Rona Kobell

Rona Kobell is an adjunct professor at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland and Towson University. She specializes in environmental justice, climate change, and the intersection of historical racism with land use policies affecting Black communities. Kobell holds an MA in journalism from the University of Maryland.

Her research and reporting focus on environmental justice, particularly in rural Black communities, and the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. She co-founded the Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative to empower Baltimore students to document environmental injustices and diversify marine science participation.

Kobell has authored films like Eroding History (2023) and contributed to outlets such as The Washington Post, National Parks Magazine, and Grist. Her awards include the Rachel Carson Award and Lowell Thomas Award.

She has taught at UMBC, Roger Williams University, and Loyola University Maryland, and previously led Chesapeake Quarterly as managing editor. Her work bridges journalism, advocacy, and environmental policy.