Pulitzer Center Update June 19, 2026
A New Cohort of Reporting Fellows Leads With Curiosity
Country:
As I write my first introduction for this newsletter, I want to begin by sharing how excited I am to join the Pulitzer Center as the new Director of University Programs. While I am new to this role, I have long admired the Pulitzer Center's commitment to connecting journalism, education, and public engagement in ways that help people better understand our world and one another. At a time when meaningful dialogue can feel increasingly difficult, I believe journalism remains one of our most powerful tools for building understanding, fostering curiosity, and creating opportunities for dialogue across differences.
Before joining the Pulitzer Center, I spent more than 15 years in higher education and nonprofit leadership, most recently at Duke University and The Hunt Institute. Across those experiences, I have focused on creating opportunities for learning, engagement, and belonging. As a first-generation college student and child of immigrants, I know firsthand how transformative access to information, education, and storytelling can be. Those experiences have shaped my belief that who gets to tell stories—and whose stories are heard—matters deeply.
That is one of the reasons I was drawn to the Reporting Fellows program. These Fellows represent colleges and universities across the U.S. and Qatar, and bring with them a remarkable range of academic backgrounds, lived experiences, and interests. Some are investigating environmental challenges and climate resilience, while others are exploring issues related to peace and conflict, public health, migration, education, and democracy. What unites them is a commitment to curiosity, rigorous inquiry, and storytelling that helps audiences better understand the complexities of our world.
Throughout the Fellowship, students are paired with accomplished journalists who serve as mentors, helping them develop the skills, confidence, and perspective needed to produce impactful reporting. Together, they create stories that are not only compelling and deeply researched, but work that each fellow can be proud of. In a world often defined by noise and division, these stories create opportunities for connection, reflection, and dialogue. They remind us that journalism is not simply about reporting what happened—it is about asking thoughtful questions, amplifying diverse perspectives, and helping communities engage more meaningfully with the issues that shape our lives.
The Reporting Fellows program is also a powerful extension of the Pulitzer Center community itself. It complements the work of distinguished journalists, dedicated educators, committed university partners, and visionary donors who believe in the essential role of independent journalism. Fellows bring fresh perspectives, new questions, and an urgency that reflects the challenges and opportunities of their generation. In doing so, they help ensure that the Pulitzer Center's impact is not only measured by the stories told today, but by the journalists, civic leaders, and engaged citizens being shaped for tomorrow. I am excited to follow this year's cohort and see how their work contributes to a legacy of journalism that informs, connects, and inspires.
Best,
Shruti Desai
Director of University Programs
This message appeared in the June 19, 2026, edition of the Pulitzer Center's weekly newsletter. Subscribe today.
