Telling the story of research and innovation at DRI
DRI’s Office External Affairs and Communications provides support to research faculty and staff to generate awareness and engagement that inspires action to sustain research at DRI.
Media Inquiries
If you are a reporter on deadline or have a media inquiry
please email media@dri.edu
or call Detra Page, 702.862.5597 (office) or 702.591.3786 (cell).
DRI Newsletter
Discover DRI through our monthly email newsletter! Sign up here to receive a monthly roundup of the latest DRI science news stories, researcher profiles, and event updates straight to your inbox.
Research Highlights
Check out our latest Research Highlights 2023 Volume 2 Story Map to see a selection of DRI’s impactful research and featured projects.
Public Record Requests
The Office of Communications and Government Affairs is responsible for responding to requests made under the Nevada Public Records Act (N.R.S. 239 et seq). To submit a request, please use click below.
NSHE (Nevada System of Higher Education) Procedures and Guidelines Manual – NSHE Fees for Public Records Request.
Our Communications Team
Tracy Bower
Director of External Affairs
Tracy serves as DRI’s primary liaison with the community, including media, regional, state, and local officials. She directs the Institute’s policies and objectives for all state government and local affairs, and leads the communications and external engagement activities.
Tracy.Bower@dri.edu | 702-862-5404
Detra Page
Communications Manager
Detra serves as DRI’s primary media contact and manages the day-to-day operations of the Communications Office including DRI’s creative and digital marketing services, public information and community engagement.
Detra.Page@dri.edu | 702-862-5597
Jessi LeMay
Visual Communication Specialist
For the last 16 years, Jessi Lemay has been documenting the lives of families, the heart of organizations, and the stories of her community. Her unique blend of photography and video (and sometimes live community events) allows her an honest insight into the lives and passions of those in front of her lens. The result is natural portraiture that feels honest to the eye. Family films that are poetic and instantly nostalgic. Jessi’s goal is to capture the best of the human condition. Some of her career highlights include her live storytelling project The Folk & The Lore hosted at Nevada Museum of Art, traveling to South Sudan in 2015 with Five Talents International to collect the stories of financial inclusion, and documenting the oral histories of 100 years of Reno Rodeo for their 100th anniversary.
jessi.lemay@dri.edu | 775-673-7375
Elyse DeFranco
Science Writer
Elyse serves as science writer for the wide-ranging and impactful research occurring across DRI. She utilizes her background in ecology and science communication to help DRI’s scientists share the stories behind their research, and what it teaches us about the world.
elyse.defranco@dri.edu | 775-673-7336
Paula Loop
Webmaster
Paula serves as DRI’s webmaster and manages the website and social media content. She had previously worked in libraries for the past 20 years, where she built her skills in organization, web design, and content creation. She is pursuing her master’s in Library & Information Science at the University of Denver.
paula.loop@dri.edu | 702-862-5497
Lori Fulton
Graphic Artist/Visual Science Translator
Lori serves as DRI’s graphic artist, designing all things DRI. She has worked with DRI since 2009 as a freelancer. Lori ran her own graphic design business for 29 years and, in 2023, committed to a full-time position at DRI.
lori.fulton@dri.edu | 775-674-7019