Staff

Julie Drizin

About

Executive Director

Phone: (202) 885-6453

Julie Drizin has served as executive director of Current since 2015. Julie previously served as Director of the Journalism Center on Children and Families at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, where she taught undergraduates and managed the Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism. She has worked in and around public media for three decades, including stints with the Association of Independents in Radio, the National Center for Media Engagement, J-Lab, WETA and WXPN. An award-winning producer and innovator, Julie launched two successful national shows, Democracy Now! and NPR’s Justice Talking.

Karen Everhart

About

Managing Editor

Phone: (202) 885-6414

Karen Everhart is managing editor of Current, supervising a team of staff reporters and editors, freelance contributors, designers and student interns. She joined Current back when Barney and Carmen Sandiego were the big stars of PBS Kids and stayed on to cover every major beat — public TV, CPB and public radio — over two decades as a reporter and senior editor. In 2007, Karen began focusing on public radio’s digital initiatives and how local broadcasters were adapting to the demands of multiplatform media distribution. After hours, she’s into bicycling, cooking for family and friends and live music events.

Mike Janssen

About

Digital Editor

Phone: (202) 885-6419

Mike has held the role of digital editor since 2014. Before becoming editor, he covered public radio and digital initiatives in public media for Current. Mike has also written for a variety of publications as a freelancer, was a Public Media Corps fellow, and has hosted talk and music shows on community radio stations in the Washington, D.C., area. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing banjo, cooking, and making coffee and cocktails.

Austin Fuller

About Austin Fuller

Reporter

Austin Fuller joined Current as a reporter in 2024. He previously reported on restaurants and retailers as a business reporter for the Orlando Sentinel newspaper in Florida. He has also covered entertainment and city government for The Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Julian Wyllie

About

Reporter

Phone: (317) 493-9311

Julian became Current's public television reporter in 2019. His work has appeared in The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Governing Magazine, Politico and the Indianapolis Recorder. When he's not reporting, Julian is likely traveling with friends, building his vinyl collection or being a bunny dad.

Tyler Falk

About

Reporter

Phone: (202) 885-6465

Tyler Falk covers public radio for Current. He has more than 10 years of digital journalism experience at outlets including Grist, The Atlantic Cities and SmartPlanet.

Weslan Hansen

About

Editorial Intern

Weslan Hansen is an editorial intern at Current for the spring of 2024. Previously, she has interned at ABC4 Utah, CNN and the Durango Herald, and she was a news reporter for American University’s student newspaper, The Eagle. Weslan is a senior and will be graduating with dual degrees in journalism and Japanese studies. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, creating playlists, and competing for her university’s debate team.

Laura Taylor

About Laura Taylor

Business Development Manager

Laura Taylor has spent most of her career in public media, beginning as a radio reporter and anchor at WUSF in Tampa, Fla. She then chose development to help sustain public media when she joined WGBH in Boston and continued that path as Development Director for WMNF Community Radio in Tampa for 16 years. Before radio, she began in print journalism and is honored to help build the capacity of Current. Laura is keeping her radio roots as a volunteer DJ and host at WMNF. She is married with one husband, two cats, a 10k+ record collection, and a home tiki bar.

Laura Rogers

About Laura Rogers

Business Manager

Phone: (202) 885-6412

Laura joined Current with both business administration and membership services experience. Since moving from Texas to the Washington, D.C., area, Laura has provided membership and development services, administered grants, and managed business operations for nonprofits such as the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, Resources for the Future, and the National Women's History Museum. Laura has a passion for public media that gives her history, science, culture and current events at her fingertips. In her non-Current time, she volunteers to bring economic development to an underdeveloped area in Maryland as president of the Gateway CDC. She loves dogs, believing that rescues are the best family members to be found, and can occasionally be heard singing classical music or belting out Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer."