Don Duncan is 27 and comes from Ireland. He has lived in France, Spain and Hong Kong and now lives in New York. He is a broadcast and print journalist and hopes to one day travel extensively with his job.  In 2005, he launched his own magazine called Æ (Aspire and Emerge), which lasted for one year! Don likes sushi, languages, music and second-hand clothes. He dislikes polyester, too much sun and synthetic sugar.

Ben Frumin is a graduate student at Columbia University's journalism school and expects to earn his M.S. in journalism in May 2007. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2003, earning B.A.'s in psychology and political science. Ben is a former staff writer at two California newspapers, and has freelanced for several other publications in Colorado and California. He has also traveled extensively, visiting nearly 30 countries on several continents.

Deena Guzder is a nomadic dual-degree graduate student at Columbia University (journalism and international affairs-human rights) who is concurrently enrolled at Johns Hopkins University (epidemiology and international health). In March 2007, Deena is traveling to India to cover the lives of Tibetan Buddhist exiles and, in May, she is heading to Iran for a few weeks. She is very excited about mentoring fledgling PEARL Reporters from around the world.

Stefan Milkowski is 29 and works as a reporter for a daily newspaper in Fairbanks, Alaska. He completed his journalism program in 2006. He covered business and now reports on state government and other statewide issues. Whenever he can, he likes to ride his bike or hike in the mountains. Fairbanks is so far north that the sun shines for about 22 hours in the summer.

Aliyah Shahid is a student at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. She has experience in newspapers, magazines, and radio. As a political reporter, editor, and producer for Talk Radio News Service in Washington DC, Aliyah interviewed guests including Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Alan Greenspan. She is currently a stringer for the New York Times. Aliyah received an M.A. in political science at Tufts University in
May 2006.