Member advisers will elect five positions to MIPA’s executive board: second vice president, secretary, treasurer and two trustees. Candidates for these offices were nominated at the MIPA annual meeting on April 26.
Elections will take place via email ballot. Ballots are being emailed to current members on April 28 and must be returned by May 17 to be counted. Please contact the MIPA office if you have questions about your ballot or do not receive one.
Candidates were asked to respond to a questionnaire. Their answers are below. Responses to questions about work experience, educator and honors were edited by MIPA’s director for format and length. You can learn more about these offices by reading MIPA’s bylaws.
Secretary
MIPA’s secretary serves a two-year term.
Darcy Hassing
Lakeview High School, Battle Creek
- Years at current school: 25
- Years as a teacher: 27
- Student media programs advised: The Log yearbook, The Crystal newspaper
- Current MIPA office, if any: Secretary
- Previous MIPA experience: Appointed MIPA secretary in 2022; Judging 2023, 2024, 2025; Fall Conference speaker, 2024
- Past work experience: Lakeview High School – English Teacher 2000-present, Yearbook Adviser 2021 – present, Newspaper Adviser, 2024 – present
- Education: Bachelor’s in secondary education (English and communications), Western Michigan University; master’s in educational leadership; master certificate in educational technology, Michigan State University
- Honors, awards & activities: Numerous staff awards.
- Why I’m seeking this office: As a high school adviser deeply invested in the success of student journalism, I am eager to continue contributing to MIPA’s mission as Board Secretary. My active involvement over the past three years has given me valuable insights and a deep appreciation for the organization.
- Here’s something else I’d like MIPA members to know about me: Having served as a publications adviser for the past four years, I have developed a strong passion for supporting student journalists. I also appreciate the importance of providing opportunities for students to create and express themselves.
Second Vice President
MIPA’s second vice president serves a two-year term.
Christina Hammitt
Cranbrook Kingswood Middle School for Boys
- Years at current school: 5
- Years as a teacher: 28
- Student media programs advised: Newspaper; co-advise Yearbook and Digital Media
- Current MIPA office, if any: Past President
- Previous MIPA experience: Trustee, second vice president, first vice president, president. Have spoken at state and national conferences, participated in judging day, and taught during the summer MIPA camp
- Past work experience: English, team leader, journalism teacher, Cranbrook Kingswood Boys Middle School, Bloomfield Hills: January 2021-president. Actively participated as a collaborative member of Sixth grade team and Horizons Upward Bound program, co-teaching opportunities and school wide initiatives • Actively participated as a collaborative member of integrated courses, co-teaching opportunities and school wide initiatives • Advised state award-winning student newspaper The Crane and The HUBCAP, which during its inaugural year earned over 20 individual state awards, one national Best of Show.; IB/AP English & journalism teacher, yearbook / newspaper) advisor |charyl stockwell prepartory academy /brighton, mi Aug. 2018 – Aug. 2020 • Advised state award-winning student newspaper The Citadel, which during its inaugural year earned over 20 individual state awards, two national submissions and the Spartan, the highest state accolade honored to high school publications and co-advised The Sentinel, CSPA’s yearbook. // English & journalism teacher, Bloomfield Hills High School: August 2004-January 2018. Advised the nationally and state award-winning student newspapers, The Hawkeye and The Andover Shield, created a three-course collaboration with the on-line publication BHHS Today. Actively participated as a collaborative member of the Humanities Learning Community and numerous administrative teams • Integrated technology to support personal learning as teaching shifted to facilitation and content knowledge was the vehicle to support higher levels of thinking. // Adjunct teacher, Walsh College, Troy: August 2004 – July 2007. Facilitated instruction on writing for various audiences. Committed to creating a classroom atmosphere stimulating and encouraging to post-secondary students. Enhanced student engagement through variety of learning experiences.
- Education: B.S. Secondary Education: Journalism/English, Ball State University; M.A Counseling: school/clinical/adolescent specialty, Wayne State University. Attended undergraduate program at: Ancilla College and graduate program at Indiana University
- Honors, awards & activities: Cranbrook Outstanding Teacher; 2025 JEA Diversity Runner-Up; 2025 William Washington Outstanding Educator Award; 2022 Golden Pen Nominee, Michigan Interscholastic Press Association; 2012, 2017, 2018, 2020 Spartan Award (MIPA); Ten times Pacemaker Award, National Scholastic Press Association; Two times All-American Award, NSPA, Three times Best of Show, NSPA; 2022 USAT Athlete Half-Ironman; Five times DEKKA Teacher of the Year.
