Executive Director

Shirley Whipple Struchen

Shirley Struchen has been executive director of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) since 2001. A United Methodist, Struchen has worked as an ecumenical communicator for much of her career. She was 1996-98 president of the Religious Public Relations Council, forerunner of RCC; coordinator for Religion Communication Congress 2000 and 2010; president of the Media Action Research Center; chairwoman of the National Council’s media education committee; a member of the World Association of Christian Communicators board of directors; and a member of the WACC North American executive committee. She’s a member of the North American Broadcast Section of WACC, Alliance for Women in Media, and of the National Association for Female Executives.

In 1997 the United Methodist Association of Communicators named Struchen United Methodist Communicator of the Year.

Prior to coming to becoming RCC’s executive director, Struchen worked for the United Methodist Church communication agency from 1976 to 2001. She initially coordinated the Television Awareness Program and was later director of conference education, executive producer of the United Methodist Teleconference Connection and director of regional training for the Igniting Ministry denomination wide image and awareness campaign.

Administrator

Maria Magallanes

Magallanes worked as an intern/office assistant in the New York office for two years before accepting the Administrator position.

Her work as Administrator focuses on membership and communications, providing support for RCC awards campaigns, convention sponsorships, and annual fund contributions.

Magallanes recently completed an MS in Publishing: Digital and Print Media from New York University.

Board of Governors

The Board of Governors of the Religion Communicators Council governs the business and affairs of the council.

Treasurer

Ryan John Koch

Director of the New York Office of Public and International Affairs, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, New York, New York

Joan Gaylord

Independent Writer and Principal, Joan Gaylord Creative; Bedford Hills, New York