Abby Blachman is our full-stack product engineer. Her focus on the product side of journalism was born out of her experience as a data reporter for Injustice Watch in Chicago, where she explored and developed a passion for accessible information delivery. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, but is a born and raised Texan.Read more
Hey y’all, I’m Abby Johnston, The 19th’s partnerships editor, running The 19th News Network and editing our economy, climate and reproductive health coverage. I was one of the founding editors here, helping shape the stories, systems and Slack chaos that make this place. I’ve led and edited projects that won us a National Murrow Award and an Online Journalism Award.
… Read more
Alexandra Smith is our chief strategy officer. She has a decade of experience working at the intersection of audience, product and news, previously working at the media startup WhereBy.Us and local newspapers The (Fort Collins) Coloradoan and the Asbury Park (N.J.) Press.Read more
Alexis Wray is a reporting fellow at The 19th. Alexis is an alum of North Carolina A&T State University with a bachelor’s in journalism and mass communications and a Master of Science in communication and journalism innovation from Syracuse University. She has covered HBCUs and Blackness for over four years, first as a freelance journalist for Scalawag, The Appalachian Voice and The Atlanta Voice and then as a reporter for
… Read more
I’m Amanda Becker, The 19th’s Washington correspondent. I like to use my perch to examine the gendered aspects of power and how gender shapes policy. Since policy isn’t made in a vacuum, my favorite type of political stories draw across institutions and movements to examine what I call the “connective tissues” of our democracy.
… Read more
Amethyst Holmes is the product and technology fellow at The 19th. Amethyst is a freelance journalist based in Washington, D.C. and has worked in various communications and marketing roles for nearly a decade. She was previously head of content strategy for global sports nonprofit Athletes in Action. She started her career as a general assignment reporter for AL.com/The Huntsville Times. Amethyst holds a Master of Divinity degree
… Read more
Andrea Atehortua is our product operations manager. She has over a decade of experience in technology, entrepreneurship, and social enterprises. She’s built products for audiences across the globe at ThoughtWorks, Polymath Ventures, and Ripplematch amongst others. She’s a graduate of Boston University.Read more
Anne Musial is our chief development officer. She has over two decades of experience helping nonprofits and visionary political leaders maximize their success through effective fundraising and communication strategies. Prior to The 19th, she worked in philanthropy and politics at consulting firms in Austin and Los Angeles.Read more
Hey! I’m Annelise McGough, audience editor of news here at The 19th. That basically means I work with reporters, editors and the audience team to help make story decisions that center the needs of you, our reader. Have you seen a story from us on Instagram? I helped with that. Do you recognize my name from our daily newsletter? I produce it. I co-manage a team of three producers who are the best
… Read more
I’m Barbara Rodriguez, The 19th’s state politics and voting reporter. I’ve covered politics for several years, first as a statehouse reporter for The Associated Press and then as a politics reporter for The Des Moines Register. In 2019, I was assigned to cover the presidential campaigns of then-California Sen. Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg, then mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Immediately
… Read more
I’m Candice Norwood, a reporter for The 19th who covers general assignment news. Since 2016, I’ve covered all things politics and policy for The Atlantic, Bloomberg News, PBS NewsHour and other publications in the Washington, D.C. area.
… Read more
Casey Brzozowski is our staff accountant. She holds an associate of applied science in computer information technology from Austin Community College and a BS in accounting from Southern New Hampshire University. Currently, she is a graduate student at SNHU working towards her MS in managerial accounting. Her professional background includes accounting, operations, systems management, and board administration.Read more
I’m Chabeli Carrazana, The 19th’s economy and child care reporter. I’ve been an economy reporter for a decade, getting my start at the Miami Herald and then the Orlando Sentinel.
… Read more
Chanel Cain is the audience engagement fellow for The 19th. Hailing from Seattle, Chanel earned a bachelor’s degree in media, journalism and film communications with a minor in playwriting from Howard University. Chanel was previously global content and programming coordinator for the Black-owned streaming service kweliTV.
