Our People

Matt DeRienzo has worked in journalism for more than 30 years as a reporter, editor, publisher, teacher, and journalism nonprofit executive director. While editor-in-chief of the Center for Public Integrity, the nonprofit investigative newsroom’s work led to numerous changes in local, state, and federal policy and was recognized with some of journalism’s highest honors, including a national Edward R. Murrow Award for General Excellence and a Peabody nomination. Previously, he was vice president of news at Hearst Connecticut; served as the first full-time executive director of LION, a nonprofit supporting local independent online news organizations across the country; and led a team of more than 100 journalists in covering the murders at Sandy Hook Elementary School as editor of the New Haven Register.

Sara is a science communications professional who leads SciLine’s outreach to local journalists, with an emphasis on local TV news. She works on projects—including SciLine’s Experts on Camera—to help busy local and general assignment reporters easily and conveniently connect with expert sources and include science in their stories. Previously, she served in strategic communications roles in nonprofit and academic settings, most recently at The Pew Charitable Trusts. Prior to her communications career, she held a research fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, where she studied fruit fly chromosomes. Sara attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where she earned a B.A. in biology, with a minor in Mandarin Chinese.

Hilary has a background in chemistry and has long appreciated public scientific outreach. At SciLine she helps facilitate the Expert Matching service connecting journalists with scientists. Prior to joining SciLine, Hilary was an academic journal editor at the Royal Society of Chemistry, Nature Materials, and Wiley, covering a range of topics across the physical and life sciences. Hilary earned an MChem in chemistry at the University of Edinburgh and completed a Ph.D. in physical chemistry at Heriot-Watt University, where she had fun firing lasers at gas to study the forces that act between atoms and molecules when they collide.

Karl brings to SciLine extensive experience in public policy, editing, and the technology of publishing. In addition to his editing duties as managing editor, he manages the development and maintenance of key technologies for the team, including database and web publishing systems. Before joining SciLine, Karl was the communications director at the Alliance for Health Policy, the health editor at RealClear Media Group, and senior web editor at KFF Health News. He also served as new media strategy editor at National Journal and as assistant managing editor for newsroom operations at washingtonpost.com. Karl has a B.A. in political science from the College of Wooster and did graduate-level studies in political science at Duke University.

Becky is a marketing professional with an extensive background in digital marketing and analytics for non-profit organizations and academic publishers. At SciLine, she builds brand awareness and facilitates growth in demand across SciLine’s full spectrum of services, which already engages thousands of U.S. journalists and North America-based scientists. Prior to this role, she was the social media manager at Princeton University Press for over three years and has worked in digital marketing for over ten years. Becky received her bachelor’s degree in U.S. history, as well as a certificate in teacher preparation from Princeton University and her master’s degree in curriculum and teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Tori leads SciLine’s training programs, which help both scientists and journalists learn to work better together to bring accurate, engaging scientific evidence to general audiences through news stories. Her role includes developing curricula, facilitating workshops and webinars, and finding creative ways to make teaching science and communication skills dynamic and interactive. Tori’s Ph.D. in biological psychopathology and postdoctoral fellowship in psychiatry, both from the University of Minnesota, allow her to connect with the scientists she trains and share her deep understanding of scientific skills and concepts with journalists.

Becky is the co-founder and deputy director of SciLine. She is a communications strategist, speechwriter, and organizational leader with more than fifteen years of experience in the science, health, and environment space. Becky helped grow SciLine from the seed of an idea into a bustling startup that is making a measurable positive impact on U.S. media. Previously, she served in various communications leadership roles in the federal executive branch, including crisis communications during national environmental emergencies, climate communications at the White House, and cabinet-level speechwriting at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Becky has a B.A. in environmental policy, an M.A. in earth & environmental science, and an M.S. in journalism, all from Columbia University.

Alisha Khodabocus is a 2026 data-science graduate from the College of William and Mary, where she served as a fact checker and copy chief for her campus newspaper, The Flat Hat. She has applied data science skills across a wide variety of sectors: from chemistry, to art conservation, to policy research. She also worked for Ballotpedia, where she created public-facing electoral district maps and managed database updates. As a 2026 SciLine intern, Alisha is analyzing data from SciLine’s flagship expert matching service—identifying trends, gaps, and opportunities to more efficiently track news stories that emerge from the scientist-journalist connections SciLine makes.