- Why I’m seeking this office: I’m seeking this office because I truly believe in what we do and the power of scholastic journalism. There is no other experience where every student can be afforded with success. Scholastic journalism provides a safe space for students to grow and make a difference within themselves as well as their communities. There is nothing like walking into a journalism classroom. The energy, the spirit, the camaraderie is everything we, as educators, seek for our students. This is the space where all of the Common Core and all of the higher-level critical thinking happens alongside of copious amounts of pizza and life-changing moments and memories. To be able to support educators and their students is an honor. What we do is hard work. To have someone a text away makes all of the difference.
- Here’s something else I’d like MIPA members to know about me: Christina Hammitt, aka “Hammie,” advises the newspaper and yearbook at Cranbrook Kingswood Middle School for Boys. She was honored with Cranbrook’s Teacher Excellence award in 2024 and JEA’s diversity award runner-up honor in 2025. She’s an advocate for scholastic journalism knowing that it provides our students with the experiences and skills to become more confident and more astute individuals. Jerds are the best kinds of people.
Treasurer
MIPA’s secretary serves a two-year term.
Cammie Hall
H. H. Dow High School, Midland
- Years at current school: 17
- Years as a teacher: 19
- Student media programs advised: Newspaper (Update), Online (Update Online), Yearbook (The Charger), Broadcast (Bolt Media)
- Current MIPA office, if any: Treasurer
- Previous MIPA experience: I have held the position of Treasurer on the MIPA voard and assisted in financial review and board decisions. I have also chaired judging panels for the Student Journalist Staff portfolios. At the summer journalism workshop I have taught classes as well as helped to find speakers for the nightly programs. Additionally, I have attended fall conferences and done consultations with schools.
- Past work experience: Long-term subbing at Alma High School (yearbook adviser while there), Sacred Heart Academy, and Franklin Center (an alternative education school). Now at H. H. Dow HS teaching journalism as well as English 9.
- Education: B.S. in Business Education, Central Michigan University; M.S. in Journalism, Michigan State University; M.S. in Technology Education, Central Michigan University
- Honors, awards & activities: MIPA Golden Pen Award
- Why I’m seeking this office: I have thoroughly enjoyed my times on the MIPA board and want to continue to support the organization and other advisers in the state of Michigan. When I first started teaching journalism, MIPA was my support system and now I can do my part to give back.
- Here’s something else I’d like MIPA members to know about me: No response.
Trustees
Trustees serve a two-year term and two positions are available.
Alexis Campion
Henry Ford II High School, Sterling Heights
- Years at current school: 12
- Years as a teacher: 15
- Student media programs advised: Yearbook, Newspaper
- Current MIPA office, if any: Trustee
- Previous MIPA experience: Membership chair; Trustee; Fall Conference speaker; Judging on-site critiques
- Past work experience: Henry Ford II HS teacher/ adviser; Carman Ainsworth HS teacher/ adviser
- Education: B.A. in English, Michigan State University; B.C. in journalism, MSU; Master’s in educational technology, Central Michigan University
- Honors, awards & activities: MIPA Student Journalist Staff, 2005; Certified Journalism Educator, 2019, Journalism Education Association
- Why I’m seeking this office: I am excited to continue MIPA’s legacy and try to help journalists succeed him secondary education and post high school.
- Here’s something else I’d like MIPA members to know about me: I have a been involved with MIPA since the 2000s attending fall and spring conferences and summer workshops as a high school student. After graduating high school, I worked as an assistant and adviser at summer camp. Once I became a teacher, I began speaking at the fall conference and judging individual categories. I want high school and middle school journalists the same experiences, leadership opportunities, and mentors available as I had growing up.
