MIPA’s executive board sets policy and the direction of the organization. The board includes elected officers (president, first vice president, second vice president, secretary, treasurer, four trustees and the immediate past president), and chairpersons of standing media committees (Newspaper, Yearbook, Video and Digital Media).
All officers are elected by the membership for two-year terms. The immediate past president serves a one-year term following the end of his or her two-year term as president. Committee chairs are appointed by MIPA’s president, with approval by the board.
Elected Officers
Jim Woerhle
President
Jim Woerhle advises the Focus newspaper at Midland High School. He’s been a summer workshop instructor since 2004 and is a frequent conference speaker and contest judge. He worked as a newspaper reporter from 1991-2000, primarily covering sports.
School: Midland HS
I Advise: Newspaper
Term Expires: 2028
Cammie Hall
Treasurer
Cammie Hall advises the Update newspaper and website, The Charger yearbook and Bolt Media broadcast program at H. H. Dow High School in Midland. She has served as a MIPA contest judge and summer workshop instructor. In 2023, she was honored with MIPA’s Golden Pen Award.
School: H. H. Dow HS
I Advise: Broadcast, Newspaper & Yearbook
Term Expires: 2027
Nieko Ianni
Trustee
Nieko Ianni advises the Spectrum newspaper at Detroit Catholic Central High School in Novi, where he also directs the spring drama production and was an assistant wrestling coach for about 10 years.
School: Detroit Catholic Central HS
I Advise: Newspaper
Term Expires: 2027
Darcy Hassing
First Vice President
Darcy Hassing has advised The Log yearbook at Lakeview High School in Battle Creek since 2021. She also teaches English.School: Battle Creek Lakeview HS
I Advise: Yearbook
Term Expires: 2028
The first vice president automatically becomes president at the expiration of this term.
Erica Kincannon
Trustee
Erica Kincannon is a yearbook and newspaper adviser at Eisenhower High School in Shelby Township.
School: Eisenhower HS
I Advise: Newspaper & Yearbook
Term Expires: 2026
Alison VanOverbeke
Trustee
Ali VanOverbeke teaches English and journalism at Grand Blanc High School, where she advises Echo yearbook.
School: Grand Blanc HS
I Advise: Yearbook
Term Expires: 2028
Christina Hammitt
Second Vice President
Christina Hammitt has advised newspaper and yearbook at several schools in Michigan.
School: Cranbrook Kingswood Boys Middle School
I Advise: Newspaper
Term Expires: 2028
Alexis Campion
Trustee
Alexis Campion advises The Generator newspaper and The Executive yearbook at Henry Ford II High School in Sterling Heights. She’s been a “MIPA kid” since 2001, attending camps, workshops and conferences as a student, volunteer, contest judge, instructor and presenter.
School: Henry Ford II HS
I Advise: Newspaper & Yearbook
Term Expires: 2027
Cody Harrell
Past President
I love talking curriculum, best practices, and planning out long-term goals for the program you want to build in your school culture. In my four years at East Lansing, I have seen a total shift in culture for journalism’s sake — and it’s all because of MIPA.
School: East Lansing HS
I Advise: Newspaper & Yearbook
Term Expires: 2027
Media Standing Committee Chairs
The Media Chairs assist staff in coordinating MIPA contests and programming for members. They are appointed by MIPA’s president, with approval by the Executive Board, to serve consecutively with the president’s two-year term.
Vacant
Broadcast/Video Chair
.
School:
I Advise:
Appointment Expires: 2028
Vacant
Newspaper Chair
.
School:
I Advise:
Appointment Expires: 2028
Vacant
Digital Media Chair
.
School:
I Advise:
Appointment Expires: 2028
Vacant
Yearbook Chair
.
School:
I Advise:
Appointment Expires: 2028
Advisory
The national Journalism Education Association appoints a director for each U.S. state to support members and programming in that state. MIPA has had a long relationship with the JEA Michigan Director, who is invited to Executive Board meetings and may participate in board discussions. MIPA also works with the JEA Michigan Director to identify Michigan’s representative in the JEA Journalist of the Year contest for graduating high school seniors.
Kaitlin Edgerton
JEA Michigan Director
Kaitlin Edgerton, MJE, advises The Vanguard newspaper and Ambassador yearbook at Stevenson High School in Sterling Heights. She is a former MIPA president and recipient of MIPA’s Golden Pen Award.
School: Adlai E. Stevenson HS
I Advise: Newspaper and Yearbook