My career has centered on strengthening the institutions people rely on to understand the world around them. I began by reporting on how public systems work, then moved into helping journalism organizations become stronger, more sustainable and more responsive to the communities they serve. Over time, that evolved from reporting and field-building to founding an organization and ultimately leading an established national institution through change. The common thread is a belief that strong public-interest work depends on strong organizations behind it — with clear strategy, sustainable resources, effective leadership and the capacity to adapt.
Association of Health Care Journalists & the Center for Excellence in Health Care Journalism
Executive Director, 2022-Present
Leading an established national organization through transformation and growth
Since 2022, I’ve led the Association of Health Care Journalists, a 1,500+ member national professional association, and its affiliated nonprofit through a period of significant organizational change.
My work has focused on strengthening the institution behind the journalism — building a more independent and resilient operation, developing sustainable revenue and partnerships, improving financial stewardship, and creating a clearer strategy for how AHCJ can serve journalists as the profession and health information environment continue to change.
Built an independent organization. Led AHCJ’s transition from university housing to fully independent operations, establishing new HR, payroll, benefits, financial, policy and administrative systems.
Reset long-term strategy. Led the organization’s first strategic planning process in 15 years, using member research and organizational analysis to establish priorities for growth, sustainability and impact.
Strengthened financial stewardship. Oversee a roughly $2.5 million annual operating budget and approximately $4 million in organizational reserves, including restructuring reserves from fragmented CDs and money-market accounts into a more strategic reserve structure.
Expanded programs and partnerships. Lead a national portfolio of conferences, fellowships, training, international programs and new initiatives while cultivating and stewarding philanthropic funders and guiding staff through planning and executing four national conferences.
Built for the next stage. Invested in new systems, staff capacity and experimental programs designed to respond to changes in journalism and create sustainable new ways to serve members.
The work has required balancing near-term execution with long-term institution building — working closely with staff, board members, funders and partners while creating the systems and financial capacity that allow new ideas to move from concept to implementation.
The Beacon
Founder & Publisher, 2018-2022
Building a nonprofit news organization from idea to launch and scale
I founded The Beacon to create a new model for nonprofit, public-service local journalism in Kansas and Missouri. I developed the initial business plan and fundraising strategy, secured $5.5 million in launch funding and commitments through grants, major gifts and membership, recruited the founding board, and built the team and organizational infrastructure behind newsrooms in Kansas City and Wichita.
As publisher, I oversaw strategy, fundraising, budgeting, operations and audience development while helping design an editorial model rooted in community research and engagement. That included launching paid community advisory programs, developing systems to measure organizational impact and source diversity, establishing HR and editorial workflows, and building the technology and operational systems needed to support a growing nonprofit newsroom.
- Media Transformation Challenge (MTC) Program: A Poynter Institute Executive Fellowship, 2022
- 25 under 35, Editor & Publisher, 2022
- Online News Association, Women’s Leadership Accelerator, Los Angeles & Virtual, 2020
- Yearlong program aimed at advancing women in digital journalism through intensive training on leadership and management skills, coaching and practical guidance to navigate career challenges.
- The 26 women (selected from more than 400 applicants) represent seven countries and a range of backgrounds, newsrooms and expertise, including local news entrepreneurship, operations, product innovation, visual journalism and broadcast.
LION Publishers
Membership Manager, 2020
Building resources and systems for independent news entrepreneurs
At LION Publishers, I worked with a national network of independent local news organizations during a period of rapid growth in nonprofit and entrepreneurial journalism. I developed programming and training for current and aspiring publishers, helped redesign membership tiers and member workflows, and worked on systems to improve recruitment and retention.
I also contributed research to the Google News Initiative Startups Playbook, led an organizational rebranding process from RFP through concept development, and supported communications, member engagement and annual reporting. The role gave me an opportunity to work across hundreds of independent publishers and see firsthand the organizational models, revenue strategies and infrastructure required to make local journalism sustainable.
National Freedom of Information Coalition
Outreach Manager, 2018-2020
Strengthening a national network of open-government organizations
At the National Freedom of Information Coalition, I worked with state freedom-of-information and open-government organizations across the country, helping connect and strengthen a decentralized national network devoted to government transparency.
My work combined organizational development, research and coalition building. I advised state organizations on sustainability, membership and communications; tracked transparency legislation and trends across all 50 states; edited national research on public-records enforcement and government data portals; and developed partnerships with journalism, legal and academic organizations. I also led an organizational rebranding effort and helped organize the 2019 National FOI Summit.
The Kansas City Star
Data & Investigative Reporter, 2017-2018
Investigating institutions through data, public records and accountability reporting
At The Kansas City Star, I focused on data-driven and investigative reporting about government and public institutions, using public records, data analysis and traditional reporting to uncover systems that were difficult for the public to see.
I was part of the reporting team behind Why So Secret, Kansas?, an investigation into government secrecy that was named a 2018 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Public Service and received national recognition from the Scripps Howard Awards and National Headliner Awards. I also worked with reporters across the newsroom to incorporate data and public records into their journalism.
Awards for the “Why So Secret, Kansas?” series
- Pulitzer Prize finalist team, Public Service
- First Amendment Award, Scripps Howard
- Public Service Award, National Headliners
- McClatchy President’s Award (2018)
The Wichita Eagle
Health Care Reporter > City Hall Reporter > Data & Investigative Reporter, 2012-2017
Covering health care, government and the decisions shaping Kansas communities
During five years at The Wichita Eagle, I reported on some of the most consequential public-policy issues facing Kansas, with beats that included health care, City Hall and government accountability before moving into data and investigative reporting.
My health coverage included the Affordable Care Act, Kansas Medicaid, public-health debates and the local implications of national health emergencies. Across beats, I used public records, data and source development to explain how government decisions affected people and communities — an approach that ultimately led me toward investigative journalism and, later, nonprofit leadership focused on strengthening public-interest information.
Professional Development
- Investigative Reporters & Editors/National Institute for Computer Assisted Reporting, Data Fellowship and Mapping Fellowship
- National Press Foundation, Fellowship on Cancer Issues
- Association for Health Care Journalists, Rural Health Journalism Fellowship (three years)
The Joplin Globe
Education Reporter & Twitter Administrator, 2011-2012
Reporting through a community’s recovery from disaster
I joined The Joplin Globe shortly after the May 2011 EF-5 tornado, beginning my professional journalism career in a newsroom covering a community undergoing extraordinary recovery and change.
I covered education and community issues as schools, families and public institutions rebuilt after the disaster, while also helping the newsroom expand its use of social media and digital tools. The experience was an early lesson in the role strong local institutions — including local journalism — play during moments of crisis and rebuilding.
The Bulletin
Editor-in-Chief, 2009-2011
Learning to lead in a newsroom
My first experience managing an organization came as editor-in-chief of The Bulletin, Emporia State University’s student newspaper. I led a staff of 25, managed print and digital production, edited coverage and trained student journalists in reporting, interviewing and public-records work.
The experience gave me an early education in leading teams, making decisions under deadline and building systems that allow other people to do their best work — lessons that have carried through my career as a journalist, founder and nonprofit executive.
Awards and Honors
Kansas Associated Collegiate Press, All-Kansas Award, four-year public college newspaper division
Investigative Reporters & Editors, Campus Coverage Project, Phoenix