Executive Director Pauline Arrillaga
In addition to her role at NCDJ, Pauline Arrillaga is executive editor of the prestigious Carnegie-Knight News21 program, housed at ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She works with top journalism students from universities across the U.S. to produce in-depth projects for major media outlets. Arrillaga joined the Cronkite School in 2019 to launch a program to increase reporting of health disparities in underserved communities. Prior to that, she spent 27 years as a writer and editor at The Associated Press. Arrillaga is known as a mentor and coach to journalists across the globe and a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
She can be reached at pauline.arrillaga@asu.edu
Former Director Kristin Gilger
Kristin Gilger is the Reynolds Professor in Business Journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Gilger helped bring the NCDJ to the Cronkite School and provides administrative oversight for the organization. She has served as interim dean, senior associate dean and associate dean at Cronkite. Previously, she was director of Student Media at ASU after a 21-year career in newspapers, including editing roles at The Times-Picayune in New Orleans, La.; the Salem Statesman Journal in Oregon; and The Arizona Republic in Phoenix. She conducts training at newspapers and for newspaper associations nationally and internationally.
She can be reached at kristin.gilger@asu.edu
Inaugural Director Jake Geller
Jake Geller completed his Masters of Mass Communication with an emphasis in print journalism and public relations at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in May 2010.
Geller received his undergraduate degree from the Cronkite School in broadcasting in 2002 and worked professionally in television news writing and production before going back to school for his graduate degree. Among his positions were those of freelance assistant producer at KTVK-TV and video editor with the city of Phoenix.
Geller’s own disability has motivated his academic research, which focuses on how the media cover people with disabilities and disability issues. He has been active in the disability community and adaptive sports for people with disabilities. Geller is co-founder and head coach of the ASU Sailing Club and has led the club for the past four years. One of the club’s missions is to bring together people with and without disabilities to sail together on an even playing field.
Geller helped launch the National Center on Disability and Journalism at the Cronkite School and continues to serve in an advisory role. He can be reached at jgeller@asu.edu.
Cronkite student Annie Woods has a profile of Geller and his experience with muscular dystrophy.
Below is a video of Geller talking about the changes wrought by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the challenges he and others with disabilities still face.