Meet The Staff

The Host

Lynn Pasquerella - A celebrated philosopher and medical ethicist, Dr. Pasquerella is President of Mount Holyoke College.

Pasquerella majored in philosophy and graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Mount Holyoke in 1980. She received a full fellowship to Brown University, where she earned a Ph.D. in philosophy.

Pasquerella has written extensively in the areas of medical ethics, theoretical and applied ethics, metaphysics, public policy, and the philosophy of law. She also is a passionate advocate for women’s education and credits her training as an ethicist with helping her reach beyond the academy to engage communities—both locally and around the globe—on issues of women’s empowerment. Previously, she was the principal investigator on a $3.5 million National Science Foundation grant to promote the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, and math. Since 2008, she has served as project leader for a research team with the Africa Center for Engineering Social Solutions, working to improve the lives of women in an AIDS-ravaged section of Kenya.

Executive Producer

Alan Chartock - Alan Chartock is President and CEO of WAMC. He was educated at Hunter College and American University and received his Ph.D. in political science from New York University. Dr. Chartock is Professor Emeritus of Communication and Political Science at the State University of New York, a syndicated columnist and author, and a regular commentator for both radio and television. Chartock developed two of the state's largest and most successful student internship programs. He is the founder and publisher of The Legislative Gazette, an award-winning newspaper staffed by professional journalists who teach a full complement of students their craft each semester, and the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including the State University of New York Chancellor's Award of Excellence in Teaching, the New York State/United University Professions Award for Professional Excellence, and the SUNY/Council Award for Educational Achievement and dozens of awards from his radio colleagues. He has been awarded three honorary doctorates and recently received the Radio Television Digital News Association’s Edward R. Murrow Award.

Producers

Ian Pickus - A lifelong resident of the Capital Region, Pickus has been with WAMC as a producer since late 2008. He began working on Morning Edition and now also produces The Capitol Connection, Congressional Corner, and various other WAMC programs. Ian also serves as Morning Edition and Weekend Edition anchor. An avid fan of sports and music, Ian holds a BA in English and journalism and an MA in English, both from the University at Albany. He recently received an Edward R. Murrow Award for producing an hour-long interview with Alan Chartock and Arlo Guthrie.

Katie Britton - Katie grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY and is a graduate of the University at Albany with a BA in Writing/English. She is the News and Programming Director of WAMC and in that capacity oversees the News Department and programming schedule; produces The Book Show; and contributes content to The Roundtable and National Productions. She has won several awards, including two Edward R. Murrow Awards, four Associated Press Awards, and six Communicator Awards.

Brad Cornelius – As the newest member of the Academic Minute team, Brad joined the WAMC staff in September 2010. A native Floridian, he began his career working in television in Jacksonville, where he served as coordinator/producer for a statewide news network covering such events as the election of 2000. Brad attended the University of North Florida where he earned a MA in History and a MA in European History.

Recent Installments

Academic Minute Archive