I’m a writer always looking for the next adventure. That could be my next hike through Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park or researching and writing about a three-decades-old string of murders set in my college town. Or it could be covering the next School Board meeting — I'm flexible.
When I'm not working, you can catch me in nature with Chaco, the best mutt around.
Right now I’m an education reporter for the Virginia Gazette in Williamsburg, Virgina. I cover all things Williamsburg-James City County schools (and a lot on the side).
Before moving to education, I had a breaking-news stint at the Virginia Gazette’s sister paper, the Daily Press. It was on that beat that I first encountered the serious gun-violence epidemic engulfing the Peninsula. Within two weeks of working the night shift, I’d responded to three shootings with four victims. Each one was younger than I was at that point — 22.
Also during my time with the Daily Press, I had the opportunity to research a series of murders along the historic Colonial Parkway that happened in the late 80s and were quickly connected — though not everyone believes that’s the case today. The person or persons who murdered the eight couples has never been caught. I was paired with a senior reporter to produce an 8-day, 450-inch series about what happened and where the families are today. Suffice it to say, I was the luckiest intern that summer and I learned a lot.
The story wasn't new to me. During my senior year at William & Mary, I teamed up with four other editors at The Flat Hat to create a podcast about the murders (yes, we were one of the many Serial-inspired spin-offs). It really taught me how much I love the digital aspect of storytelling as much as the written word.
Podcasts have always been an interest of mine and I hope to do more as I move forward in my journalism career. But I do also love to write. Mostly I love talking to people, getting their take on the situation. I love to tell stories that may not otherwise be told.
That’s why I’m a reporter.