We’re delighted to (re-)introduce Kerry Hensley, a planetary scientist who has recently joined the AAS staff as our Communications Specialist. You can expect to see Kerry in person at future AAS meetings in her capacity as the AAS Deputy Press Officer. In addition, Kerry will serve as co-editor of AAS Nova — so you’ll be seeing her byline on research highlights in the near future!
AAS Communications Specialist Kerry Hensley
Kerry is not new to the AAS’s ranks: You may remember her from her term as the inaugural AAS Media Fellow (a quarter-time position for graduate students in the astronomical sciences who wish to cultivate their science communication skills, a position currently held by Tarini Konchady). Over the span of her 1.5-year fellowship term, Kerry helped to plan and run press conferences at AAS meetings, assisted in operating the AAS press release distribution service, and wrote and published articles here on AAS Nova.
Since concluding her fellowship term at the AAS, Kerry was selected as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellow and served as a science journalist for Voice of America, writing articles and scripting, voicing, and producing radio and video stories. Her past science communication pursuits include freelance writing (with bylines in publications like Sky & Telescope magazine), presenting planetarium shows, and writing and editing for Astrobites.
Kerry earned her BA in astrophysics and Chinese at Williams College and will shortly defend her PhD dissertation work in planetary atmospheres at Boston University. We’re excited to welcome her on board!