Jennifer Crane
Wayne Memorial High School, Wayne
- Years at current school: 9
- Years as a teacher: 14
- Student media programs advised: The Spectator (yearbook)
- Current MIPA office, if any: None
- Previous MIPA experience: I have been a member of MIPA since my first year as an adviser in 2018. Since then, I have brought my yearbook staff to the Fall Cconference each year, except for the COVID hiatus. This was my first year judging for the MIPA awards and it was such a rewarding experience that it inspired me to want to do more within the MIPA organization.
- Past work experience: I worked at Bath & Body Works on and off for 13 years, through college and while finishing my teacher certification. I was both an associate and then later was an assistant manager. I worked at Brooks Utility Products for six years as a receptionist before being promoted to customer service rep for the Northeastern Territory of the U.S. Once I finished my teacher certification I worked at Adrian High School for my first year of teaching. I then worked at East Arbor Charter Academy for four years. After East Arbor, I moved on to Wayne Memorial High School where I have been ever since, and where I hope to retire from.
- Education: I graduated from Garden City High School in 1997, and went on to complete my Bachelor’s of Science from Central Michigan University majoring in Geography and History and minoring in English. After having my first son, I enrolled at the University of Michigan-Dearborn to complete my teacher certification and earn an English major. In 2016, I completed my Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Educational Differentiation. I have completed six hours toward my Ed Specialist degree, but I decided to put that on hold for now.
- Honors, awards & activities: As a second-year adviser, I was selected to serve on the first-ever board of Yearbook Advisers with Lifetouch to collaborate with other advisers and to help Lifetouch better serve their advisers. I was also selected as a member of the Teacher Advisory Group Cohort B, by the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills, to create virtual lessons that teachers could use in their classroom to enhance Holocaust education and battle anti-semitism. At Wayne Memorial, I have served as the class co-sponsor for the classes of 2021 & 2025. I am also a member of the FAME team, in which we are learning how to maximize the use of formative assessment and take that initiative building-wide. I have also been a member of JEA since becoming an adviser and I am a part of their mentor program as a mentee, and currently working with a wonderful adviser. I attended their Adviser Institute this past summer as well.
- Why I’m seeking this office: I am seeking this office because I was asked to teach journalism at my school after the course had not been offered for several years. It is a class that I take very seriously. My yearbook class and my journalism class are my absolute favorite parts of the day! I have found the resources that MIPA provides to be instrumental in creating an amazing journalism program at my school. My hope in having this position is to learn as much as I can from others in the world of journalism so that I can bring the very best back to my classroom. I also want to share my positive experiences with MIPA to help others like me, who are looking to boost journalism programs in their schools. My overall hope is to do whatever I can to foster integrity-rich student journalists who can take the skills they learn to preserve the foundations of journalism when they leave academia, and thus do my part to restore and preserve ethical journalism in this country. I believe it truly is the foundation of a healthy democracy.
- Here’s something else I’d like MIPA members to know about: I am a wife to my husband Scott, celebrating 24 years this year. I have three children ages 21, 17 and 10. I am obsessed with my 9-year-old Golden Retriever named Lois Lane, we stick together like glue! I have a passion and talent for graphic design that I never knew existed until I became a yearbook adviser. I love the Detroit Lions and football in general. On the weekends you can find me on local soccer fields doing the soccer mom thing. I am a die-hard Swiftie, and proud of it. Those lyrics, the poetry! I am a lifelong learner who loves to teach, inspire, and continuously grow as a person.
Nieko Ianni
Detroit Catholic Central High School, Novi
- Years at current school: 10
- Years as a teacher: 11
- Student media programs advised: Spectrum (Newspaper)
- Current MIPA office, if any: Trustee
- Previous MIPA experience: Trustee (2023-25), MIPA contest judge for the last 3-4 years
- Past work experience: English teacher, Lansing Catholic High School, 2013-14; English teacher, Detroit Catholic Central High School, 2015-present (Student newspaper adviser since 2016)
- Education: B.A. in Literature, University of Michigan-Dearborn, 2011; Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Certificate, Eastern Michigan University, 2013
- Honors, awards & activities: No response
- Why I’m seeking this office: Having learned about the MIPA board’s work and responsibilities in my role as trustee the past two years, I believe I am well-positioned to help MIPA continue to prosper as the standard-bearer for scholastic journalism in Michigan.
- Here’s something else I’d like MIPA members to know about: No response.