… Read more
I’m Clarice Bajkowski, the 19th’s Chief Creative Officer. I’m passionate about innovative storytelling and creating brands that resonate deeply with communities. My journey in design began with drawing, painting, lettering, and solving design problems—this unique blend of visual arts guides everything I do. With over 20 years in design, advertising, and brand strategy, I’m committed to
… Read more
Eden Turner is a reporting fellow for The 19th. Previously, she served as the education and politics reporter for the Times-News in Twin Falls, Idaho. She has also interned at Savannah Morning News and Atlanta News First, and served as editor-in-chief of Tiger’s Roar, Savannah State University’s student newspaper. She is a Savannah State alumna with a bachelor’s in journalism and mass communications and a minor in
… Read more
I’m Emily Ramshaw, co-founder and CEO of The 19th. The idea for the 19th was born out of the 2016 election, when Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump following a campaign that far too often centered around questions of a woman candidate’s “electability” or “likeability.”
… Read more
Emily Swelgin is our chief product officer. Emily previously worked in visual journalism and user experience design at The Texas Tribune, The Washington Post and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.Read more
Hey, y’all. It’s Errin Haines, editor-at-large and founding mother at The 19th. I’m also author of The Amendment newsletter and host of our podcast, also named The Amendment. You may also see me on cable news talking gender and politics as an MSNBC political contributor.
… Read more
Faith Smith is our senior director of events. Previously she was the executive producer of Slate Live, where she led all of Slate’s live programming from podcasts and editorial conferences to events on emerging technology with their Future Tense partnership. Before that she was the director of events and external relations at New America. She’s a graduate of UCLA and lives in Northern Virginia.Read more
Fatima Hessabi is our chief financial officer, with more than 17 years of experience in finance and accounting. She holds an MBA from the UC Davis Graduate School of Management and received her undergraduate degree in managerial economics and sociology-organizational studies, also from UC Davis.Read more
Olá! Hola! Hello! I’m Fernanda Santos, managing editor at The 19th. I compare my job to that of a maestro: I make sure all parts of the newsroom are in tune and jamming well together to produce meaningful journalism centered around voices and perspectives that for too long have been overlooked.
… Read more
I’m Flora Peir, the news editor at The 19th. My reporters cover a wide range of topics, including LGBTQ+ issues, the courts, the military, maternal health, gun violence and beyond.
… Read more
I’m Grace Panetta, a political reporter at The 19th covering the candidates, issues and voters that power our elections. My journey in political journalism began at the end of my sophomore year of college, where I took an internship on Business Insider’s politics desk that turned into a full-time job. I got to cover lots of big stories while honing a beat
… Read more
I’m Jasmine Mithani, the data visuals reporter at The 19th. I write stories, make charts and check our math. I collaborate on data-driven projects like our polling partnership with SurveyMonkey and our
… Read more
Jayo Miko Macasaquit is our chief people officer. Before joining The 19th, Jayo led equity-centered human resources processes at organizations like Mother Jones and the Oakland Public Education Fund. Jayo was a 2019 Equity in Leadership Fellow at the Surge Institute and holds an MFA in Writing from the California College of the Arts.Read more
Jennifer Ajluni is our director of individual philanthropy. Before joining The 19th, she worked at The Texas Tribune, where she was the senior development officer. Prior to that, Jenny worked in political fundraising both nationally and in Texas.Read more
I’m Jennifer Gerson, a reporter at The 19th who has a deep passion for the people who change the conversation, whether that’s politicians or influencers. I love stories that get at how contemporary American politics and popular culture both and prod each other, especially by examining how voters, public servants and advocates alike all seek to iterate and refine their political personas in
… Read more
I’m Jessica Kutz, The 19th’s climate and gender reporter. I got into journalism at the ripe old age of 26 after walking into a small local paper and asking for an internship. It quickly spiraled into a staff job and I won three Colorado Press Association awards during my time there. I next sharpened my skills at High Country News, where I wrote and edited stories about environmental and social
… Read more
I’m Julia B. Chan, The 19th’s editor in chief. I lead our editorial department in producing journalism that aims to center, serve and inform our audiences. I enjoy every aspect of this work, from story conception to content and engagement strategy; to partnering, publishing and distribution planning.
… Read more
I’m Julie Bogen, one of The 19th’s audience engagement editors, and I co-manage the audience team. We run The 19th’s social media accounts, newsletters and parts of the website. My work focuses on 19th events, The Amendment podcast, membership, our audience fellowship track and more. I’ve been with The 19th since July of 2022.
