Employee Bios
Clark Bell
Program Director
clarkbell@McCormickFoundation.org
312.222.3507
Clark Bell is the McCormick Foundation’s Journalism Program Director. Clark,
who joined the foundation in October 2005, oversees journalism grant-making initiatives
and shapes the program’s focus on critical issues facing the news media.
Clark is a veteran reporter, editor, publisher and communications consultant. Prior
to joining the McCormick Foundation, he was managing director for American
Healthcare Solutions, where he developed communications strategies for hospitals,
medical foundations and technology firms.
His extensive journalistic background includes serving as publisher of Modern Physician
magazine, editor and associate publisher of Modern Healthcare magazine, executive
business editor of the Dallas Times Herald and business columnist for the Chicago
Sun-Times. Earlier, he served as a consumer affairs reporter for the Chicago Daily
News and sports writer for the Des Moines Register.
Clark earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Drake University and a master’s
degree in urban studies from Loyola University of Chicago. He was among the first
group of journalists awarded a Sloan Fellowship to study economics at Princeton
University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Bell serves
on the board of the Chicago Journalists Association.
Mark Hallett
Senior Program Officer
mhallett@McCormickFoundation.org
312.222.5882
Mark Hallett is a senior program officer in the journalism program of the McCormick
Foundation. Mark joined the foundation in May 1995, and coordinates grantmaking
in a number of areas, including youth journalism, free press in the U.S. and Latin
America, diversity in journalism, and First Amendment initiatives. He also has worked
on conference and event planning, development of special initiatives, solicitation
and review of proposals, project evaluation and foundation communications efforts.
In 1983, Mark was awarded a bachelor’s degree in history and Russian language from
Northwestern University. That same year he received a Richter Fellowship to study
and interview Sioux artist Oscar Howe. In 1987, he completed a one-year Spanish-language
program at the University of Madrid that covered Spanish and Latin American history,
literature and culture. In 1991, Mark received a master's degree from Northwestern
University’s Medill School of Journalism, where he focused on Magazine Publishing.
In 2001, he completed the Media Management Center’s Advanced Executive Program,
a 4-week management training program. Mark served as a Volunteer in Service to America
(VISTA) at the Logan Square Neighborhood Association in Chicago, and later edited
and translated for the magazine Alfoz in Madrid. Prior to coming to McCormick, he
was an editor at Safety + Health magazine, where he launched an international edition
and researched, assigned and wrote stories on workplace safety and environmental
issues. Mark has led workshops on nonprofit communications, internet-based research
and Web site development, and has worked with several nonprofits to create their
Web sites. He is an avid photographer and speaks fluent Spanish and Portuguese. He
has traveled extensively and has lived in Mexico, Norway and Spain.
Mark serves on the board of directors of the Erie Neighborhood House and the Erie
Elementary Charter School, and previously served as a board member for Changing
Worlds. He and his wife, Carmen Vidal-Hallett, were awarded a grant from the Graham
Foundation to research and do presentations around the innovative environmental
policies of the city of Curitiba, Brazil. The two live in Chicago with their son,
Gabriel Jose, and daughter, Emilia Maria.
Sara Melillo
Program Officer
smelillo@McCormickFoundation.org
312.222.4828
Sara Melillo is a program officer for the McCormick Foundation's Journalism Program. Sara, who joined the Foundation in December 2005, assists existing grantees with implementing and monitoring their projects and helps solicit and evaluate new journalism grant proposals. She guides grantmaking in a number of areas, including youth media, digital journalism and journalism training. In addition, she has worked on conference development, program evaluation and developing new strategic initiatives.
Sara is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. She also earned a master's degree in international public health from Tulane University, where she was named the first ever Brush Foundation Fellow in International Reproductive Health Policy.
Her professional experience includes two years on the research staff of the Media Management Center/Readership Institute and a year with CDC's Global AIDS Program. Earlier, Sara completed newspaper reporting internships at Crain's Cleveland Business, The Plain Dealer and two South African newspapers---The Star (Johannesburg) and Cape Times (Cape Town). She loves traveling and has worked extensively in Africa on journalism and public health projects during the past several years. She also serves on the executive committee of the Junior Board of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and on the Peer Review Board of Youth Media Reporter.
Aaron Smith
Administrative Officer, General Fund
alsmith@McCormickFoundation.org
312-222-5909
Aaron Smith joined McCormick Foundation in November 2000. As administrative
officer, Aaron manages the grant making processes for the general fund, which encompasses
the journalism, education and citizenship programs. Among other duties, he is responsible
for scheduling payments, editing reports and correspondence, maintaining files,
conducting technical training when necessary and coordinating internal and external
events. He has a background in broadcasting and corporate communications, and has
also worked in the legal department of a major U.S. electronics company. He received
a bachelor’s degree in Radio & Television from Bradley University, a master’s
degree in speech communication from Morehead State University (KY) and took paralegal
training from the City Colleges of Chicago.