BA, English, Marymount College, Tarrytown, New York; MA, Communications, Fairfield University. Formerly: over 20 years as journalist covering national and international issues; TV anchor, Washington; White House correspondent during Reagan administration, ABC News; communications strategist to three US cabinet secretaries; Executive Director, Family and Medical Leave Commission; Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, US Department of Labor; until 2012, Vice-President and Director, Journalism Initiative, Special Initiatives and Strategy and Vice-President, External Affairs, Carnegie Corporation. Currently, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, UNC, Chapel Hill. Member, Board of Trustees, BBC World Service Trust. Recipient of awards including: Emmies, for reporting from Lebanon and for cover story; three National Women's Political Caucus awards; DC's Women in Communications Matrix award.