Sara Shipley Hiles
Associate Professor, University of Missouri
2022 Board Candidate, Academic Category
Dear SEJ Members,
SEJ recently helped me with one of the biggest challenges of my career — securing a $1.4 million grant to start the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, a new collaborative reporting network covering agriculture, water and other environmental issues across the basin. Without the knowledge base and professional connections of SEJ, I wouldn’t have been able to dream of this network or bring it to life. I'm thrilled that SEJ has an ongoing role in the project, helping to train the next generation of environmental journalists at upcoming conferences.
I am so thankful for this organization, of which I’ve been a member more than 20 years. SEJ has seen me through different stages of my career, from staff writer to freelancer to journalism professor and now a startup newsroom leader. I am dedicated to seeing SEJ grow and thrive for many years to come.
After serving three years on the board, mostly during the pandemic, I have a much better understanding of what it means to be a board member. I greatly appreciate the leadership and deep knowledge of our staff and fellow board members, along with the many volunteers who make SEJ work. I’ve learned a great deal about nonprofit finances and management, and I have benefitted from extensive DEI trainings along with the rest of the board.
As a result, I have a fresh sense of where this organization can and should go in the future. In order to stay relevant, serve our communities and cover the most important stories on the planet, SEJ is taking steps toward change. Like many organizations, we need to do some deep work on DEI. That means examining where our policies and practices should be updated so that we can center Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all of our work. We should continue evolving as an organization to serve the needs of members, including students. And we should be open to strategic opportunities for growth, like our innovative Fund for Environmental Journalism.
I’m running for the Academic seat because of my role teaching journalism at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and working with emerging leaders in the field of environmental journalism. I love helping young people discover how they can do interesting and important work that matters. In addition to overseeing the Ag & Water Desk, I teach classes on writing and reporting, mentor students, conduct training, organize events, do research and writing, and advise the student group Science, Health & Environmental Journalism @ Mizzou. I also freelance occasionally. I am a fierce advocate for teachers and students. Having worn enough hats now to open a millinery shop, I am an advocate for the needs of all members as well.
I would be humbled and grateful for your vote to continue serving SEJ. Thank you.
Sara
https://journalism.missouri.
https://agwaterdesk.org/our-
https://twitter.com/saraship
Advertisement 