Christian is SciLine’s engagement manager, where he focuses on building connections with newsrooms and expanding access to research-backed evidence for diverse audiences. He brings a strong background in journalism support through roles at Tiny News Collective, The Pivot Fund, and LION Publishers. Before shifting into newsroom support, Christian built a career as an independent photojournalist, covering national politics, migration, and natural disasters. His work has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times and the Associated Press. Bilingual in Spanish and a former regional chair for the National Press Photographers Association, he combines field experience with organizational leadership to help strengthen the journalism ecosystem.

Emily is a chemist with a background in polymer science and a passion for science communication. In her role as scientific outreach manager at SciLine, Emily works to connect scientists with journalists who seek technical experts on deadline. Prior to working at SciLine, she earned her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, where she studied additives that help flexible solar cells last longer. There she also led science communication training for graduate students and postdocs, and she wrote about science research, education, outreach, and her graduate student experiences for various outlets.

Cat Murphy is an award-winning reporter, master’s student, and investigative journalism fellow at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, where she uses data to investigate and report on state and national issues. She has extensive experience creating compelling graphics and data visualizations to accompany news stories. Cat earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. As a 2026 SciLine intern, Cat is developing data-driven stories and graphics for SciLine’s TV-focused Experts on Camera program.

Beth Peck is the associate director of development at SciLine, where she leads fundraising and development strategy to support the program’s mission of strengthening science in journalism. She brings over 15 years of nonprofit and higher education experience, with a strong record of cultivating donor relationships, securing major gifts, and guiding sustainable growth through mission-focused fundraising. Beth holds a B.A. in journalism with a specialization in public relations from Michigan State University.

Elena is a writer and editor focused on science. She reports and edits articles on all kinds of news and the scientific evidence surrounding it to shape SciLine’s editorial coverage. She launched and writes SciLine’s weekly newsletter “Matter of Fact,” which offers story ideas and evidence for current reporting. She also speaks at events for journalists, moderates media briefings, and contributes to SciLine’s multimedia strategy. Elena earned a degree in science, technology, and society at Brown University, and her work has been published by NPR, Quanta Magazine, Nautilus, and PBS “NOVA”, among other national and local outlets.

Sophia Rentschler is a science journalist and physics student at the University of Missouri. Her background includes bilingual social media work for the University of Missouri’s Latine research center, video production for NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, and journalism-partnership development in her role as co-president of her university’s chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). As a 2026 SciLine intern, Sophia is supporting SciLine’s engagement team on social media strategy, outreach, and expanding the organization’s reach to new audiences, including Spanish-speaking communities.

Alana is an administrative and program management professional. She works on the operations side of SciLine, including performing a variety of administrative functions and technical tasks ranging from accounting and billing to event support. Additionally, Alana manages and documents the news stories produced by users of SciLine’s services to track and understand SciLine’s impact. Prior to this role, she was the administrative coordinator at the Schwartz Communication Institute at Baruch College for over three years. Alana received her B.A. in biology from Manhattan College, with minors in chemistry and psychology.

Haley is a seasoned broadcast journalist with experience in newsrooms across the country. At SciLine, she leads editorial efforts designed for television news by pitching, producing, writing, and editing content for broadcast journalists. She also helps journalists on deadline connect with scientists through its Expert Matching service. Previously, Haley worked as a local television reporter in Oregon, New Mexico, and Louisiana. Most recently, she was an investigative producer for CBS News and Stations, focusing on environmental stories at both the local and network levels. She has a B.A. in broadcast journalism from the University of North Texas, with a minor in political science.

Lashay is an award-winning storyteller, journalist, and communications strategist with more than a decade of experience reporting on issues shaping communities and public policy. She has reported in newsrooms across the country for NBC, ABC, and CBS affiliates, where she’s covered topics including climate change, environmental policy, health, and social justice. In addition to her reporting, Lashay has worked closely with journalists as a communications leader and spokesperson and has been featured in outlets including Vanity Fair, Town & Country, and WBUR. At SciLine, Lashay assists journalists on deadline to connect with scientists through its Expert Matching service.

