Deb Parker

Deb Parker

Senior News Director, Public Health

As senior news director of public health, I am excited to promote Washington University’s first new school in 100 years: a planned School of Public Health, launching in fall 2026.  I’ve spent most of my career at Washington University, starting as editor of the Record and then editing Outlook magazine at the School of Medicine […]

Leah Shaffer

Leah Shaffer

Senior News Director, Science

I’m a science writer covering research from the McKelvey School of Engineering and brain sciences. Prior to joining the university, I was a freelance science journalist for more than a decade, with stories appearing in the news sections of the journal PNAS, Nature Medicine, Discover magazine and NOVA, among other publications. I am a member of both the National […]

Sara Savat

Sara Savat

Senior News Director, Business and Social Sciences

As a senior news director for business and social sciences, I write about business, political science, religion (and their intersection), sociology, education, anthropology, philosophy and linguistics. I have a passion for storytelling and enjoy working with our world-renowned faculty and members of the media to bring research to life for the public. Prior to joining […]

Diane Toroian Keaggy

Diane Toroian Keaggy

Senior News Director, Campus Life

I cover the amazing students who bring life to this campus, the projects and partnerships that connect us to St. Louis and the traditions that make WashU special. I especially enjoy writing about Washington University’s many efforts to improve K-12 education in the St. Louis region. I am an alum myself, graduating with degrees in […]

Susan Killenberg McGinn

Susan Killenberg McGinn

Assistant Vice Chancellor for News and Media Relations

I started in the Office of Public Affairs as a news writer in 1983 — aka the dark ages, when typewriters and mimeograph machines were key to producing news releases. A year later, I took over as editor for seven years of the university newspaper, the Record, which was then a weekly eight-page printed tabloid. […]

Liam Otten

Liam Otten

Senior News Director, Arts and Humanities

The beauty of a university campus is that everyone has passions. Everyone has themes, topics and questions — the more unsettled the better — to which they have dedicated their lives. There is nothing idle about academic interest. As senior news director for arts and humanities, I report on the research, activities and accomplishments of […]

Neil Schoenherr

Neil Schoenherr

Senior News Director, Law and Social Work

When I’m not busy celebrating the Chicago Cubs first World Series win since 1908, I work with the WashU Brown School and School of Law as senior news director. I help plan and implement media relations strategies for the schools, work on strategic communications plans, write and distribute press releases, assist with faculty op-ed pieces, […]

Kelly Wiese Niemeyer

Kelly Wiese Niemeyer

Senior News Editor, Record Editor

I have loved crafting stories since I was a child, and knew by 12 years old that I wanted a career focused on words, writing and storytelling. Lucky for me, there’s no shortage of great stories to share about the amazing research, incredible people and intriguing events at Washington University. As the editor for the […]

Brittney Wheeler

Brittney Wheeler

Communications Specialist

As communications specialist, I provide editorial support to our talented news team. I write about WashU people and events, shared in The Source. I also ensure that university events are shared with the WashU community through the Happenings at WashU events calendar. A St. Louis native, I earned my master’s in media communications from Webster University.  When I’m not […]

Talia Ogliore

Talia Ogliore

Senior News Director for Science

I write about science for Washington University, including research in chemistry, physics, biology, earth and planetary sciences and math. I have been writing about science topics for private and public universities for more than 7 years.  I previously worked as the communications director for Tetra Tech, one of the largest engineering firms in the country. […]