… Read more
I’m Karen Hawkins, the story editor at The 19th. I edit three stellar reporters: Sara Luterman (caregiving and aging), Kate Sosin (LGBTQ+) and Nadra Nittle (education). My journalism career has been shaped by my long ancestral line of griots and writers, nosy neighbors and outspoken women. Not for nothing did a former editor call me
… Read more
Kari Cobham is our director of fellowships. She has almost two decades of experience in journalism as a staff writer, executive producer, and analytics and digital strategy lead, and has bylines in The New York Times, Fortune Magazine, CNN and others. She is from Trinidad and Tobago, and is a graduate of Bethune-Cookman University and the University of Central Florida.Read more
Hiya, I’m Kate Sosin, one of two LGBTQ+ beat reporters here at The 19th and our (very) unofficial chief chaos officer. I try to report stories or angles that you won’t find anywhere else, the ones that disrupt our assumptions about the world and queer people in it.
… Read more
Hey there, I’m Lance Dixon, one of the audience engagement producers at The 19th. I help produce a lot of what you see on our social platforms. I also work on some of our newsletters, and am behind much of our Reddit presence and strategy. (Yes, I am Very Online).
… Read more
Hey, I’m LydiaChebbine, the photo editor here at The 19th, which means I’m the one curating the visuals that accompany our stories. I’m Algerian American, have a background in Critical Theory from Pratt Institute, and I kicked off my career back in 2016 at U.S. News & World Report, diving straight into my first conventions and the chaos of that election cycle. The visual
… Read more
Hi there, I’m Mariel Padilla. I’m a general assignment reporter at The 19th, where I’ve been since July 2020, just before the organization launched. I’ve written about all kinds of things, from the nursing shortage to child marriage laws to family-building concerns within the military community. I love falling down history rabbit holes, making spreadsheets and writing long explainers that
… Read more
Hi! I’m Marissa Nelson, executive coordinator at The 19th. I also work on the team that produces our events, which is how I got my start here in 2022. Most of my work is behind-the-scenes: setting timelines, booking venues and answering attendee questions. At times, I also report and write stories for our site and social platforms, usually about queer community, or the latest
… Read more
I’m Megan Kearney, the 19th’s digital producer. As a member of our audience team, I work on the promotion of the stories you’re reading every day and the keywords you’re searching to find them. I specialize in headlines, SEO and production, but my interests are rooted in journalism for all — centering your voices, earning your trust and turning the stories you’re reading into
… Read more
I’m Mel Leonor Barclay, a politics reporter at The 19th. My work is fueled by curiosity about the forces that drive everyday people to become politically engaged and shape their political beliefs. So far at The 19th, I’ve reported on how gender, race, ethnicity, economic reality, immigration story and experiences with gun violence have shaped candidates’ decisions to run for office and
… Read more
Michelle Hughes is our web applications engineer. She most recently worked as a full-stack developer for the medical quality improvement collaborative, BMC2, but has a passion for journalism and live-blogging local political meetings that would otherwise go unnoticed. She is also a volunteer DJ on WCBN-FM, and writes and performs marionette shows for the Dreamland Theater in Ypsilanti.Read more
Michelle Rivera is our senior program coordinator for fellowships. She has almost a decade of experience in fellowship management, nonprofit program coordination, international relations and policy, and student and foster care support. She previously led an international mental health journalism fellowship and is pursuing a master’s in business administration.Read more
I’m Myrka Moreno, one of two audience engagement producers at The 19th. It’s a wordy title that basically means I help The 19th’s work reach readers (you!) where they are. Much of that work is accepting that not everyone gets their news in the same way. My job is to figure out the best way to share our journalism that centers the facts of the reporting and the needs of our readers.
… Read more
I’m Nadra Nittle, The 19th’s education reporter and a journalist since the aughts. I’ve worked for newspapers including the Inland Valley – Los Angeles Times, El Paso Times, the Santa Fe Reporter and the Press-Telegram and online publications Vox and Civil Eats. I’ve also freelanced for The Guardian, Business Insider, Huffington Post, BBC News and NBC News.
… Read more
I’m Orion Rummler, LGBTQ+ reporter for The 19th based in Washington, D.C. My reporting ranges from health policy explainers and court deep dives to statehouse breaking news and features on LGBTQ+ daily life. My priority is to inform our readers about how U.S. politics are shaping the future for LGBTQ+ Americans, and how LGBTQ+ people are shaping the future for all of us.
