Stephanie Mencimer is a contributing editor of The Washington Monthly magazine and a fellow at the Alicia Patterson Foundation. Previously she has worked as a senior writer at the Washington City Paper, an investigative reporter for The Washington Post, and a staff writer for Legal Times. A native of Ogden, Utah, and a graduate of the University of the Oregon School of Journalism, Mencimer is the recipient of the 2000 Harry Chapin Media Award for reporting on hunger and poverty, and was a 2003 finalist for a National Magazine Award in the public interest category and the winner of a George Polk Award for magazine reporting. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Mother Jones, New Republic, Legal Affairs, and other national publications.