Stella Mayerhoff, a scientist-turned-journalist, covers Minnesota’s Mississippi River headwaters region for KAXE/KBXE. Previously, Stella wrote for Mongabay, Eos, the San Jose Mercury News, the Monterey Herald, Georgia State University Research Magazine, and Stanford University’s Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute. She was a Taylor/Blakeslee Fellow through the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing and earned a master’s degree in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She also holds a master’s degree in psychology from Georgia State University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and anthropology from the University of Wisconsin. She’s a regional finalist for the Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Award in Science/Environment Reporting. Stella enjoys spending her time with her cat, TBD, who owes his perfectly odd name to a moment of writer’s block.
Beat: Minnesota’s Mississippi River headwaters region
Northern Minnesota is home to the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Water is central to the region’s economy and culture, and everything that impacts the river here flows downstream. This reporter covers a wide variety of topics about the river basin, including agriculture, mining and lumber, tourism, environmental policy, recreation, and how Minnesotans and Indigenous communities live with and celebrate the river. The reporter uses writing, audio, data and more to produce thoughtful, enriching coverage.