Patrice Burke Pascual became the center's executive director in 2006. She joined the team as deputy director in 1999. A former freelance writer and editor, she is editor of the center's magazine, The Children's Beat. Pascual previously worked in the programming, creative services and development departments of Connecticut Public Television. She also co-authored a chapter on children's television in the "Handbook of Children and the Media" (Sage Publications, 2000), edited by Dorothy and Jerome Singer. She earned a bachelor's degree in international affairs from George Washington University and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland's Phillip Merrill College of Journalism. 301.699.9336; ppascual@journalismcenter.org

Carolyn Ruff Spellman is the center's deputy director. She edits the Journalism Center Summary and directs content for the Web site. Before joining the Journalism Center in 2004, Spellman worked as a journalist for 10 years. She has freelanced for People magazine; written numerous feature articles for The Washington Post and other publications; and oversaw a national literacy program. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Virginia Tech and a master of arts from St. John's College in Santa Fe, N.M. 301.699.9334; cspellman@journalismcenter.org

Betty Pearce Batty is the center's finance director. She oversees the center's budget and coordinates fundraising opportunities. Batty has extensive experience in event planning, human resources and advertising; she joined the center in 1999. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. 301.699.5134; bbatty@journalismcenter.org

Shannon Machado is the center's program coordinator. Prior to joining the center in 2007, Machado was the program coordinator for Street Law, a nonprofit organization educating youth about law, democracy and human rights. Previously, she was a member of the operations team for several youth conferences for the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. Machado received her bachelor's degree in psychology from The George Washington University in 2003 and worked as a teacher/counselor providing individual and group counseling to adjudicated youth in a residential treatment facility. 301.699.5133; smachado@journalismcenter.org

Renee Davidson is a part-time research assistant who joined the center in 2006. She assists in e-mail and editorial support, database maintenance, and coordination of conferences and the Casey Medals program. A junior women’s studies and American studies major at the University of Maryland, Davidson is interested in social justice and cultural criticism. 301.699.5133; rdavidson@journalismcenter.org

Barbara Gref is a part-time consultant who produces the daily news summary. Gref has worked more than 20 years as a journalist, most recently as owner and associate publisher of an award-winning community weekly in the Catskills. While head of the education team at the Times Herald-Record in New York’s Hudson Valley, she led the Children of Change project, which won an honorable mention in the 1997 Casey Medals contest and was honored by the Associated Press. Gref has taught college journalism, is an occasional program host at National Public Radio affiliate WJFF-FM and is a founding member of the Mike Levine Journalism Workshop, a project dedicated to innovations in narrative storytelling. 301.699.5133; summary@journalismcenter.org