… Read more
Poorvaja Rajagopalan is our development associate of philanthropy. Prior to joining The 19th, Poorvaja worked as a grant writer and federal liaison with the environmental justice organization Anthropocene Alliance. She also has experience as a technical writer and legal writer. She holds degrees in history and public policy from the University of Chicago.Read more
Sabreen Dawud is a reporting fellow for The 19th. Sabreen was previously a freelance writer for AFRO-American Newspapers where she covered social and cultural issues, and editor-in-chief of Six Eleven Magazine, a Black-owned arts magazine. At Howard University, she was a staff writer for The Hilltop and an editor for the magazine Cover 2 Cover. Sabreen is a Howard alumna with a bachelor’s degree in media, journalism, and film
… Read more
I’m Sara Luterman, The 19th’s disability and aging reporter. I’m one of only a handful of openly disabled journalists dedicated to covering these issues. It’s exciting to be part of a burgeoning new beat and to be able to help shape it from the ground up. I am proud to help put “nothing about us without us,” a saying from the disability rights movement, into practice in journalism. I
… Read more
Hello! I’m Sereena Henderson, membership manager for The 19th. With eight years in nonprofit news, I’m passionate about mission-driven journalism that uplifts underserved and underrepresented communities. A Mississippi native, I am a graduate of The University of Mississippi School of Journalism and New Media. (Hotty Toddy, y’all!) I’m proud to have played a key role in the growth of
… Read more
I’m Shefali Luthra, The 19th’s reproductive health reporter. I’ve covered health care for more than a decade, starting at the Texas Tribune, where I wrote about abortion restrictions and the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, before moving to KFF Health News. I’m passionate about covering health care in a way that highlights policy’s human impact. I love hearing from readers about how
… Read more
I’m Terri Rupar, the political editor at The 19th, which means I run a team of reporters focused on the people we elect and the electorate who has a chance to vote for them. I worked at The Washington Post for more than 17 years before joining The 19th after the 2020 election. Even before coming on board, I helped edit some of The 19th’s first stories. I was drawn to The 19th’s mission and a
… Read more
Vanessa Gregorchik is our product designer. Before joining The 19th, she designed editorial experiences at Upstatement and The Washington Post. She has a background in design and journalism from Northeastern University.Read more
I’m Wynton Wong, multimedia producer at The 19th. I work on a variety of audio and video projects, including The Amendment podcast, as well as our events, making sure that things are looking and sounding good in the room and in our recordings.
… Read more
Zurii Conroy is our people operations manager. With nearly two decades of experience, her work has ranged from engaging with youth and supporting seniors, to convening community advisory councils and even collaborating with the White House on a community event. She is a graduate of Howard University and a Senior Certified Human Resources Professional with the Society of Human Resources Management.Read more
Abby Blachman is our full-stack product engineer. Her focus on the product side of journalism was born out of her experience as a data reporter for Injustice Watch in Chicago, where she explored and developed a passion for accessible information delivery. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, but is a born and raised Texan. Read more
Hey y’all, I’m Abby Johnston, The 19th’s partnerships editor, running The 19th News Network and editing our economy, climate and reproductive health coverage. I was one of the founding editors here, helping shape the stories, systems and Slack chaos that make this place. I’ve led and edited projects that won us a National Murrow Award and an Online Journalism Award. … Read more
Alexandra Smith is our chief strategy officer. She has a decade of experience working at the intersection of audience, product and news, previously working at the media startup WhereBy.Us and local newspapers The (Fort Collins) Coloradoan and the Asbury Park (N.J.) Press. Read more
Alexis Wray is a reporting fellow at The 19th. Alexis is an alum of North Carolina A&T State University with a bachelor’s in journalism and mass communications and a Master of Science in communication and journalism innovation from Syracuse University. She has covered HBCUs and Blackness for over four years, first as a freelance journalist for Scalawag, The Appalachian Voice and The Atlanta Voice and then as a reporter for … Read more
I’m Amanda Becker, The 19th’s Washington correspondent. I like to use my perch to examine the gendered aspects of power and how gender shapes policy. Since policy isn’t made in a vacuum, my favorite type of political stories draw across institutions and movements to examine what I call the “connective tissues” of our democracy. … Read more
Amethyst Holmes is the product and technology fellow at The 19th. Amethyst is a freelance journalist based in Washington, D.C. and has worked in various communications and marketing roles for nearly a decade. She was previously head of content strategy for global sports nonprofit Athletes in Action. She started her career as a general assignment reporter for AL.com/The Huntsville Times. Amethyst holds a Master of Divinity degree … Read more
