Instructors

At CSPA, you learn from journalists who’ve been there.

All of our instructors have professional media experience, including many who have worked in newsrooms for decades. Their expertise spans every major topic area in journalism, including politics, sports, entertainment, business, local news, photography, podcasts, broadcast news and audience engagement.

You’ll also hear real-life examples of how our instructors have used lessons from the workshop in their careers.

All of our instructors are volunteers, and the majority are CSPA graduates. That means they remember what it’s like to be in your shoes.

Our current workshop instructors include:

Mohi Andrabi (2016) is a software engineer at Sony.

Meghan Bobrowsky (2016) is a staff writer at the Wall Street Journal.

Kellen Browning (2015) is a staff writer at the New York Times.

Chris Carlson is a staff photographer for the Associated Press.

Jessica Davis (2003) is the senior director of data initiatives and news automation for USA Today.

Saba Hamedy (2008) is the culture and trends editor for NBC News Digital.

Rich Hammond (1994) is a senior editor at The Athletic, part of The New York Times Company.

Todd Harmonson (1985) is the senior editor of the Orange County Register and a lead editor for the Southern California News Group.

Cam Inman (1988) is the San Francisco 49ers beat reporter for the Bay Area News Group.

Josh Kaplan (1976) is the senior executive producer for “Good Day LA,” Fox 11’s morning news show in Los Angeles.

Olivia Olander (2016) is a politics reporter for the Chicago Tribune.

Michelle Madigan (1996) is a producer at Dateline NBC.

Laura J. Nelson (2007) is a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. She was part of a team awarded the Pulitzer Prize in breaking news reporting in 2016.

Ellie Smith (2013) is a digital producer at the San Francisco Chronicle.

Michael Sugerman (2012) is a producer with CBS News in New York.

Nicole Vargas (1995) is an associate professor of journalism at San Diego City College.

Larry Welborn (1965) is the chairman emeritus of the CSPA Board of Directors and the retired legal affairs reporter for the Orange County Register.

Caroline Wohl (2015) works in biotech corporate communications in San Diego.

Gwen Wu (2013) is a reporter for BioPharmaDive in the Bay Area.