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INDUSTRY EXPERTS

The Political Communication Advisory Board: Experts keeping you up to date with our ever-changing industry

The Advisory Board to the master’s degree program in political communication is comprised of people who broadly represent the industry. Members are leaders from a wide range of communication careers in politics and government. Board members have unique access and insight into political communities.

The Advisory Board role is two-fold. First, the board helps the college confirm and document the skills and capabilities that employers seek in graduates of the global strategic communication master’s degree program. Second, the board helps to ensure the program has adequate resources and a relevant, well-designed curriculum to provide students with the capabilities, knowledge and behaviors necessary to succeed in their chosen careers. The Board is chaired by the program coordinator for the concentration.


Shannon Brooks Chatlos

Vice President, Strategic Partners & Media

Shannon Chatlos is a vice president at Strategic Partners & Media where she leads the digital team and develops messaging strategies, advertising solutions and integrated digital strategies for candidates, associations and advocacy clients.

In 2016, Shannon was the lead digital strategist and advisor for several campaigns – most notably Senator Johnny Isakson and Attorney General-Elect Curtis Hill. In addition, she led the digital effort for several multi-state Super PACs and associations who won on over 40 House and Senate races and helped to preserve the Republican majority.

In 2014, she served as a senior advisor on Larry Hogan‘s stunning upset in the Maryland governor’s race, ran a multi-state Super PAC campaign supporting Republican veterans and minorities and was a strategist on Congressman Michael Grimm’s upset win.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and lives in Annapolis, Maryland, with her two children.


Matt DeLuca

Former Vice President, Engage, LLC

Matt DeLuca was the vice president of digital strategy for Engage, LLC. Matt’s specialization is in digital media planning and buying as he has started and grown multiple, award-winning paid media teams. Matt’s team won three AAPC Pollie Awards for their work during the 2012 election cycle. Matt has worked with many clients across a variety of industries to achieve measurable results and victories through highly sophisticated and targeted integrated marketing campaigns. Matt has also worked as the paid media lead for Edelman and as the victory digital manager for the Republican National Committee.

Matt earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science from The College of New Jersey.


Brian Franklin

President, Impact Politics; Founder/Editor, PsyPology

Brian Franklin is president of Impact Politics and founder/editor of PsyPology™ – political consulting’s first subscription newsletter providing psychology intel specifically for campaign operatives. Brian has provided marketing strategy, creative direction, language development, and writing services to over 100 political campaigns, organizations, agencies, and corporations. He has led Impact Politics’ work for numerous federal, state, county candidate, ballot initiative, public advocacy, and non-profit campaigns, as well as ad development and online media strategy for international advocacy campaigns.

Brian’s work has earned prestigious national awards, such as the Pollie Awards for Best Overall Internet Campaign, Best Overall Campaign Use of Negative Contrast, Best Use of Facebook Advertising, Best Use of Search Engine Advertising, Best Use of Humor in an Online Ad, Best Online Ads, and more. Brian has also won a Campaigns and Elections Reed Award for Best Online Targeting.

Brian is a board member of the American Association of Political Consultants and co-chair of their Technology Committee. He is the author of a recent feature article in Campaigns and Elections magazine, “The Slow Boom of Campaign Technology.” Brian is also a member of the International Association of Political Consultants, Society for Consumer Psychology, Behavior Science and Policy Association and the International Society of Political Psychology.

Brian holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Florida Atlantic University.


Aaron Ginn

Co-Founder, Lincoln Network

Aaron Ginn is the co-founder of the Lincoln Network, a community of like-minded technologists who desire to advance liberty through the use of technology. Aaron previously worked in the startup community, serving as the growth product manager for Everlane and as the head of growth for StumbleUpon. Previous political involvement included serving as an information technology advisor for the city of Foster City and as the growth hacker for the Mitt Romney for his presidential campaign in 2012.

Aaron earned his Bachelor of Science in behavioral economics from Texas Christian University.


Ryan Gravatt

Founder & CEO, Raconteur

Ryan Gravatt is the founder and CEO of Raconteur Media Company, and for more than 16 years he has helped more than 200 candidates win elections through his innovative digital marketing strategies.

Recognized as a pioneering digital marketing expert for political campaigns, Ryan walks his clients through a strategic process, from Web site creation and e-mail messaging campaigns, to voter and donor outreach all the way to their Election Day victory.

Ryan graduated from the University of Florida with a BA in History and a BS in Journalism and went on to become an award-winning newspaper reporter. He covered politics in Florida, Washington, D.C. and Alabama. These experiences helped shape Ryan’s path and led him to create Raconteur Media Company where he uses his communication experience and his digital marketing expertise to bring his clients stories to the right people who take actions and help candidates win elections.

