Please welcome this year’s Planet Forward Correspondents! The 2025-2026 cohort was selected during the most competitive year of recruitment we’ve had yet. From a pool of more than 80 applications from 31 schools, we’ve selected 13 new storytellers, and one amazing senior correspondent.

From degree programs in journalism to geography, and from environmental science to business administration, this year’s cohort not only represents schools across the country, but a wide variety of academic experiences, interests, and growing expertise.

They will be covering vital water stories, pivotal conservation decisions, and the centrally important role of environmental educators at universities across the country and around the world.

In a time of increasing challenges to environmental regulation and academic freedom, these students’ stories will reframe the narrative around sustainable innovations and community champions.

Through the process of telling those stories, our correspondents will learn valuable communication, storytelling, interviewing, and multimedia technical skills that will buoy them into their future careers.

We’re so excited for you to experience these students’ upcoming work. This year is all about elevating the quality of storytelling like never before as we build to a thrilling Storyfest contest (more information coming soon!) and then showcase multimedia exemplars at the 2026 Summit in April (see more about our past Summits).

We also will have increased opportunities for all Planet Forward contributors to apply for exciting Experiential Learning Trips coming up this year. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to see featured student stories and find out about upcoming Planet Forward-hosted opportunities and relevant external internships.

Click on the profiles below to read each Correspondent’s bio and stay tuned for more stories!

Senior Correspondents

Abbey Leibert

Planet Forward Sr. Correspondent | SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry

Correspondents

Mario Castroviejo

Planet Forward Correspondent | University of Navarra

Jey Draper

Planet Forward Correspondent | Teesside University

Maximilian Garibay-Deasy

Planet Forward Correspondent | University of Southern California

Cameron Glymph

Planet Forward Correspondent | Florida State University

Jayden Hollins

Planet Forward Correspondent | Johnson C. Smith University

Shayah Kosak

Planet Forward Correspondent | Middlebury College

Sylvia Leggette

Planet Forward Correspondent | Tuskegee University

Cecilia Luce

Planet Forward Correspondent | Northwestern University

Alexia Massoud

Planet Forward Correspondent | George Washington University

Andrew McCabe

Planet Forward Correspondent | George Washington University

Jenna Outcalt

Planet Forward Correspondent | University of Connecticut

Kayla Smernoff

Planet Forward Correspondent | Columbia University, Howard University

Shaniya Utamidata

Planet Forward Correspondent | Rutgers University