Philip Merrill College of Journalism | University of Maryland

Pascual Named Executive Director of Casey Journalism Center

For immediate release, Sept. 12, 2006

COLLEGE PARK, Md.— Dean Thomas Kunkel announced today that Patrice Pascual will be the new executive director of the Casey Journalism Center on Children and Families. She has been serving as the center's interim director since Beth Frerking left in March. Pascual joined CJC, based at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, as deputy director in 1999.

"We conducted a national search for this position, and unsurprisingly given CJC's great reputation we had many fine candidates," said Kunkel. "But at the end of the day, the Casey Center's advisory board agreed with me that we had the ideal person in place already." Noting that the center is seeking new partnerships and funding, and to launch new journalism training programs, Kunkel added, "I am confident that the Casey Center is in the best possible hands."

Before coming to CJC, Pascual was a freelance writer and editor, and held several positions at Connecticut Public Television. She holds a master's in journalism from the Merrill College and a bachelor's in international affairs from George Washington University.

With support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Casey Journalism Center inspires and recognizes exemplary reporting on children and families. Since CJC was founded in 1993, thousands of print, online and broadcast journalists have attended its intensive training seminars and relied on it for balanced information and resources. The center also recognizes the best of child/family reporting in its annual Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism contest.

For more information contact: Matthew C. Sheehan at 301.405.8320.