The Reynolds School is proud to introduce Kathleen Masterson as a Reynolds professor of science communication.

Masterson is an award-winning multimedia journalist who worked for NPR for several years and had work published on Marketplace, Grist, PBS NOVA and other NPR affiliates, including WBUR’s Here and Now.

Masterson was awarded a national Edward. R. Murrow award for her story covering the wave of immigrants fleeing the U. S. through Canada in 2017. She was also the digital producer for an NPR series covering universities’ failure to provide justice for campus rapes, which won a Peabody award. She will work with the Hitchcock Project for Visualizing Science at the Reynolds School, including teaching a news studio class to launch a science podcast and magazine in fall 2019.

“Creating engaging and accurate media stories about science is not only fun, but it’s critical work,” Masterson said. “It informs the decisions we make about our health, our communities and our climate. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to teach these skills and help Reynolds School students develop multimedia science stories.”

Associate dean Donica Mensing said Masterson’s energy and professional expertise is an asset to the school. “She has so many great ideas for building the program based on the work she has produced for multiple media outlets,” Mensing said. “We are excited to have her join the school and look forward to new classes and projects.”

Masterson holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she focused on science journalism and a dual undergraduate major in environmental studies and English from Bowdoin College.