Ryan lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Suzannah, and their two children, Henry and Anne.


Ian Patrick Hines

Founder & CEO, Hines Digital

Ian Patrick Hines is the founder and CEO of Hines Digital, a boutique digital agency specializing in web design and online fundraising. He led UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s digital strategy during her historic campaign for Conservative Party leader. From 2015–2016, he was a senior digital strategy consultant for Britain Stronger In Europe, the official pro-EU campaign during the Brexit referendum. In 2015, he served as digital strategy director for Rick Santorum’s campaign for president. He has led digital strategy for the Republican Parties of Florida and California, as well as a variety of statewide and congressional campaigns. Since 2013, he’s worked with clients in Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Malta, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

Ian earned his Master of Public Administration in public policy and administration from the University of Baltimore and bachelor’s in political science and international relations from McDaniel College.


Austin James

CEO, Solve Growth Engineering; Co-Found, Yive

Austin James is the CEO of Solve Growth Engineering and co-founder of Yive. Austin has deep experience in the startup technology and political communities. He previously served as founder and managing principle of Knoxly Media, a media creation and digital consulting house dedicated to issues and causes. He also served as vice president of digital analysis for Optimus and director of digital communication for American Majority.

Austin earned his Master of Arts in public affairs from the University of Alabama and bachelor’s in pre-law from Auburn University


Nathaniel Kronisch

CEO, Buying Time Digital

Nathaniel Kronisch is CEO of Buying Time Digital. Nathaniel has been involved in media for over 15 years and is a seasoned strategist with experience in all media platforms including, but not limited to: TV, digital, radio, print and out-of-home at international, national and spot market levels. He is a veteran of over 100 political campaigns and countless issue/advocacy, corporate, direct response and recruitment campaigns. Few in the industry have his encyclopedic knowledge of all advertising medium and how they interplay with one another to create maxim impact for a message.

Nathaniel earned his bachelor’s in political science and government from the University of Maryland, College Park.


David Mowery

Chairman, Mowery Consulting Group

David Mowery is chairman of Mowery Consulting Group, a public relations and campaign consulting company. He is also chairman of FIXRDigital, an advertising agency focused on digital media targeting. Mowery Consulting Group has directed dozens of political campaigns in Alabama over the past 14 years. David’s work has resulted in many awards including Best Use of Social Media by The American Association of Political Consultants as well as many Pollie and Reed Awards. David also received “40 under 40” awards from both The American Association of Political Consultants and the University of Georgia.

David earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia.


Political Communication Advisory Council - Patrick O'Keefe

Patrick O’Keefe

Director of Political Success for Anedot

Patrick O’Keefe serves as the Director of Political Success for Anedot, one of the leading online fundraising platforms for political campaigns and non-profit organizations.

Patrick previously served as the Executive Director for the Maryland Republican Party, Head of Growth for an ed-tech start-up, and has served as a digital marketing consultant for more than three dozen companies.

Patrick was a graduate with distinction from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Master of Arts in Mass Communication with a specialization in Web Design and Online Communications. He graduated Cum Laude with his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Florida International University after serving as Student Body President and University Trustee.


Emily Schwartz

Vice President of Organizing, NationBuilder

Emily Schwartz is vice president of organizing at NationBuilder, where she is responsible for launching new products, creating strategic partnerships and connecting the NationBuilder community to the company and each other.

Emily has a background in national and international politics. Prior to NationBuilder she worked for the World Trade Organization, the US Senate and the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign. As one of the first 10 employees at NationBuilder, she has been a key player in the strategic growth of the company’s sales and customer experience teams, specifically the international expansion from two to 98 countries in less than two years.

Emily earned a master’s degree in comparative political economics from the London School of Economics and bachelor’s from the University of San Diego where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She is a classically trained soprano and currently sings for the San Francisco Choral Society.


Chris Talbot

President, Tablot Digital

Chris Talbot is president at Talbot Digital. Chris is a nationally recognized expert on digital marketing in politics and public affairs. As the principal and founder of Talbot Digital, he provides digital strategy for political organizations, corporations, nonprofits, and the federal government. Recent clients include Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Senator Jeff Merkley, Rock the Vote, Boeing, and the State Department.

Chris has been recognized as a Democratic Rising Star by Campaigns and Elections Magazine and served as an account executive for Elections and Issue Advocacy at Google.

Chris graduated from Brown University.


Quick Facts

36 credit hours
100% online via
recorded lectures & live class meetings
Fall Semester starts in August
Spring Semester starts in January
Summer Semester starts in May

Courses follow the UF Academic Calendar

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Application Deadlines

Fall Semester
April 1

Spring Semester
October 1

Summer Semester
February 1

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