Dr. Allan Louden, Director

Allan is a professor of Communication at Wake Forest. He currently serves as Director of Graduate Studies. Allan earned his Ph. D. from the University of Southern California in political communication. He lives with precocious “Ms. Wyoming.”

 

 

 

 

Dr. Linda Petrou, Administrative Director.

Linda has served as an adjunct professor at Wake Forest in Communication. She is involved in national, state and local politics and chairs the Forsyth County Board of  Health.  Linda earned her Ph. D in International Relations at the University of Maryland. She lives with Milhous, Reagan, Benji and Frankie, ask for pictures.

 

 

 

Dr. Alessandra Von Burg, Curriculum Director

Alessandra is an Assistant Professor of Communication at Wake Forest University, teaches rhetorical theory and hails from Italy. She will be teaching the Citizenship class at BFTF. Alessandra earned her Ph. D. from the University of Pittsburgh in Communication.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Ron Von Burg, Dir. Advocacy Section

Ron is joining the staff of the BFTF for his sixth year. He is an associate professor of Communication at Christopher Newport University in Virginia. Ron earned his Ph. D. from the University of Pittsburgh in Communication.

 

 

 

Scott Freese, Home Stay Coordinator

Scott has arranged for Home Stay Visit since 2004 for program hosted at Wake. He is the Director of the International Campus Ministries of the Triad, which works with International students at many college campuses. Scott is a baseball fan and brings a Heart of Gold to this program and all his work with international students.

 

 

 

Taylor Hahn, Dorm Director, Mentor

Taylor (Tay) have served as BFTF mentors since 2008. Tay received his MA from Wake Forest was a Debate Coach at Clarion University in Pennsylvania for two years and will be pursuing his Ph. D. at Pittsburgh in the fall.

 

 

 

 

John is a recognized scholar in state constitutionalism, federalism, and American political development. He is the author of several books, including The American State Constitutional Tradition and Keeping the People’s Liberties: Legislators, Citizens, and Judges as Guardians of Rights. John’s Ph. D. is from the University of Virginia.

 

 

 

Dr. Nate French, Instructor

Nate directs Wake Forest’s Magnolia Scholars program which works with first generation students. He will teach the class in Social Movements. His Ph. D. is from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.  And his pictures of three children are precious.

 

 

 
Jon Bougher, MFA,  Instructor and Mentor

Jon earned his MF in Documentary Film at the University of Florida in 2010 and MFA at Wake Forest this spring. He has several film credits including awarding winning documenting the Haiti earthquake and health programs.  He is just finished in Afghanistan and will work with documentary film with the Ben Armenia immediately following the BFTF.

 

 

 

 

Odile is a Wake undergrad, who among other activities debated. She just earned her MA a the  University of Pittsburgh and is continuing her work for her Ph. D. at Pittsburgh.  She has research abroad in Lebanon and is pursuing work in rhetoric and critical studies.

 

 

 

Sean Ridley, Mentor

Sean is the Director of Debate at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. He earned his BA and MA from Wake Forest University and hails from Virginia. He was a BFTF mentor in 2007 and 2008 in Bulgaria.

 

 

 

 

Chris Zaluski, Mentor and Webmaster

Chris is an Appalachian State graduate and is currently working on his MFA in Documentary Film at Wake Forest. He has worked for various media outlets, including The Roanoke Times and The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, as a multimedia reporter and videographer.

 

 

 

 

Amanda Gambill, Mentor

Amanda is her third year pre-med program at Wake, looking forward to matriculating to becoming a doctor.  Amanda worked last year as an intern with the International Campus Ministries of the Triad, providing much support the the BFTF program (she is an expert on home stays).  She joins the staff this year as a mentor.

 

 

 

Liviu Garjora, Mentor

Liviu earned his MA in Communication at Wake Forest this year. He attended the University Alexandru Liadu Cuza, and will be teaching in his native Romania this next year. Liviu was a teacher participant for the State Departments Southeast Europe Youth Leadership program (SEEYLI) hosted at Wake.

 

 

 

Saman Piracha, MFA, Mentor

Saman, originally from Pakistan, grew up in Jacksonville, Florida.  She earned her MA in Documentary Film at the University of Florida, working on the film, Recording a Revolution, a story that explores the difficulties Muslim rappers face in Northern Nigeria. . She produced the  ambitious and successful Muslim Narrative Series at Wake this spring that discussed the American Muslim identity through theater, film, and photography.

 

 

Parker Martin, Home-stay Associate.

Parker is a Senior political Science major at Wake Forest.  He is interning with Campus Ministries.  He has worked in Uganda with less advantaged. He has also participated in study abroad programs in Egypt and Morocco.  Sense of humor, top level . . .

 

 

 

Kendra Mells, Graduate School Summer Research Fellow

Kendra Mells is a rising Sopomore at Spelman University in Atlanta, majoring in English and International studies. She is interested in researching comparative cultures.

 

 

 

Nicole Rodriguez-Pastor - International Escort – Germany

Nicole works with Residence Life and Housing at Wake Forest.  She hold an MA from Wake. Nicole has spent time working in Peru and gardens at home.