Experience

The Washington Post

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 700 & Above Employee

• National Education Reporter

  • Sep 2017 - Present

• Virginia Education Reporter

  • Sep 2015 - Sep 2017

  I covered some of the nation's largest, wealthiest and most diverse school districts. I had a knack for finding stories that would draw national interest. I wrote more than two dozen stories on a transgender teen's quest to use the boy's bathroom, a case that ultimately went up to the Supreme Court.

• Reporter/American University Fellow

  • Sep 2014 - Sep 2015

  I was selected for a competitive fellowship that allowed me to work at the Washington Post while I studied investigative journalism at American University, earning a master's degree. As a fellow, I covered Virginia schools, earning several front-page bylines.



Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting / International Center for Journalists

• Fellow

  • Jul 2014 - Jul 2014

  I earned a fellowship with the International Center for Journalists that allowed me to travel to Bangladesh to explore the role of trade unions in reshaping the garment industry after the collapse of Rana Plaza, an industrial disaster that killed more than 1,000 workers. I was the co-recipient of a grant from the Pulitzer Center for Crisis reporting that funded a trip to Nepal to trace the path of Bhutanese refugees from eastern Nepal to working class neighborhoods in Pittsburgh. I earned a fellowship with the International Center for Journalists that allowed me to travel to Bangladesh to explore the role of trade unions in reshaping the garment industry after the collapse of Rana Plaza, an industrial disaster that killed more than 1,000 workers. I was the co-recipient of a grant from the Pulitzer Center for Crisis reporting that funded a trip to Nepal to trace the path of Bhutanese refugees from eastern Nepal to working class neighborhoods in Pittsburgh.



Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 300 - 400 Employee

• City Hall Reporter

  • Jan 2013 - Jul 2014

  As the primary reporter for city government, I covered Pittsburgh's mayor, city council, major city departments and a handful of authorities and boards. In my 18 months on the beat, I wrote about the downfall of a young mayor, the resignation and indictment of a police chief and a federal probe of city business. I uncovered lax accounting practices that led to policy changes. I later covered a mayoral transition, turning six front-page stories in four days for an inauguration package.

• Breaking News Reporter

  • May 2011 - Dec 2012

  I produced up to a dozen breaking news update a day -- primarily focusing on public safety, crime and court news -- for the newspaper's website. I also wrote daily stories and enterprise pieces related to youth in the criminal justice system and gun control.

• Night Crime and General Assignment Reporter

  • Feb 2010 - May 2011

  I covered crime and wrote general assignment, producing breaking news updates for the website and turning around daily stories on tight deadlines at night. I also wrote enterprise stories on youth in the criminal justice system.

• East Reporter

  • Jan 2008 - Feb 2010

  I covered several former mill towns east of the city of Pittsburgh. I wrote enterprise on Allegheny County's record year for homicides and on youth in the criminal justice system. I also worked a general assignment shift on Sundays, regularly turning around front-page stories.


Student Press Law Center
• United States
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Journalism Intern

  • Aug 2007 - Dec 2007

Oregonian
• Political Organizations
• Intern

  • Mar 2006 - Jun 2006

The Sacramento Bee
• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 200 - 300 Employee
• Intern

  • Jun 2005 - Sep 2005