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Tori Linder ’14 is using her background in conservation and filmmaking to protect wildlife and inspire change through storytelling. She and her team recently won an Emmy for their groundbreaking work on the National Geographic documentary Path of the Panther. Linder, co-founder and managing director of the Path of the Panther project, was a producer on the documentary, while Ashley Siana ’14 served as assistant editor and associate producer.

Linder’s journey from Rollins environmental studies major to becoming a leading figure in conservation exemplifies the power of a liberal arts education in shaping versatile and impactful careers. She credits her Rollins education with preparing her for a cross-disciplinary career as a conservationist, educator, and filmmaker. 

At Rollins, she first met Carlton Ward Jr., co-founder of Path of the Panther, at a lecture hosted by the environmental studies department. The lecture was part of the Thomas P. Johnson Distinguished Visiting Scholars & Artists Program, which has brought experts from various fields to engage with the Rollins community for over 25 years. This meeting proved pivotal, as Ward became her mentor, and five years later, Linder began working full-time on Path of the Panther.

“As a full-time conservationist and storyteller, I wear a lot of hats,” says Linder. “The liberal arts education at Rollins really prepared me for that.”

Linder’s work with Path of the Panther has been transformative, leading to the protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, a statewide network of private and public lands spanning 18 million acres, and securing more than $2 billion in state funding for land protection. The New Yorker praised the legislation as “a national model for how to protect threatened species for generations.”

Linder is currently channeling her efforts into promoting wildlife corridor projects across the United States, using storytelling rooted in specific locations to support her mission. Her vision is to create an interconnected network of wildlife corridors nationwide, ensuring both wildlife and human communities can thrive in a changing climate.

Recognized as a leading voice in conservation and media, Linder has shared her insights at prestigious venues such as Columbia University, Earth X, Jackson Wild, The Redford Center, and The National Geographic Society. Her work has been featured in publications like Deadline, The Guardian, National Geographic, and The Washington Post.

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