Andrea Atehortua is our product operations manager. She has over a decade of experience in technology, entrepreneurship, and social enterprises. She’s built products for audiences across the globe at ThoughtWorks, Polymath Ventures, and Ripplematch amongst others. She’s a graduate of Boston University. Read more
Anne Musial is our chief development officer. She has over two decades of experience helping nonprofits and visionary political leaders maximize their success through effective fundraising and communication strategies. Prior to The 19th, she worked in philanthropy and politics at consulting firms in Austin and Los Angeles. Read more
Hey! I’m Annelise McGough, audience editor of news here at The 19th. That basically means I work with reporters, editors and the audience team to help make story decisions that center the needs of you, our reader. Have you seen a story from us on Instagram? I helped with that. Do you recognize my name from our daily newsletter? I produce it. I co-manage a team of three producers who are the best … Read more
I’m Barbara Rodriguez, The 19th’s state politics and voting reporter. I’ve covered politics for several years, first as a statehouse reporter for The Associated Press and then as a politics reporter for The Des Moines Register. In 2019, I was assigned to cover the presidential campaigns of then-California Sen. Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg, then mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Immediately … Read more
I’m Candice Norwood, a reporter for The 19th who covers general assignment news. Since 2016, I’ve covered all things politics and policy for The Atlantic, Bloomberg News, PBS NewsHour and other publications in the Washington, D.C. area. … Read more
I’m Chabeli Carrazana, The 19th’s economy and child care reporter. I’ve been an economy reporter for a decade, getting my start at the Miami Herald and then the Orlando Sentinel. … Read more
Chanel Cain is the audience engagement fellow for The 19th. Hailing from Seattle, Chanel earned a bachelor’s degree in media, journalism and film communications with a minor in playwriting from Howard University. Chanel was previously global content and programming coordinator for the Black-owned streaming service kweliTV. … Read more
I’m Clarice Bajkowski, the 19th’s Chief Creative Officer. I’m passionate about innovative storytelling and creating brands that resonate deeply with communities. My journey in design began with drawing, painting, lettering, and solving design problems—this unique blend of visual arts guides everything I do. With over 20 years in design, advertising, and brand strategy, I’m committed to … Read more
Eden Turner is a reporting fellow for The 19th. Previously, she served as the education and politics reporter for the Times-News in Twin Falls, Idaho. She has also interned at Savannah Morning News and Atlanta News First, and served as editor-in-chief of Tiger’s Roar, Savannah State University’s student newspaper. She is a Savannah State alumna with a bachelor’s in journalism and mass communications and a minor in … Read more
I’m Emily Ramshaw, co-founder and CEO of The 19th. The idea for the 19th was born out of the 2016 election, when Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump following a campaign that far too often centered around questions of a woman candidate’s “electability” or “likeability.” … Read more
Emily Swelgin is our chief product officer. Emily previously worked in visual journalism and user experience design at The Texas Tribune, The Washington Post and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Read more
Hey, y’all. It’s Errin Haines, editor-at-large and founding mother at The 19th. I’m also author of The Amendment newsletter and host of our podcast, also named The Amendment. You may also see me on cable news talking gender and politics as an MSNBC political contributor. … Read more
Faith Smith is our senior director of events. Previously she was the executive producer of Slate Live, where she led all of Slate’s live programming from podcasts and editorial conferences to events on emerging technology with their Future Tense partnership. Before that she was the director of events and external relations at New America. She’s a graduate of UCLA and lives in Northern Virginia. Read more
Fatima Hessabi is our chief financial officer, with more than 17 years of experience in finance and accounting. She holds an MBA from the UC Davis Graduate School of Management and received her undergraduate degree in managerial economics and sociology-organizational studies, also from UC Davis. Read more
Olá! Hola! Hello! I’m Fernanda Santos, managing editor at The 19th. I compare my job to that of a maestro: I make sure all parts of the newsroom are in tune and jamming well together to produce meaningful journalism centered around voices and perspectives that for too long have been overlooked. … Read more
I’m Flora Peir, the news editor at The 19th. My reporters cover a wide range of topics, including LGBTQ+ issues, the courts, the military, maternal health, gun violence and beyond. … Read more
