“In this position, Renae will manage a team of reporters writing about racial dynamics and the rapid social change across the country, as well as oversee About US, a twice-weekly newsletter dedicated to ongoing conversations about race and identity. She will also collaborate with the other America editors to coordinate coverage of major national news events.

“Renae joins us from Features, where she was an editor on the Style desk, working on stories about the first lady, pop culture, politics and relationships.”

For 20 years, she served as a business reporter and editor at the Post. Previously, she reporter for The Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press.

Merle graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and earned a master’s in journalism and a master’s in business administration from Columbia University, where she was a Knight-Bagehot fellow.”