Carolina Public Press is an independent nonprofit news organization dedicated to nonpartisan, in-depth and investigative news built upon the facts and context North Carolinians need to know. Our award-winning, breakthrough journalism dismantles barriers and shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing our state’s more than 11 million residents.
Carolina Public Press is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization and relies upon the support of individual donors, foundations and sponsors/underwriters to operate.
Contact Us
Carolina Public Press
3915 Beryl Road, Suite 130
Raleigh, NC 27607
Main phone: (919) 590-5891
To call a staff member, see their individual emails below.
Staff and Contributors
The staff and contributors of Carolina Public Press are located across North Carolina.
Kate Denning, Reporting Intern
kdenning@carolinapublicpress.org
Kate Denning is a reporting intern covering education. She is a 2025 graduate of NC State University where she studied communication and religious studies. A North Carolina native, she is originally from Goldsboro but primarily grew up in the Wilmington area. Her work has previously appeared in The Assembly, News of Orange County and Technician, NC State’s student newspaper, where she served as the editor-in-chief. She currently lives in Raleigh.
Tara George, Bookkeeping and Operations
tgeorge@carolinapublicpress.org
Tara George graduated with honors from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in applied design. A desire to be more involved and make a difference in the community brought her to the nonprofit world, where she has worked in development, project and office management for organizations including Land of Sky Regional Council and OnTrack Financial Education and Counseling. Tara assists with community engagement planning and the office and financial systems for Carolina Public Press.
Lisa Lopez, Development Director
llopez@carolinapublicpress.org
Lisa Lopez has more than 20 years experience in the nonprofit sector. She joined Carolina Public Press after three years at Development by Design, LLC, a development strategy consulting firm she helped found. Prior to launching her own company, Lisa served for 14 years in development at the Center for Creative Leadership, a top-ranked global provider of leadership development. She began her fundraising career at the American Red Cross Cape Fear Chapter and went on to seek and secure major gifts for the UNC Wilmington Center for Marine Science. She also has worked in both production and advertising/sales in TV and radio news organizations. Lisa oversees fundraising development for Carolina Public Press across North Carolina.
Sarah Lowery, Audience Director
slowery@carolinapublicpress.org
Sarah Lowery oversees audience outreach, newsletters, social media and content partnerships with other news media organizations for Carolina Public Press. She has been in the field of marketing and public relations for more than a decade, having most recently served as director of communications for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. Prior to that role, she spent over eight years with Explore Asheville. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in journalism and worked as a reporter early in her career. Sarah joined Carolina Public Press as audience director in March 2025. Sarah grew up in Catawba County and currently resides in Hendersonville.
Sarah Michels, Staff Reporter
smichels@carolinapublicpress.org
Sarah Michels reports on politics and elections issues in North Carolina for Carolina Public Press. The Louisville, Kentucky, native graduated with degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Kentucky in 2022. She’s previously reported for the Bowling Green (Kentucky) Daily News as a Report for America corps member covering regional news and state politics. In her free time, Michels enjoys exploring the outdoors, going to concerts and checking out the local library’s offerings. She resides in Raleigh.
Jane Winik Sartwell, Staff Reporter
jsartwell@carolinapublicpress.org
Jane Winik Sartwell reports on health and economic issues in North Carolina for Carolina Public Press. Jane has a 2024 master’s degree from Columbia Journalism School and a 2022 bachelor’s degree in photography from Bard College. Her master’s thesis at Columbia was an in-depth look at New York City’s overdose crisis. Her work has appeared in The Red Hook (N.Y.) Daily Catch, Baltimore Fishbowl, Mile High Sticking, and Boundary Stones, the website of Washington, D.C.’s PBS station. Jane resides in Wilmington.
Frank Taylor, Executive Director and Acting Editor
ftaylor@carolinapublicpress.org
Frank Taylor became Carolina Public Press executive director in 2024. He had served as CPP editor in chief since 2023 and was previously CPP managing editor from 2015 to 2022. Frank has worked in the news industry as an editor, reporter and columnist since 1994. His previous work includes stints with The Tampa Tribune, Florida Today, The Mecklenburg Times (Charlotte), Lincoln Times-News (Lincolnton), The Fayetteville Observer and The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC). Frank has a bachelor’s degree in history from Wheaton College of Illinois and master’s degree in digital media from the University of North Carolina School of Journalism and Media. He has also done graduate work in history at Florida State and Western Carolina, with his research focusing on North Carolina in the American Revolution. He taught history as an adjunct professor at Brevard College from 2018 to 2022. Frank has won many awards throughout his news career, including for investigative reporting, freedom of information, political reporting, local government reporting, headlines and commentary. He resides with his family in Hillsborough.
Lucas Thomae, Staff Reporter
lthomae@carolinapublicpress.org
Lucas Thomae joined Carolina Public Press as a staff reporter in October 2024 after serving as a reporting intern for several months. Lucas’ reporting focuses on issues of government accountability and transparency. Lucas, a Greensboro native, is a 2024 graduate of UNC Chapel Hill where he studied journalism and data science. Before coming to CPP he worked as a reporting intern for NC Health News. His byline has also appeared in the News & Observer, INDY Week and WRAL. He currently lives in Raleigh.
Contributors
Calvin Adkins, Photographer
Calvin Adkins is a freelance photographer whose work has appeared in a number of publications in Eastern North Carolina including the now-defunct Daily Southerner in Tarboro, where Calvin worked as a reporter and photograph in the 1990s. Calvin is based in Edgecombe County.
Melissa Sue Gerrits, Photographer
Melissa Sue Gerrits is a freelance photographer with a degree in photojournalism from Randolph Community College and has worked in South Dakota, Arkansas and North Carolina. Her work for CPP and other publications has won numerous awards. She is based in Catawba County.
Jack Igelman, Lead Environment Reporter
Jack Igelman is a freelance reporter with a master’s degree from Montana State University, where he studied natural resource economics. His main interest is in conservation and environmental stories that on the people, places and institutions involved with managing the state’s natural resources. Co-author of “Trekking the Southern Appalachians” and currently teaching economics at Warren Wilson College, Jack’s reporting has appeared in dozens of local, regional and national publications. His reporting for CPP on national forests and other environmental issues has won multiple awards. Jack is based in Buncombe County.
Colby Rabon, Photographer
Colby Rabon is a freelance photographer with a bachelor’s degree in technical photography from Appalachian State University. Colby currently shoots a range of material from documentary projects to news, sports, portraiture and more and has had work featured in local and national publications. Colby is based in Buncombe County.
Mariano Santillan, Graphic artist
Mariano Santillan is a freelance graphic artist and illustrator whose work for Carolina Public Press includes infographics and lead illustrations for major reporting projects. Mariano’s work has received multiple awards from the North Carolina Press Association. Mariano is based in Cumberland County.
Carolina Public Press Board of Directors
Victoria Hicks, President
Calvin Hall, Vice President
Christopher Chung, Treasurer
(currently vacant), Secretary
Nancy Nehls Nelson
Rich Lee
Carolina Public Press is a member of the N.C. Open Government Coalition, Institute for Nonprofit News, Local Independent Online News Publishers and the N.C. Press Association. We are also members of permanent news collaborations at the local and national level, including the Rural News Network. Certain staff members and contributors are members of Investigative Reporters and Editors and the Society of Environmental Journalists.