Cronkite Endowment Board of Trustees

About the Endowment Board

Cronkite’s Endowment Board of Trustees is composed of top media leaders from across the Valley. Trustees advise the dean, support students through mentorship and internship and career opportunities, and philanthropically support the school’s priority funding needs. Trustees also help spearhead the school’s signature fundraising event, the Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.

Executive committee

  • Richard Barone, vice president, Cox Media; co-chair, Student Experience committee
  • Battinto L. Batts Jr., dean and professor, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
  • David J. Bodney, senior counsel, Ballard Spahr LLP; past president
  • Elizabeth Murphy Burns, president and chief executive officer, Morgan Murphy Media; chair, Academic Experience committee
  • Kim Covington, vice president, community initiatives, Arizona Community Foundation; member, Student Experience committee
  • Christine Dotts, senior vice president, Brodeur Partners; co-chair, Development committee
  • Anita Helt, vice president and general manager, ABC15 Arizona and CW61 Arizona; board president
  • Ray Schey, publisher, Phoenix Business Journal; co-chair, Student Experience committee
  • John Schurz, president and general manager, Orbitel Communications; co-chair, Development committee

Board members

  • Susan Bitter Smith, executive director, Southwest Cable Communications Association
  • Rebecca Blatt, senior associate dean, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
  • Alan Bunnell, senior consultant – strategic communication, Arizona Public Service
  • Greg Burton, executive editor, The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com
  • Debbie Bush, vice president/general manager, KTVK/KPHO Arizona’s Family
  • Ahron Cohen, venture partner, ADvantage Sports Tech Fund
  • Andrew Deschapelles, president and general manager, Telemundo Arizona
  • Elvira Espinoza, chief communications officer, Raza Development Fund
  • Adrienne Fairwell, general manager, Arizona PBS
  • Derrick Hall, president and CEO, Arizona Diamondbacks
  • Scott Harkey, chief executive officer, OH Partners
  • Ryan Hatch, senior vice president and market manager, Bonneville Phoenix
  • Roger Hurni, managing partner and chief creative officer, Off Madison Ave
  • Gordon James, owner, Gordon C. James Public Relations
  • Dawn Jones, chief diversity and inclusion officer, vice president of social impact, Intel Corporation
  • Susan Karis, vice president of sales, Hubbard Phoenix/2060 Digital
  • Chris Kline, president and CEO, Arizona Broadcasters Association
  • Beau Lane, partner and executive chairman, LaneTerralever
  • Michael Lewis, senior vice president and general manager, FOX 10
  • Linda Little, president, Arizona region, iHeartMedia
  • Lynn Londen, CEO, AZTV Channel 7
  • Fran Mallace, chief executive officer, Make-A-Wish Arizona
  • Michael Mallace, general manager, East Valley Institute of Technology / The Pulse 88.7 (KVIT FM) and founder, MHM Consulting
  • Kelly Mero, publisher, Arizona Highways Magazine
  • Kate Morris, president and general manager, 12 News (KPNX-TV)
  • Tim Riester, founder and CEO, RIESTER
  • Robert Stieve, editor in chief, Arizona Highways Magazine
  • Diane Veres, regional president, Clear Channel Outdoor-Southwest
  • Clancy Woods, co-founder, CEO and director, AFCM, Inc.
  • Aric Zion, CEO, Zion & Zion