I’m Grace Panetta, a political reporter at The 19th covering the candidates, issues and voters that power our elections. My journey in political journalism began at the end of my sophomore year of college, where I took an internship on Business Insider’s politics desk that turned into a full-time job. I got to cover lots of big stories while honing a beat … Read more
I’m Jasmine Mithani, the data visuals reporter at The 19th. I write stories, make charts and check our math. I collaborate on data-driven projects like our polling partnership with SurveyMonkey and our
Jayo Miko Macasaquit is our chief people officer. Before joining The 19th, Jayo led equity-centered human resources processes at organizations like Mother Jones and the Oakland Public Education Fund. Jayo was a 2019 Equity in Leadership Fellow at the Surge Institute and holds an MFA in Writing from the California College of the Arts. Read more
Jennifer Ajluni is our director of individual philanthropy. Before joining The 19th, she worked at The Texas Tribune, where she was the senior development officer. Prior to that, Jenny worked in political fundraising both nationally and in Texas. Read more
I’m Jennifer Gerson, a reporter at The 19th who has a deep passion for the people who change the conversation, whether that’s politicians or influencers. I love stories that get at how contemporary American politics and popular culture both and prod each other, especially by examining how voters, public servants and advocates alike all seek to iterate and refine their political personas in … Read more
I’m Jessica Kutz, The 19th’s climate and gender reporter. I got into journalism at the ripe old age of 26 after walking into a small local paper and asking for an internship. It quickly spiraled into a staff job and I won three Colorado Press Association awards during my time there. I next sharpened my skills at High Country News, where I wrote and edited stories about environmental and social … Read more
I’m Julia B. Chan, The 19th’s editor in chief. I lead our editorial department in producing journalism that aims to center, serve and inform our audiences. I enjoy every aspect of this work, from story conception to content and engagement strategy; to partnering, publishing and distribution planning. … Read more
I’m Julie Bogen, one of The 19th’s audience engagement editors, and I co-manage the audience team. We run The 19th’s social media accounts, newsletters and parts of the website. My work focuses on 19th events, The Amendment podcast, membership, our audience fellowship track and more. I’ve been with The 19th since July of 2022. … Read more
I’m Karen Hawkins, the story editor at The 19th. I edit three stellar reporters: Sara Luterman (caregiving and aging), Kate Sosin (LGBTQ+) and Nadra Nittle (education). My journalism career has been shaped by my long ancestral line of griots and writers, nosy neighbors and outspoken women. Not for nothing did a former editor call me
Kari Cobham is our director of fellowships. She has almost two decades of experience in journalism as a staff writer, executive producer, and analytics and digital strategy lead, and has bylines in The New York Times, Fortune Magazine, CNN and others. She is from Trinidad and Tobago, and is a graduate of Bethune-Cookman University and the University of Central Florida. Read more
Hiya, I’m Kate Sosin, one of two LGBTQ+ beat reporters here at The 19th and our (very) unofficial chief chaos officer. I try to report stories or angles that you won’t find anywhere else, the ones that disrupt our assumptions about the world and queer people in it. … Read more
Hey there, I’m Lance Dixon, one of the audience engagement producers at The 19th. I help produce a lot of what you see on our social platforms. I also work on some of our newsletters, and am behind much of our Reddit presence and strategy. (Yes, I am Very Online). … Read more
Hey, I’m Lydia Chebbine, the photo editor here at The 19th, which means I’m the one curating the visuals that accompany our stories. I’m Algerian American, have a background in Critical Theory from Pratt Institute, and I kicked off my career back in 2016 at U.S. News & World Report, diving straight into my first conventions and the chaos of that election cycle. The visual … Read more
Hi there, I’m Mariel Padilla. I’m a general assignment reporter at The 19th, where I’ve been since July 2020, just before the organization launched. I’ve written about all kinds of things, from the nursing shortage to child marriage laws to family-building concerns within the military community. I love falling down history rabbit holes, making spreadsheets and writing long explainers that … Read more
Hi! I’m Marissa Nelson, executive coordinator at The 19th. I also work on the team that produces our events, which is how I got my start here in 2022. Most of my work is behind-the-scenes: setting timelines, booking venues and answering attendee questions. At times, I also report and write stories for our site and social platforms, usually about queer community, or the latest … Read more
I’m Megan Kearney, the 19th’s digital producer. As a member of our audience team, I work on the promotion of the stories you’re reading every day and the keywords you’re searching to find them. I specialize in headlines, SEO and production, but my interests are rooted in journalism for all — centering your voices, earning your trust and turning the stories you’re reading into … Read more
I’m Mel Leonor Barclay, a politics reporter at The 19th. My work is fueled by curiosity about the forces that drive everyday people to become politically engaged and shape their political beliefs. So far at The 19th, I’ve reported on how gender, race, ethnicity, economic reality, immigration story and experiences with gun violence have shaped candidates’ decisions to run for office and … Read more
Michelle Rivera is our senior program coordinator for fellowships. She has almost a decade of experience in fellowship management, nonprofit program coordination, international relations and policy, and student and foster care support. She previously led an international mental health journalism fellowship and is pursuing a master’s in business administration. Read more
I’m Myrka Moreno, one of two audience engagement producers at The 19th. It’s a wordy title that basically means I help The 19th’s work reach readers (you!) where they are. Much of that work is accepting that not everyone gets their news in the same way. My job is to figure out the best way to share our journalism that centers the facts of the reporting and the needs of our readers. … Read more
I’m Nadra Nittle, The 19th’s education reporter and a journalist since the aughts. I’ve worked for newspapers including the Inland Valley – Los Angeles Times, El Paso Times, the Santa Fe Reporter and the Press-Telegram and online publications Vox and Civil Eats. I’ve also freelanced for The Guardian, Business Insider, Huffington Post, BBC News and NBC News. … Read more
I’m Orion Rummler, LGBTQ+ reporter for The 19th based in Washington, D.C. My reporting ranges from health policy explainers and court deep dives to statehouse breaking news and features on LGBTQ+ daily life. My priority is to inform our readers about how U.S. politics are shaping the future for LGBTQ+ Americans, and how LGBTQ+ people are shaping the future for all of us. … Read more
Poorvaja Rajagopalan is our development associate of philanthropy. Prior to joining The 19th, Poorvaja worked as a grant writer and federal liaison with the environmental justice organization Anthropocene Alliance. She also has experience as a technical writer and legal writer. She holds degrees in history and public policy from the University of Chicago. Read more
Sabreen Dawud is a reporting fellow for The 19th. Sabreen was previously a freelance writer for AFRO-American Newspapers where she covered social and cultural issues, and editor-in-chief of Six Eleven Magazine, a Black-owned arts magazine. At Howard University, she was a staff writer for The Hilltop and an editor for the magazine Cover 2 Cover. Sabreen is a Howard alumna with a bachelor’s degree in media, journalism, and film … Read more
I’m Sara Luterman, The 19th’s disability and aging reporter. I’m one of only a handful of openly disabled journalists dedicated to covering these issues. It’s exciting to be part of a burgeoning new beat and to be able to help shape it from the ground up. I am proud to help put “nothing about us without us,” a saying from the disability rights movement, into practice in journalism. I … Read more
Hello! I’m Sereena Henderson, membership manager for The 19th. With eight years in nonprofit news, I’m passionate about mission-driven journalism that uplifts underserved and underrepresented communities. A Mississippi native, I am a graduate of The University of Mississippi School of Journalism and New Media. (Hotty Toddy, y’all!) I’m proud to have played a key role in the growth of … Read more
I’m Shefali Luthra, The 19th’s reproductive health reporter. I’ve covered health care for more than a decade, starting at the Texas Tribune, where I wrote about abortion restrictions and the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, before moving to KFF Health News. I’m passionate about covering health care in a way that highlights policy’s human impact. I love hearing from readers about how … Read more
I’m Terri Rupar, the political editor at The 19th, which means I run a team of reporters focused on the people we elect and the electorate who has a chance to vote for them. I worked at The Washington Post for more than 17 years before joining The 19th after the 2020 election. Even before coming on board, I helped edit some of The 19th’s first stories. I was drawn to The 19th’s mission and a … Read more
Vanessa Gregorchik is our product designer. Before joining The 19th, she designed editorial experiences at Upstatement and The Washington Post. She has a background in design and journalism from Northeastern University. Read more
I’m Wynton Wong, multimedia producer at The 19th. I work on a variety of audio and video projects, including The Amendment podcast, as well as our events, making sure that things are looking and sounding good in the room and in our recordings. … Read more
Zurii Conroy is our people operations manager. With nearly two decades of experience, her work has ranged from engaging with youth and supporting seniors, to convening community advisory councils and even collaborating with the White House on a community event. She is a graduate of Howard University and a Senior Certified Human Resources Professional with the Society of Human Resources Management. Read more