Ann Merchant has worked in marketing and communications for more than 20 years.
She is currently the Deputy Executive Director for Communications at the National Academies in Washington, D.C., where she is responsible for a number of innovative outreach programs that contribute to an increased public understanding of science. With a special interest in promoting science, engineering, and medicine through non-traditional entertainment channels such as television, film, and videogames, she was instrumental in launching the Science & Entertainment Exchange, a program of the National Academy of Sciences that seeks to connect entertainment industry professionals with top scientists and engineers.
Merchant also served for many years as marketing director for the Academies’ publishing division where she and her staff promoted and marketed more than 175 new titles every year. Merchant is currently an adjunct professor at the College of Professional Studies at the George Washington University where she teaches marketing in the masters-level publishing program.