Sara is a biologist with a background in synthetic biology and microbiology who is excited about scientific storytelling. She interacts with scientists on a variety of opportunities related to SciLine’s services for print journalists—editing and producing Quotes from Experts, facilitating expert review of Quick Facts, working with scientists to pitch the stories they submit to the Tip Line, and connecting scientists with interview opportunities on deadline. Before landing at SciLine, she bounced around the country designing antimicrobial peptides, studying a flu-like disease called Q fever, and tackling HIV replication. These experiences led her to earn an M.S. in biophysics & structural biology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied how bacteria organize their insides. While elbow deep in bacterial cultures, Sara wrote about research and her experiences as a graduate student for STAT News, Pitt Med Magazine, and Scientific American.

Mohamed is a biologist with a background in evolutionary ecology and plant genetics and a deep commitment to science outreach and education. At SciLine, Mohamed serves as a liaison with scientists when connecting them with reporters on deadline. He also leads SciLine’s production of Media Briefings, overseeing topic development, speaker selection, and event coordination. Prior to joining SciLine, Mohamed was the science outreach and education coordinator at the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota. He created and launched Market Science, an outreach initiative through which graduate students host hands-on booths at local farmers markets to share their scientific expertise with market-goers. Mohamed earned his Ph.D. in plant biological sciences at the University of Minnesota, where his research was on characterizing effects of urban heat islands on the evolution of plant growth and development.

Nsikan Akpan is the managing editor for Think Global Health at the Council on Foreign Relations. He previously worked for New York Public Radio as the health and science editor for the WNYC/Gothamist newsroom. Before NYPR, he worked at National Geographic as a science editor overseeing its COVID-19 coverage and as a science producer for PBS NewsHour, where he co-created an award-winning video series named “ScienceScope.” He shared a 2020 Emmy for the PBS NewsHour series “Stopping a Killer Pandemic” and in 2019 received a George Foster Peabody Award for the PBS NewsHour series “The Plastic Problem.” Nsikan has also worked for NPR, Science News, Science, and as a writer at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University. He holds a doctorate in pathobiology from Columbia University and is an alum of the science communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Tracy Day serves as CEO of the World Science Foundation, overseeing the creative and programmatic offerings of the World Science Festival and producing original theatrical, musical, and multimedia works at the intersection of science and art.  She is a four-time National News Emmy award-winning journalist and has produced live and documentary programming for the nation’s preeminent television news divisions for over two decades.

Meredith has an academic background in the physical sciences, including a Ph.D. in astrophysics from the University of Colorado. Meredith was a co-founder of SciLine, and from 2017-2024 she served as the lead science adviser for SciLine’s services and managed the team tasked with liaising with the scientific community day-to-day. She also coordinated the development of training opportunities for scientists and journalists and impact assessments of SciLine’s activities. Prior to this role, Meredith spent six years working in science policy for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. In that time she led the development and implementation of evidence-based policy on a wide range of science and space issues, including expanding opportunities and improving learning outcomes in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education as well as strengthening the research and development enterprise in space science, materials science, and forensic science.

Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux is a professor of climatology in the Department of Geography at the University of Vermont. Her work sits at the nexus of hydroclimate hazards of flooding and droughts, climate variability and change, and the use of geospatial technologies. As the state climatologist for Vermont, she engages directly with community groups, K-12 schools, state legislators, federal and state agencies, and national climate organizations. She is currently serving on the Vermont Climate Council to assist in the creation of its Climate Action Plan. She is also the president of the American Association of State Climatologists and a fellow of the American Meteorological Society.

Maggie Fox’s passion is writing what’s true about medicine and science. She is a journalist with more than 35 years’ experience in reporting from around the world and has been focused on health and science for more than 20 of those years, focusing on simple, straightforward explanatory journalism and telling stories. For Maggie, it’s all about the people, and it’s all about making it clear. She is a former senior editor at CNN Health, the former senior writer for NBC News, former global health and science editor for Reuters, and former health care and technology editor for National Journal.

Sylvester James “Jim” Gates Jr. is an award-winning American theoretical physicist. He is a Ford Foundation Professor of Physics at Brown University and College Park Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland, and he is president of the American Physical Society. He has authored over 200 scientific publications and has been featured in several popular physics documentaries, including: “The Elegant Universe,” “Fabric of the Cosmos,” and “The Hunt for the Higgs.” Jim co-wrote Superspace, the first comprehensive book about supersymmetry, and was the first African American to hold an endowed chair in physics at a major U.S. research university.

