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Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025

dvj

Renowned Environmental Journalist to Visit Cornell to Discuss Climate, Conservation

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Launched six years ago by Ray Jayawardhana, former dean of the College of Arts and Science, the Zubrow Distinguished Visiting Journalist Fellow program was envisioned as a commitment of the college to civic engagement. The program connects distinguished journalists with Cornellians by hosting them for two to eight weeks during the year. 

During their stay, the esteemed guests interact with faculty, researchers and students through classroom visits, research collaborations and panel discussions. These activities foster mentorship, open doors for professional growth and create pathways for the Cornell community to explore journalism as a career.

“We don’t have a journalism school here at Cornell,” said Tricia Ritterbusch, assistant dean of communications in the College of Arts and Sciences. “However, we have many alumni who have gone into journalism. The liberal arts education they received in [the College of] Arts and Sciences, along with opportunities like The Cornell Daily Sun, provided them with significant crossover experiences to consider journalism as a career.”

Over the years, Cornell has hosted seven journalists from diverse fields, covering topics such as immigration, national security, Supreme Court coverage and international correspondence. Notably, four of these journalists, representing prominent news organizations like The Los Angeles Times, CNN and The New York Times, are Cornell alumni who worked as editors, reporters or writers for The Cornell Daily Sun. 

Notable Sun alumni who have returned as DVJ Fellows include:

  • Marc Lacey ’87, former Sun editor-in-chief
  • David Folkenflik ’91, former Sun editor-in-chief
  • Andrew Morse ’96, former Sun editor-in-chief
  • Molly O’Toole ’09, former Sun editor

The involvement of The Sun with the DVJ program can be traced back to Guinevere Griest ’44, the first woman to serve as an editor at The Cornell Daily Sun. Her bequest, focused on public engagement, combined with a significant endowment from Jan Rock Zubrow ’77, Barry Zubrow and other alumni donors — including Jay Branegan ’72 and Rose Gutfeld Edwards ’78 — has ensured the program’s ongoing success.

Building on this strong foundation of support, the DVJ program continues to bring esteemed and accomplished journalists to Cornell. This spring, in early April, Cornell will welcome Anne Thompson as the Distinguished Visiting Journalist. 

As NBC News’ chief environmental affairs correspondent and a five-time Emmy winner, Thompson has extensive expertise in environmental reporting. She has covered major global climate events, such as negotiations in Copenhagen, Paris and Glasgow, as well as significant environmental crises like the Gulf oil spill and the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska.

In collaboration with the DVJ program and the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Thompson will engage with faculty and students, particularly those interested in climate-related research. She will also offer new perspectives on developing creative solutions to address climate change, aligning with Cornell’s Climate Action Plan.

“This is such a unique and exciting opportunity for students to hear and learn from a female journalist reporting on climate change,” said Abby Zekarias ’28, a first-year studying environment & sustainability. “I want to learn how Thompson translates complex scientific knowledge into engaging stories for the public, reaching a broad audience without oversimplifying or exaggerating.”

Ritterbusch echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of communicators who can bridge the gap between specialized research and the general public. “In this day and age, we need people who can translate the significance of scientific work to humanity. This skill is desperately needed in the world today,” she said.

As Cornell finalizes preparations to host Thompson, the DVJ program encourages the community to start reflecting on how they can actively engage and learn during her visit. By doing so, students, researchers and faculty can broaden their current research and interests in climate change and sustainability while gaining a deeper understanding of the dedication, challenges and courage required to succeed in journalism.

One day, Cornell community members — just like the DVJ alumni from The Cornell Daily Sun — may carry forward the passion, skills and experiences gained during their time at Cornell and the DVJ program to their future careers. Perhaps they, too, will return as distinguished journalists to inspire future generations through this unique program.

Kitty Zhang can be reached at az429@cornell.edu.


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