Promotions and new staff strengthen IRE

Some recent staffing changes at IRE are strengthening the nation’s largest journalism association at a critical time for the industry.

“IRE’s superpower has always been its people,” said Executive Director Diana Fuentes. “At a time when journalism is facing major challenges, investing in a diverse and experienced staff is essential. Our team is committed to IRE’s mission of fostering excellence in investigative journalism and to ensuring our members have the training and resources they need to serve their communities.”

Director of Content Lauren Grandestaff was promoted to deputy executive director. Grandestaff will help Fuentes guide IRE’s strategic direction and long-term sustainability, oversee key operations and continue to serve as director of content for workshops and conferences. A native of Missouri, Grandestaff joined the IRE staff in 2011. She is based in San Antonio, Texas.

Adam Rhodes, training director, has been promoted to managing editor of The IRE Journal, the organization’s online publication for members that shares the work of members and publishes original articles as well as provides tips, tricks and advice for investigative journalists across the globe. Previously, Rhodes was a social justice reporter for Chicago Reader and a reporter for Law360. They are based in Chicago.

Among the new hires is Benét Wilson, a highly respected journalist, mentor and lecturer who will be joining the organization as its newest training director. Wilson was previously lead credit cards writer for Bankrate, director of the Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship and a senior editor and writer for The Points Guy. She serves on the boards of Mercer University’s Center for Collaborative Journalism and the Institute for Independent Journalism. She is based in Baltimore, Maryland.

Aaricka Washington, an award-winning multimedia journalist, joins the team to lead IRE’s marketing and communications initiatives. Before joining IRE, Washington was an associate editor and reporter at LAist, the largest NPR station in Los Angeles. Previously, she was an education reporter at Chalkbeat Indiana and at the Austin American-Statesman. Her work has been published in The Guardian, The New York Times, PBS NewsHour and Time magazine. She is based in Los Angeles.

Krista Sporleder, an experienced organizational operations professional, will lead the IRE Awards and fellowship programs and provide web support as the IRE program coordinator. She most recently worked at the central Human Resources office at the University of Missouri System, where IRE is headquartered, supporting employee programs and institutional processes. Previously, she had roles at The Walt Disney Company focused on customer service and operational support. She is based in Columbia, Missouri.

Wilson is IRE’s first Black female training director. The first Black man and first person of color hired as a training director was Ron Nixon in 2000; he is now director of the Associated Press Local Investigative Journalism Program. 

Diversity has been a hallmark of the IRE staff in recent years; the staff is now half people of color with several who identify as LGBTQ+. More than two-thirds are women.