Margaret “Peggy” Hamburg is an internationally recognized leader in public health and medicine. She has devoted most of her career to public service, including such significant roles as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, health commissioner for New York City, and assistant director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Hamburg is past-president and former board chairman of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Laura Helmuth is a freelance editor, writer, and consultant. She is a former editor-in-chief of Scientific American and a past president of the National Association of Science Writers. She has previously worked as an editor for The Washington Post, National Geographic, Slate, Smithsonian, and Science magazines. She has a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience from the University of California, Berkeley.

Kathryn Murdoch is co-founder and president of the Quadrivium Foundation, which supports practical, evidence-based solutions to societal problems. She is an advocate for improving science communications and is a trustee of the Environmental Defense Fund and Climate Central and is co-chair of Unite America and the Climate Leadership Council.

Dietram A. Scheufele is the Taylor-Bascom Chair in Science Communication and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a member of the German National Academy of Science and Engineering, a lifetime associate of the National Research Council, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the International Communication Association, and the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters. His consulting experience includes work for DeepMind, Porter Novelli, PBS, WHO, and the World Bank.

Mark Schleifstein is a freelance environment reporter in the New Orleans, La., area. He retired in 2024 after 40 years as an environment reporter with The Times-Picayune and The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate. Schleifstein’s reporting on Katrina was among the newspaper’s stories honored with 2006 Pulitzer Prizes for Public Service and Breaking News Reporting. He’s the co-author with John McQuaid of the book Path of Destruction: The Devastation of New Orleans and the Coming Age of Superstorms, about Katrina. He also was co-author of the 1996 series, “Oceans of Trouble: Are the World’s Fisheries Doomed?“, which won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

Rick founded SciLine in 2017 in response to changes in the journalism landscape that saw a loss of specialty science reporters from many local newsrooms and a need to help local and general assignment reporters integrate more research-backed evidence into their reporting. He has more than three decades of experience in journalism and media affairs, including 15 years as a science reporter at The Washington Post, where he wrote more than 1,000 news and feature articles about the economic, societal, and ethical implications of advances in science and technology. He has led science and technology strategic communications operations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including within the White House and the Department of Defense. Rick earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Cornell University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley.

Alan Alda is an actor, writer, and co-founder of The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University, where he is a visiting professor. The Center has trained nearly 10,000 scientists in improv-based communications skills in the United States and abroad since its inception in 2009.

Nancy Baron leads communication workshops for environmental scientists in academia, government, and non-governmental organizations for COMPASS. She guides scientists on how to engage in society’s conversations and to make their research more relevant to journalists, policy makers, and the public. Her practical communications book, Escape from the Ivory Tower: A guide to making your science matter, is widely used by environmental scientists. Nancy received the 2013 Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in the Media for her work at the intersection of science and journalism. Since COVID-19 curtailed travel, she has been enjoying writing a local newspaper column called “In the Naturehood,” communicating science locally, as well as working with scientists  virtually, around the world. She is an adviser to the Liber Ero Fellows and Sitka Foundation in Canada.

Bill Manny a writer/producer for Idaho Public Television’s documentary series, “Idaho Experience.” He has worked as a reporter, editor, and columnist in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington, D.C. He is a bicyclist, backpacker, and peak-bagger, and he is past president of Boise City Club. He lives in Boise, Idaho.

Geneva Overholser is a longtime newspaperwoman (The New York Times editorial board, The Washington Post ombudsman, editor of the Des Moines Register) whose last full-time gig was running the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.  She now serves on boards (Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, Rita Allen Foundation, Northwestern University in Qatar) and advises Democracy Fund, Report for America, Trust Project, and American Academy of Arts & Sciences Public Face of Science.

Kathleen Richardson is the dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Prior to earning her law degree and entering academia, Richardson worked at The Des Moines Register for 20 years in a variety of newsroom jobs, including news editor and columnist. She was the executive director of the non-profit Iowa Freedom of Information Council for 15 years. She was also a founding member of the Iowa Public Information Board, a state agency that helps enforce the open-government laws. She serves on several Iowa Newspaper Foundation committees.

Arvind Suresh is the director of communications at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh. A scientist turned communicator, he previously worked in public relations at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences. He also helped run the Genetic Experts News Service, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that connected reporters with experts on genetics and biotechnology issues, and he served as managing editor for SciStarter, a citizen science platform. Arvind holds a master’s degree in cell biology from the University of Pittsburgh and conducted graduate research in molecular physiology at Pitt’s School of Medicine.