Reynolds Center staff
The Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism is based in Phoenix at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. But we are available at BusinessJournalism.org all the time. Look around this site for tips, tools and a network of journalists. Or reach out and contact any of us at the center.
- Andrew Leckey, President
Andrew Leckey was named president of the Reynolds Center and became the Reynolds Chair in Business Journalism in 2009. He was the first director of the center at its launch in 2003. Andrew is a long-time syndicated investment columnist for the Chicago Tribune, a former CNBC anchor and the author or editor of 10 financial books. He received the National Association of Investors Corporation’s “Distinguished Award in Investment Education” and was the first director of the Bloomberg Business Journalism Program at the University of California, Berkeley. He is frequently interviewed on business and business journalism topics, most recently by The New York Times, Newsweek, American Journalism Review and “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.”
E-mail Andrew or 602-496-9186
- Linda Austin, Executive director
A former business editor at The Philadelphia Inquirer, Linda Austin became executive director of the Reynolds Center in 2009. She spent the past decade as a top newsroom leader, serving as the editor of the Lexington Herald-Leader in Kentucky; executive editor of The News-Sentinel in Fort Wayne, Ind.; and managing editor of the News & Record in Greensboro, N.C. Before that, she held a variety of positions in her 12 years at The Inquirer, including graphics editor, assistant managing editor/finance and editor/publisher of the monthly PhillyTech magazine. Her other newspaper credits include the Dallas Times Herald in Texas, The Straits Times of Singapore (as a Luce Scholar) and the Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina. She graduated with highest honors from the University of North Carolina School of Journalism. She is a 2009 fellow in the Punch Sulzberger Executive News Media Leadership Program at Columbia University’s Journalism School.
E-mail Linda or 602-496-9187
- Robin J. Phillips, Web managing editor
Robin J. Phillips became the Reynolds Center’s Web managing editor in August 2009, after working as online community manager
for azcentral.com, the Web site of The Arizona Republic in Phoenix. She has also served as deputy business editor at The Republic and Newsday, as well as editor for BusinessWeek Online’s small business channel. Robin was an adjunct professor of new media at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York and has presented at various journalism organizations on the use of social media as a reporting tool. She holds a degree in journalism and political science from the University of Hawaii.
E-mail Robin or 602-496-9190
- Micah Jamison, Web developer
Micah Jamison became the Reynolds Center’s Web developer in August 2009. He’s responsible for devising creative solutions to deliver online training and resources at BusinessJournalism.org. Previously, he worked with cutting-edge technology at Bank of America, PowerLytix LLC (now part of Barclays Bank) and Global Edge Marketing, all in Spokane, Wash. , and as a consultant developing interactive Web sites for diverse businesses. He enjoys traveling to exotic places, recently returning from a five-week backpacking trip through Ecuador.
E-mail Micah or 602-496-5127
- Kelly Carr, Senior online producer
Kelly writes and edits stories for BusinessJournalism.org, manages daily content flow to the site and 
works with freelancers around the country. She also is responsible for organizing and editing the Reynolds Center’s training materials, as well as participating in its workshops. She joined the staff in December 2007 as an assistant Web editor. Kelly has experience as a reporter for several newspapers, most recently The Arizona Republic, and has been an adjunct professor at Arizona State University’s Cronkite School. She has a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction from Goucher College and holds a degree in journalism and mass communication from West Virginia University. Kelly also was a fellow at The Poynter Institute and a contributing writer for Cancer Stories: Lessons in Love, Loss & Hope.
E-mail Kelly or 602-496-5439
- David Hill, Program manager
David is responsible for managing and reconciling daily financial accounts, making budget forecasts, assuring compliance with grant requirements, and serving as the primary contact for workshop hosts, trainers and attendees. Before joining the center in April 2008, he spent six years as the business manager for student government and the Rebel Yell at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. There, he managed a $1.5 million budget and the awards he received included Professional Staff Member of the Year. Before that, he was an instructional specialist for the Arizona State University Learning Resource Center. He holds a B.S. in economics from ASU.
E-mail Dave or 602-496-9188
- Cassandra Nicholson, Program coordinator
Cassandra Nicholson joined the Center as program coordinator in October 2009. She is responsible for registrations a
nd workshop materials and coordinates entries for the Barlett & Steele Awards for Investigative Journalism. Before joining the Center, Cassandra worked at Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business. She participated in the NASA Space Grant Internship program at the School of Earth and Space Exploration, and later went on to work as a program aide for the Mars Space Flight Facility. Cassandra holds a B.A. in Journalism from ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
E-mail Cassandra or 602-496-9189
The Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism is headquartered at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Communication at Arizona State University. The Center was launched in 2003 at the American Press Institute with a grant from the Las Vegas, Nev.-based Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. It sponsors daylong workshops, online seminars and a Web site devoted to covering business better. The Cronkite School, named for the long-time CBS news anchor, serves more than 1,200 undergraduate and master’s journalism students.
