K Lee Herring Email & Phone Number

Germantown, Md, Us

Germantown, Maryland, United States

Science Writer & Editor - Clients include (MIT/Harvard) Broad Institute, (Eric & Wendy) Schmidt Futures, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Center of Excellence for Neuroscience and Neurology, National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. President's National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, American Sociological Association, Editage, Cactus Communications, individual academic scholars, and others.

Ft. Detrick, Maryland

Worked as a full-time, temporary medical writer on contract with Aotek, LLC, supporting the Office of Regulated Activities at the US Army Medical Research and Development Command in Frederick, MD.

Silver Spring, Md

On detail as a Press Officer in the Commissioner's office, I responded to media inquiries, drafted and edited press releases, wrote the Commissioner's talking points, and composed and distributed the agency's primary daily press release on COVID-19. As a senior writer-editor in the Office of Regulatory Affairs I wrote and edited a variety of materials including reports, news articles, operational and programmatic documents, internal communications plans, speeches, presentations, research summaries, talking points, FAQs, and key messages. I also implemented and managed communications projects and campaigns including associated strategic planning.

Phoenix

Under the terms of a temporary position funded by a supplemental communications grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), I wrote research summary material for the Center for Nanotechnology in Society, a $13-million NSF research center on emerging technologies.

Arlington, Va

I composed formal speeches, commemorative lectures, commencement addresses, talking points, press responses, video scripts, and other significant statements as the speechwriter for the Director and Deputy Director of this independent federal science-funding agency. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the nation's primary source of support for fundamental research in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and related education/workforce development. Early in my tenure, well-received speeches led to work on high-profile events, including remarks at the White House (eg, National Medals of Science and Technology, Waterman Award, Vannevar Bush Award) and an event hosted by the First Lady. By the end of two years, I had become the primary speechwriter of the Director, for whom I had already produced remarks for his first two public appearances before the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, plenary sessions of the Council of Graduate Schools, Association of American Universities (ie, Presidents, Senior Research Officers), and the Council for Undergraduate Research, among dozens of other audiences of national STEM leaders/policymakers. I ghostwrote an Aug. 2011 SCIENCE magazine editorial and op-eds and replies published in key science magazines (eg, NAS's ISSUES IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY). Broad expertise (eg, in legislative/congressional affairs, strategic communications) yielded additional diverse assignments (eg, spearheading cross-agency development of official public outreach publications, congressional testimony, "elevator speech" explanations of sensitive research, editing the SCIENCE360 and NSF CURRENT newsletters, and writing widely circulated NSF WEEKLY WIRE stories). Recognition of my editing and public relations acumen led NSF and OLPA leadership to: (1) assign me to address long-standing quality-control issues in Public Affairs products, and (2) invite me to plan and execute nationwide public outreach for the Director.

Washington, Dc

I directed the communications, public affairs, and media relations activities of this national society of 15,000 academic and professional sociologists, managing a budget of about $2.5 million, and, in this work I was responsible for science policy advocacy, speechwriting, public speaking, and report writing. I was instrumental in positioning the ASA for influence among national policymakers and positively affected ASA’s image in the national science community and on Capitol Hill. I ghostwrote the Executive Officer’s policy-focused bimonthly newsletter columns, which were well received among the society’s leadership, members, and external policy audiences. I served as Co-Chair of a working group of the AAAS’s Human Rights Program, 2008-2010. I succeeded in getting ASA prominent mention on NBC’s "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" TV show and established a successful track record in branding “sociological science” in major media. I was instrumental in growing membership, record-breaking annual meeting attendance, and ever-increasing website usage by ASA members, public citizens, and journalists. I developed first official media relations office. As lead editor of the ASA website, I initiated the development and creation of a critically needed Content Management System and guided its implementation.

Washington, Dc

Directed the public and media relations of this national society of 5,800 private engineering firms. Oversaw a $2.5-million budget. Served as Executive Editor of a bimonthly, four-color business magazine American Consulting Engineer, which I transformed and repositioned as a dynamic industry publication, re-branded as Engineering Inc. Managed contracts with a private glossy magazine publisher, large PR firm, and several consultants. Conducted a successful research-based analysis of membership and policy audiences and initiated the first name change of this 100-year-old, $20-million-budget nonprofit, formerly named “American Consulting Engineers Council.” Led an associated nationwide research-based organizational assessment and planned a major nationwide re-branding campaign designed to enhance strategic influence with policy audiences for this very traditional organization, whose member firms manage engineering projects worth $200 billion per year. Initiated the Sightseer’s Guide to Engineering (www.engineeringsights.org/), featured on CNN TV. Chaired National Engineers Week 2000, a nationwide, 50-year-old public outreach effort, which culminated in CNN coverage and successful National Press Club event, broadcast by C-SPAN, that featured Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong unveiling the 20th century’s top engineering achievements.

Arlington, Va

Coordinated the public and media relations of the Education and Human Resources Directorate as well as divisions of the Computer and Information Science and Engineering Directorate. Served as spokesperson on STEM education for the agency and National Science Board. Drafted Science magazine editorial for NSF Director. NSF was a $6-billion federal R&D agency, and this position was located in the Office of the Director within the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs. I was recruited under the terms of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act to serve a temporary rotation.

Washington, Dc

Developed and directed the communications department of this new scientific society and served as editor of its monthly magazine. Developed new publications and innovative internet-based subscriber publications. Responsibilities included management of a $500K-budget; contract solicitation/negotiation; supervision of staff and freelancers; management of media relations, peer-reviewed journals, and Publications Committee; and marketing of publications. The society’s journals achieved ranks of 8th and 16th for impact on the field, according to published rankings of the Institute for Scientific Information.

Washington, Dc

Advocated on Capitol Hill and in Executive Branch to promote federally supported basic research, particularly that of the National Science Foundation. Wrote congressional testimony, position papers, comments to agencies, and legislative language; served on committees of national groups (e.g., Coalition for National Science Funding, Coalition for the Public Understanding of Science).

Graduate Studies, Psychology - Learning & Memory

Activities and Societies: Psi Chi Honor SocietyStudied learning and memory in rodents.

Ba, Experimental Psychology

Activities and Societies: Sailing ClubParticipated in the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and the Tulane Sailing Club