Libby Sander

I’m a journalist, a writer, and an editor living in Washington, D.C. For 20 years, I have brought to life the stories of people and animals of all stripes. My work for National Geographic Books explores the wild brilliance of the animal kingdom: as the writer for Secrets of the Whales (2021), Photo Ark: Wonders (2021), and Photo Ark: Vanishing (2019), and as an editor and writer for Sharks: Rulers of the Deep (forthcoming, summer 2022).

Reading and writing are how I navigate the marvelous complexity of our world. I have always loved to dig into the meaning of place: a whale’s ocean home, a small Appalachian town, a university campus in crisis. Earlier in my career, I reported extensively on higher education and law, and wrote in depth about immigrants and refugees, college athletes, and military veterans. My current projects focus on wildlife, conservation, geographic literacy, and the intersection of humans and the natural world.

My work for The Chronicle of Higher Education, the Washington Post, and The Chicago Reporter has been recognized by the Education Writers Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, and Investigative Reporters and Editors. I’m a former senior reporter at The Chronicle and also worked as a reporter for The New York Times and the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.

The Photo Ark: Vanishing

National Geographic Books — Writer for celebrated photographer Joel Sartore's book presenting portraits and narratives of animals on the brink of extinction. See Excerpts →

Heroes of the Chesapeake

Hakai Magazine — Maryland farmers discover that what’s good for the northern bobwhite quail is good for the Chesapeake Bay. Read More →

saving rural america

The Washington Post — A small town in southwest Virginia chases new dreams after a long economic slide. [PDF]