Executive Director
John Shertzer
317-920-4780
Email
@johnshertzer

John Shertzer is an established thought leader on organizational development and leadership, providing training and education to dozens of nonprofit and collegiate organizations all over the world including charitable organizations, arts organizations, membership chapters and trade associations. Read More

Before joining SPJ, Shertzer served as founding executive director of the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council in Indianapolis, where he was tapped by Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett to envision, build, secure funding and launch the MYLC, a student advisory board to the mayor, funded by the Lilly Endowment.

Before creating MYLC, Shertzer spent seven years as the chief programs officer at Kiwanis International, and executive director of Kiwanis Youth Programs, Inc., a subsidiary that housed Kiwanis’ membership programs for youth and young adults. In those roles he led Key Club International, one of the largest youth service organizations in the world.

Senior Director of Communications
Jennifer Royer
317-361-4134
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Jennifer joined SPJ HQ in August 2014 as the Society’s first communications strategist. She develops and implements overall strategy for SPJ’s communication and marketing efforts regarding proactively promoting journalism advocacy and SPJ’s role in the profession and democracy. Read More She graduated from Indiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. After working as a newspaper reporter and editor for six years, she made the transition to public relations, working for her alma mater and, later, the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Abby Likens is an award-winning visual journalist with 14 years of experience as a news designer and editor. Abby joined SPJ HQ in July 2022. She has worked for USA Today, newspapers of the USA Today network, Virginia Media and a number of local newspapers. Abby graduated from Ball State University in 2008 with a degree in journalism graphics and specializes in page design, typography, illustration and graphics.

Director of Education
Karyn Nishimura Sneath
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Karyn strategizes and manages the educational offerings of SPJ. The primary programs include annual conference content planning, the Student Leadership Institute (sponsored by the Scripps Howard Foundation) and the Future Leaders Academy (sponsored by the SPJ Foundation). Read More Prior to SPJ, she facilitated strategic planning, created educational experiences and presented day to week-long leadership development training sessions with her association-focused consulting firm, Npower. Prior to that, she worked at Wichita State University, the North American Interfraternity Conference and the National Association for Community Leadership. She is a serial volunteer for organizations focused on leadership, mental health and women’s empowerment.

Quill Editor/Manager of Publications and Awards
Lou Harry
317-920-4786
Email
@LouHarry

Lou Harry’s journalism career includes editing stints at Philadelphia magazine, Indianapolis Monthly and the Indianapolis Business Journal along with freelance work for more than 50 publications and websites. Read More The winner of multiple SPJ awards, Harry has taught writing classes at Temple University, the University of Indianapolis and the Midwest Writers Workshop. He has served as emcee for many fundraisers, has organized conferences and once took a pie in the face from Soupy Sales. During downtime, he enjoys writing plays and trying new board games with friends, family and strangers.

Development Officer
Matt Morris
317-920-4784
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As a kid, Matt and his friend, Walt, whose family owned the local newspaper, cut through the back shop to see Walt's dad. The linotype and press caught his eye. Thus, he followed his mom to Indiana University's School of Journalism. Read More As a cub reporter, he tracked down and interviewed the Rev. Jim Jones' college roommate following the Jonestown Massacre. He worked for the Sturgis, Mich. Journal, was assistant editor of Outdoor Indiana Magazine, and handled publications and public relations for The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. A fundraising opportunity at his alma mater led to a career in higher ed fundraising. He's never forgotten the late IU Prof. Ralph Holsinger, whose class taught him to edit, but not "tinker" with copy, and whose media law class made Professor Kingsfield look like a pussy cat.

Director of Ethics and Diversity
Rod Hicks
317-954-0025
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Rod has experience at numerous news organizations across the country. Most recently, he served as an editor for The Associated Press at its Philadelphia-based East Regional Desk. In this role, he worked on several major national stories including the Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut, the Boston Marathon bombing and the sexual assault trials of Bill Cosby. Read More Hicks previously held editing positions at newspapers in New Jersey, Alabama, Michigan and Missouri. He managed the St. Louis Post-Dispatch news operation at night. He was working the night a gunman entered a suburban city council meeting and killed the mayor, two council members, a police officer and two other people. The coverage was a finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News. Before that he was a suburban editor for The Detroit News.

Communications Specialist & Quill Assistant Editor
Zoë Berg
317-920-4785
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Zoë joined staff in May 2019 as the Communications Coordinator to assist with communication and marketing efforts. She graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a bachelor’s degree in communication with concentrations in journalism and public relations. Read More During her time at the university, she worked on the campus newspaper and for the student-run public relations firm where she deepened her passion for journalism and developed her communication and marketing skills. When she isn’t working, she enjoys traveling, baking and spending time with her friends and pet rabbit.

Staff Accountant
Lyndrey Roberts
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