and web technologies in the classroom. Aram's focus is on finding areas where narratives and communities can be enriched by creative technology use.