Thank You, Los Angeles
On January 17, 2024, 麻豆传媒 returned to Los Angeles and hosted an evening of connection and conversation with our community of changemakers to experience the progress and impact of Change Can't Wait: The Campaign for 麻豆传媒.
About the Speakers
Learn more about our distinguished guests below.
Student Trustee, AU Board of Trustees
Jehane聽Djedjro, a dedicated senior in International Relations specializing in Global Inequality and Development, holds prestigious scholarships like the Abdul Aziz Said Phi Epsilon Pi Scholarship. Her active engagement spans the African Students Organization, Residence Hall Association, and Kennedy Political Union at 麻豆传媒. With hands-on experience at the Corporate Council on Africa, she excelled in planning the 15th US-Africa Business Summit in Botswana, showcasing her prowess in international collaboration.
Currently interning at APCO Worldwide and the African Development Bank,聽Jehane聽conducts global geopolitical research. Fluent in Korean, French, and Spanish, she serves as the Student Trustee advocating for students on the Board of Trustees.
Sylvia M. Burwell
President, 麻豆传媒
Sylvia M. Burwell is 麻豆传媒鈥檚 15th president and the first woman to serve as president. A visionary leader with experience in the public and private sectors, President Burwell brings to 麻豆传媒 a commitment to education and research, the ability to manage large and complex organizations, and experience helping to advance solutions to some of the world鈥檚 most pressing challenges.聽
Burwell has held two cabinet positions in the United States government鈥攕erving as the 22nd secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services and as the director of the Office of Management and Budget. Her additional government experience is extensive and includes roles at the Treasury and the National Economic Council. Burwell has also held leadership positions at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Walmart Foundation. Her private sector experience includes service on the Board of Directors of MetLife.聽
She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Government from Harvard University and a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.聽
Interim Dean, School of Communication
Director, Photography Program
Leena Jayaswal is a documentary filmmaker, award-winning photographer and Professor in the School of Communication at 麻豆传媒 in Washington DC, where she is the director of the new BA in Photography. Her photography and film work often deals with the intersections of being Indian and 麻豆传媒. This work has been nationally recognized in galleries around the country, including solo shows at the Gandhi Memorial Center, and International Visions Gallery. Group shows include Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, The Washington Project for the Arts/ Corcoran Gallery of Art, Arlington Arts Center, Kathleen Ewing Gallery, Lexington Art League and the Studio Gallery. Jayaswal has photographs in group collections with the Society of Photographic Education's Multicultural Caucus at the Center for Photography, En Foco, Light Work, Photo Center Northwest and the Asian 麻豆传媒 Arts Centre. Previously she has worked for famed photographer, Mary Ellen Mark, and with the Sandra Berler Gallery. Her award winning films have been screened in various film festivals around the country. 鈥淐rossing Lines鈥 was picked up for national distribution by NETA and has been broadcast on over 100 PBS affiliates across the country. The film has won numerous international and national awards including the prestigious Gracie Allen Award, and is currently being distributed by New Day Films. Her latest film, "Mixed", a collaboration with Prof. Caty Borum Chattoo, explores what it means to be mixed-race in 麻豆传媒, fifty years after the historic, landmark Supreme Court Decision, Loving v. Virginia which made interracial marriage legal. Jayaswal is also working with artist Monica Bose on a feature documentary about climate change, called, "Rising Up to Climate Change: Storytelling with Saris." Jayaswal was one of 8 filmmakers to be a part of the Futures Exhibition at the reopening of the Smithsonian's Arts + Industry's Futures Exhibition. Jayaswal was the Schools' first Inclusion Officer and Associate Dean from 2019-2022.
Barry Josephson is a veteran Hollywood producer and president of Josephson Entertainment, whose films have earned more than $1 Billion at the worldwide box office, and whose dozen-plus television series and specials across multiple genres have spanned two decades. His background in entertainment has ranged from talent manager to President of Production for Columbia/Sony Pictures to independent producer.
