Lesli Bales-Sherrod joined the Knoxville News Sentinel in November 2006 after serving as county government reporter for The Daily Times in Maryville, Tenn., for two years. A native of Jefferson City, Tenn., Bales-Sherrod earned her bachelor's degree in news-editorial journalism from Middle Tennessee State University in 1999 and her master's degree in journalism and public affairs from American University in Washington, D.C., in 2004. For two consecutive years, Bales-Sherrod has received an Award of Excellence for investigative reporting and an Award of Merit for general reporting from the East Tennessee chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. She also has been recognized by ETSPJ and the Tennessee Press Association for her feature writing.