Oakwood Arts

Brian is a Peabody Award-winning multimedia journalist based in Richmond, Va. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Smithsonian magazine, and other publications, and on PBS, BBC, and Reveal. Since the end of 2014, he and his wife, Erin Hollaway Palmer, have been part of the volunteer effort to reclaim East End Cemetery, a historic African American burial ground in Henrico County, Virginia, from nature, neglect, and vandalism. Until recently, he was the Joan Konner Visiting Professor of Journalism at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Palmer has taught at the undergraduate and graduate level at the School of Visual Arts, Baruch College, New York University, Hampton University, and the University of Richmond. He is a member of SVA's Board of Directors.

Palmer began his career as a fact-checker for the Village Voice. Before going freelance in 2002, he served in a number of staff positions—Beijing bureau chief for US News & World Report; staff writer at Fortune; and on-air correspondent at CNN. Palmer was awarded a Ford Foundation grant for Full Disclosure, a video documentary about his three media embeds in Iraq with U.S. Marines, completed in 2009.

Chioke I'Anson, PhD, is a lecturer in the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture. He is also one of the voices of NPR's sponsorship messages. Since 2016, he has tracked and delivered underwriting copy for newscasts and digital downloads.

He is also a professor of African American Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University and is the Director of Community Media at VPM + ICA Community Media Center, which provides free workshops and training to anyone who wants to get into podcasts. His current work focuses on podcast and media education for the public. As a philosopher, he is focused on the intersection of critical thought and media literacy.

Dr. I'Anson serves on the board of the Association for Independents in Radio. He received a bachelor's degree in philosophy and religion from Florida A&M University and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of South Florida.

Unicia R. Buster is an award-winning artist from Richmond, Virginia. She creates stunning and unique compositions that challenge the cultural and social ideals of feminine beauty, the sociopolitical narrative around racism and black lives, and the human impact on environmental issues. Through the use of different media - including paint, textile and photography - Unicia develops her ideas and perspectives over the course of many works to fully explore her subject. Her work spans more than twenty years and can be found in public and private collections.