For years Sheryl McCarthy has been writing thoughtful and provocative columns about a wide range of social and political issues--including race and gender issues, social policies towards the poor, the vagaries of the criminal justice system, education, politics, and foreign policy.

She joined the staff of New York Newsday in 1987 and began writing a twice-weekly column in 1989. After the New York edition of the paper closed in 1995, she continued writing for the parent newspaper. Her column appeared on its opinion pages and, distributed by the L.A. Times wire service, appeared in newspapers around the country and overseas.

Newsday closed the remains of its New York City operation last year, but Ms. McCarthy continues to contribute to the paper, is on the board of contributors to USA Today, and is an adjunct professor at Columbia University's Graduate school of Journalism. She is a 1969 alumna of Mount Holyoke College and holds a MA and JD from Columbia University.