Columbia Journalism School Announces the 2025 Fellows for the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program

Columbia Journalism School welcomes the 2025 Fellows for the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program. Each individual has been selected based on their ability to shape the future of journalism and, therefore, the future of democracy.

Now, more than ever, journalism requires leaders who can guide the profession toward a resilient and sustainable future. These fellows are integral to this essential movement. 

Meet the 2025 Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program cohort:

• Michael Anastasi - Vice President of Local News, Gannett / USA TODAY Network
• Hayley Arader - Executive Director, Data & Insights, Newsroom, Audience & Storytelling, The New York Times
• Kathy Baird - Chief Communications Officer, The Washington Post
• Jon Cohn - Vice President, Audience & Community Engagement, LAist, Southern California Public Radio
• Jin Ding - CEO, Initium Media
• Anna Dubenko - Newsroom Audience Director, The New York Times
• Bailey Evans - Executive Director, Strategic Operations - AI, The New York Times
• Maritza L. Félix - Founder and Director, Conecta Arizona
• Megan Finnerty - Chief of Strategy + Engagement, Houston Landing
• Lisa Garcia Grace - VP Programming and Audience Engagement, Oregon Public Broadcasting
• Ted Goldberg - Managing Editor, News and Newscasts, KQED
• Enrique A. Gómez - CEO and Publisher, Grupo AM
• Anna Griffin - Vice President, News, Talk & Podcasts, Oregon Public Broadcasting
• Blair Hickman - Consultant, Ida Media / Chicago Public Media
• Markus Ikehata - Head of Visuals, Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ)
• Monique Jones - Vice President Editorial and Business Development, The Baltimore Banner
• Gloria Karthan - Head of Lifestyle & Member of the Editorial Board, 20 Minuten / TX Group
• Patrick Kerkstra - Managing Editor, Content Strategy, Philadelphia Inquirer
• Felix Langenmayr - Head of Business Transformation TX Group AG, 20 Minuten
• Alejandra Matos - Managing Editor, Audience & Content Strategy, Houston Chronicle
• Christopher Norris - Chief Strategy Officer, StoryCorps
• Maria Reeve - Managing Editor/Vice President, Minnesota Star Tribune
• Daryna Shevchenko - Chief Executive Officer, The Kyiv Independent
• Mazin Sidahmed - Executive Director, Documented
• Mario Stäuble - Politics and Business Editor, Tages-Anzeiger
• Shawna VanNess - Associate Managing Editor, Newsday
• Mio Wakasa - Deputy Managing Editor, Nikkei
• Shigeyuki Yamashita - News Editor and Editor-in-Chief for the Americas, Nikkei

Each of these fellows will use the 20 weeks of the program to accelerate a strategic project for their organization.

"I am excited to assemble such an accomplished group of leaders in journalism and honored to begin this journey with them to implement these strategic projects," said Corey Ford, director of the program. "I can’t wait to see how the intentional serendipity of bringing together these innovators will impact these leaders, their organizations, and the journalism industry as a whole."

The next Sulzberger cohort will run from January to May 2026. Sign up for the mailing list to be the first to know when applications open.