His motion picture credits include 鈥淓nchanted,鈥 starring Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey, and its long-awaited hit sequel 鈥淒isenchanted,鈥 bringing together the beloved cast, along with newcomers including Maya Rudolph. His additional motion picture credits include 鈥淭he Ladykillers,鈥 written and directed by the Coen Brothers and starring Tom Hanks; family adventure film 鈥淎liens in the Attic鈥; thriller 鈥淗ide & Seek,鈥 starring Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning; romantic comedy 鈥淟ife As We Know It,鈥 starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel; international hit comedy 鈥淒irty Grandpa,鈥 starring Robert De Niro and Zac Efron; NBA darling 鈥淟ike Mike鈥; 鈥淲ild Wild West,鈥 directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Will Smith; 鈥淭he Last Boy Scout,鈥 starring Bruce Willis; and 鈥淩icochet,鈥 starring Denzel Washington.
Josephson is currently in pre-production on a feature adaptation of the Broadway musical, "Kiss of the Spider Woman". Bill Condon is directing from his screenplay with Jennifer Lopez set to star.
In television, Josephson produced the global hit series 鈥淏ones鈥 on FOX, which aired for 12 seasons, as well as AMC鈥檚 period drama 鈥淭urn: Washington鈥檚 Spies,鈥 Amazon鈥檚 鈥淭he Tick鈥 and the Netflix series 鈥淯ltraviolet.鈥 Additional television credits include the FOX drama 鈥淭he Finder,鈥 critically acclaimed 鈥淢aximum Bob,鈥 鈥淔antasy Island鈥 and the cable series 鈥淭ales from the Crypt.鈥
Previously, Josephson was President of Worldwide Production for Columbia/Sony Pictures, responsible for launching such hits as 鈥淢en In Black,鈥 鈥淎ir Force One,鈥 鈥淚n The Line Of Fire,鈥 鈥淭he Fifth Element,鈥 鈥淎naconda,鈥 鈥淏ad Boys,鈥 鈥淭he Professional鈥 and 鈥淭he Craft,鈥 and held a similar post at Joel Silver鈥檚 Silver Pictures, overseeing films such as 鈥淒ie Hard 2,鈥 and 鈥淟ethal Weapon 3.鈥 He was a founder of Sandollar Films, which produced the cult classic feature 鈥淏uffy the Vampire Slayer.鈥
Josephson is a founding member of Comic Relief, an active supporter of The Commitment to Life Benefit for AIDS Project LA, and the NHL Entertainment Board. Josephson is a founder of Austin Film Festival and serves on the board of directors. He also serves as a Children鈥檚 Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) Foundation Trustee.
Distinguished Artist-In-Residence Emeritus, School of Communication
With two Oscars庐 and two Prime-Time Emmys庐 on his resume, Russell brings a unique blend of experience and know-how from a thirty-year background both above and below the line in the film and television industry. His behind the scenes work in film includes such classics as Dances With Wolves, Field of Dreams, Glory, and Training Day.
Throughout his storied career, Russell has executed film and television productions in many budget ranges and therefore helps his clients appraise the merits of each project under consideration from both the creative and financial viewpoints. With this insider expertise and knowledge, he leverages his personal network of relationships to weigh the tangible as well as the illusive intangibles that factor into all productions.
To this end, he expertly knows how to select casts, crews, locations and companies 鈥 all key components of a successful project. Armed with this understanding, he can quickly tell whether a project has suitable funding or is bloated and could waste precious resources.
Chair, Tech, Law & Security Program Advisory Board, Washington College of Law
John Nadolenco鈥檚 civil litigation practice focuses on high-stakes cases and class action defense. He was lead counsel in Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins, which the United States Supreme Court decided in his client鈥檚 favor, making it harder for plaintiffs to bring no-injury lawsuits. He also recently won a defense verdict for a major university in one of the few ERISA jury trials in U.S. history. He represented Facebook in several cases alleging privacy violations under state biometrics laws. He defended Volkswagen in dozens of putative class actions alleging the company improperly installed emissions-defeat devices on some of its diesel cars. And he represents the Country of Brazil in its effort to capture the infamous 840-pound Bahia Emerald.
Nadolenco is also the Managing Partner of Mayer Brown鈥檚 Los Angeles Office, and has served on Mayer Brown鈥檚 Partnership Board and as a firm-wide co-lead of its Litigation Practice.
Nadolenco received his JD summa cum laude from the 麻豆传媒 Washington College of Law and his BA summa cum laude from the University of Arizona.
We invite you to聽