Board of Directors
Last Updated on December 1, 2024 by Chris Keppler
President
Anabella Poland, Montclair State University
Anabella Poland is the general manager at Montclair State University’s WMSC-FM, a station that is no stranger to thrusting itself into the national spotlight with several National Student Production Awards, but also four Marconi Award nominations in addition to other honors for the students’ work. Anabella is also the recipient of educational and professional awards. Prior to higher education, Anabella was Director of Talent & Industry Relations at SiriusXM and a Good Morning America Segment Producer at ABC. Email Anabella. Elected 2022; term expires Nov. 30, 2025.
Vice President
John Owens, University of Cincinnati
Dr. John Owens is the faculty advisor for BearCast Media at the University of Cincinnati. His experience advising student media began in the early ‘90s as the graduate student manager of WVUA-FM at the University of Alabama. In his first full-time teaching position at Western Carolina University, Owens advised WWCU-FM and then came to the University of Cincinnati in the fall of 1999 with the challenge of starting a student-run, streaming radio station. I continue to support student media and C.B.I. because I believe they are incredible centers of creativity and diversity. Email John. Elected 2021; term expires Nov. 30, 2024; re-elected 2024.
Secretary
Galen Perkins, Arkansas State University
Galen Perkins has been a practicing media content creation professional since 2009. After five years in the profession, he began teaching in 2014 in the Creative Media Program focusing primarily on production classes in a lab environment. He has advised student run media outlets, and is currently the faculty advisor for Red Wolf Radio, a student run media outlet on the campus of Arkansas State University that broadcasts 24/7 on astateradio.com. His areas of interest include videography, broadcast graphics, live event production, video streaming, and multi-platform content delivery. He is also an avid traveler, bird photographer, and karaoke aficionado. He has currently traveled to 47 States and 8 Canadian Provinces. Chances are if you are in an online class with him during the summer, he is on the road. Email Galen. Appointed 2023; elected 2024 to serve remainder of term; term expires Nov. 30, 2027.
Treasurer
Sean McDonald, Neumann University
I am the Director of Neumann Media at Neumann University, overseeing radio and television. I founded Neumann’s radio station after working my last two years of college at WMMR in Philadelphia, and I keep my foot in the commercial world as a way to give students the best creative experiences possible. If I were to be elected to CBI, I would love to share the professional connection I have with other students and colleagues. I firmly believe in hands on approaches to media, and I would work to give members more opportunities to network and be mentored by professionals in the industry throughout the year. I am deeply passionate about student media, and I want to bring that passion to CBI. Email Sean. Appointed 2021; elected 2023, first term expires Nov. 30, 2025.
Development Director
John Devecka, Loyola University Maryland
Image and bio coming soon. Email John. Appointed 2024 to fill vacancy until 2025 election; position term expires Nov. 30, 2027
IT Content Director
Chris Keppler, University of Akron
Chris Keppler is the general manager of WZIP-FM at The University of Akron, where he is a member of the Media Studies faculty and serves as Internship Coordinator for the School of Communication. Keppler, whose media career was actually launched at WZIP, won numerous broadcast journalism awards during a 20 year stint in radio/multimedia newsrooms. He also has some marketing and public relations experience. Keppler earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at The University of Akron. He is the father of three sons and grandfather to Aubrey. Email Chris. Elected 2018, 2021; term expires Nov. 30, 2024
Student Representative
Clara Ketchell, University of Kansas
Clara Ketchell is the Content Director at KJHK 90.7 FM at the University of Kansas. She attended the National Student Media Convention in both 2022 and 2023. Ketchell wants to use her time on the CBI board to promote unity and collaboration among stations across the country and looks forward to meeting more students who love college broadcasting as much as she does. Email Clara
Elected 2024; term expires April 30, 2025.
Elected 2024; term expires April 30, 2025.
Events Director (staff, non-voting board member)
Jessica Clary, Virginia Commonwealth University
Jessica is Director of Student Media at Virginia Commonwealth University and was formerly Assistant Director of Student Media at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta and Savannah. Jessica served on the board as IT Content Director from 2012-2018 and began as Events Director in 2019. Email Jessica.
CBI is a member-driven organization serving students and advisers of student media. Through events, programs and a network of expertise, CBI fosters experiential learning, professional opportunities and advocacy for the success of student media programs.