What I Cover
I cover technology and innovation. I’m drawn to nuanced stories about how colleges are navigating an increasingly tech-infused world — a world where they’re relying on a growing number of ed-tech partners, and working to strike a balance between nurturing AI innovation and protecting their students and campus communities. This interest has sparked accountability reporting on controversial courseware products and tensions with online-program managers. It’s also inspired trends pieces on competitive AI hiring sprees and experimentation with AI-detection tools to stymy admissions fraud.
I’m a staunch supporter of solutions journalism as well, and contribute annually to The Chronicle’s robust collection of newsroom reports (get my latest here). I want readers to be not only informed, but energized, by what I write.
My Background
I joined The Chronicle in 2021. I previously wrote for The 74, a nonprofit news outlet, where I spearheaded K-12 coverage of the nation’s two largest school districts — NYC Public Schools and L.A. Unified — before documenting D.C. Public Schools’ pivot to virtual learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. My byline has also appeared in Newsday, Newsweek, The Hartford Courant, and on CNN.com.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in multi-platform journalism from the University of Maryland, where I got my start as a reporter and editor at The Diamondback. I live in northern Virginia; you can find me out on the bike trails or scoping out a new coffee shop.
Connect
You can reach me with tips and feedback at taylor.swaak@chronicle.com. I’m also a regular poster (and lurker) on LinkedIn.
