Meet Our Volunteers

Volunteer
Richard Willing
Freelance reporter and editor who wrote and re-wrote for local, state and national publications for over 25 years. Also served as press secretary for Director of National Intelligence and strategic communications lead for CIA history staff and National Media Exploitation Center. Has taught college application essay writing to high school students from Brooklyn, N.Y., Baltimore and Prince George’s County, MD. Contributor to Washington Post, New York Times, USA TODAY and Journal of U.S. Intelligence Studies. Currently, a candidate for M.A. in American history at George Mason University.

Volunteer
Claire Thorntonill
produces USA TODAY 1619 Project audio content and the "For The Win" sports podcast. She also reports original audio news stories for the USA TODAY Network. Her focuses have included addiction, patient safety, and special education. While studying at Princeton University, Claire was a senior editor of The Daily Princetonian, the university’s paper of record. She oversaw everything from digital content, to photo coverage, to the paper’s social media presence. Claire grew up in San Antonio and she comes from a family of native Texans going back generations. She speaks Spanish and is learning Russian. She is working with Urban Health Media Project students on projects related to racial disparities, mental health, and suicide.