Jolie O'Dell, President
Jolie O'Dell is a journalist and nonprofit leader.
As a news writer and editor, she contributed to tech-focused publications such as ReadWriteWeb, Mashable, and VentureBeat, with bylines appearing in national print outlets periodically. She also frequently appeared on local and national news and podcasts as a tech industry analyst. In addition to her media duties, she was also heavily involved in event planning and newsroom management.
Since 2016, she has been designing, directing, and producing operas through Magic Circle, her nonprofit performing arts company. She is co-writing an original opera, which is set to premier at Tulane University in November 2021.
A 2004 graduate of Shenandoah University, she is additionally pursuing a Master of Liberal Arts degree from the University of Richmond with an anticipated graduation date of 2023.
O'Dell is the author of four books with a fifth coming in 2023. She lives in Virginia with her dog, Lt. Barclay.
Andrea Weckerle, Vice President of Education and Research
Andrea Weckerle is the founder of CiviliNation and the author of Civility in the Digital Age: How Companies and People Can Triumph over Haters, Trolls, Bullies, and Other Jerks.
She earned her Juris Doctor at the University of Richmond School of Law, where she served on the Senior Staff of the Richmond Journal of Law & Technology. She also holds a Master of Arts (MAIS) degree with a focus on Public Relations/Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University.
After law school, Andrea worked within the Legal Management Services division of on international professional services firm where she helped design, develop and implement comprehensive alternative dispute resolution systems for Fortune 500 companies. Prior to founding CiviliNation, she ran her own boutique communications consultancy and also worked with national agencies, where her experience included legal and corporate communications, online communications and social media.