North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University rising seniors Kani’ya Davis and Dasia Garner have been selected as 2026 HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Science Journalism Fellows at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Davis and Garner, who are studying journalism and mass communication in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, are among only 10 students to be selected nationwide.
The fellowship is part of the Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT, which aims to support journalists in enhancing their understanding of science, health, technology and the environment while advancing science journalism in the public interest.
Davis, a South Carolina native, serves as managing editor of The A&T Register, the university’s student-run newspaper, and community service director for the university’s chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). She also holds the role of vice president of the local nonprofit Black Period Project, a grassroots organization working to fight period poverty. With a passion for environmental and social equity, she focuses her reporting on the health and livelihood impacts of climate change on low-income communities of color.
“I’m most excited about learning how to research science-related topics and make them accessible to non-scientists,” said Davis. “As someone who doesn’t have a huge science background, I really want to learn how to make important scientific findings understandable for myself and my community.”
Garner, a Chicago native, serves as social media director for NABJ and is executive producer of Aggie News, the university’s student-led news station. Her reporting focuses on nutritional science, with a particular interest in how food can be used as medicine and how integrative medicine contributes to a healthier lifestyle.
“I am excited to connect with science journalists and bring back engaging ways to tell science-based stories to my community,” said Garner.
The fellowship year kicks off in June with a week-long science journalism summer camp at MIT. Students will participate in hands-on workshops, engage with award-winning science journalists and meet editors from leading publications. Over the following academic year, fellows will receive one-on-one mentorship from professional science journalists who will guide them in developing and pitching science-related stories to national and regional outlets.
The Knight Science Journalism Program, launched in 1983 under the guidance of founding director Victor McElheny, is housed within MIT’s School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. It is part of the Institute’s Program in Science, Technology, and Society and considered among the most distinguished journalism fellowships in the world.
The fellowship includes a $5,000 stipend and covers all travel-related expenses.
Both Davis and Garner encourage fellow journalism students seeking similar opportunities to stay connected with their professors, participate in learning experiences outside the classroom and remain confident in their journalism knowledge.
