René Marsh is an Emmy-nominated CNN correspondent with more than two decades of experience covering pivotal national events, federal policy, and global environmental issues. René currently covers the federal government, where she has broken numerous deeply reported stories on the dramatic reshaping of federal agencies and the far-reaching impact those changes are having on communities across the country.
René holds a bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University and a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Outside of journalism, René is also a children’s book author who has published two books, The Miracle Workers: Boy vs. Beast and The Nature of Change,  rooted in a shared mission: helping parents raise emotionally strong, resilient children equipped to face life’s challenges with healthy mental and emotional tools. That mission was born out of personal tragedy. After losing her son, Blake, to pediatric brain cancer, René committed herself not only to raising awareness and funding for childhood cancer, but to helping children build the resilience and inner strength that were so essential while navigating profound loss.
Through her children’s literature, René seeks to help young readers develop the emotional skills to confront hardship, uncertainty, and change so that when life presents challenges, they are better prepared to face them with confidence, strength, and hope.
René has testified before Congress about her personal experience with childhood cancer and the urgent need for increased federal research funding. She has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for pediatric cancer research. She is also a speaker and has delivered talks at corporate organizations, drawing on her personal journey to explore how individuals and workforces can navigate periods of significant change and uncertainty, a challenge facing many institutions today.

In 2026, she was recognized as a Parents Next Gen Award recipient for her contributions to children and families.

René continues to build stories, experiences, and initiatives designed to inspire the next generation and create lasting impact.