If ‘Survivor’ is a Head Game, This Terp Should Win

Sociologist Ph.D. alumna competes on season 51 of the iconic reality show.

Researching and writing a 200-page dissertation is an endurance contest of sorts, but it doesn’t seem like great preparation for a weekslong competition with little food, brutal physical challenges and emotional backstabbing on a far-flung Pacific island.

It was, however, for Angelica “Jelly” Loblack Ph.D. ’25, one of 21 castaways on the 51st season of CBS’s “Survivor" that premieres Sept. 23.

The sociologist and longtime fan of the show drew on the confidence and belief she gained from earning her doctorate, and years of studying human behavior and social dynamics, to “outwit, outplay, outlast” her competitors in Fiji for a chance to win $1 million.

Published on Tue, Sep 22, 2026 - 12:52PM