On February 8, 2025, The Princeton Tory announced its new leadership for the 41st Managing Board. Zach Gardner ’26 has been elected Publisher, and Khoa Sands ’26 will serve as Editor-in-Chief, succeeding Alexandra Orbuch ’25 and Benjamin Woodard ’25, respectively.
Gardner, who has been involved with the Tory since his first year at Princeton and previously served as Managing Editor, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the publication during its anniversary year. “The Tory has been a part of my life at Princeton since I first stepped foot on campus. It gave me a voice that nothing else on campus would provide, and it has allowed me to defend the values I most cherish,” Gardner said. “I cannot thank Ben and Alexandra enough for their dedicated leadership this past year, and I am grateful for the mentorship they have given me.” Reflecting on the publication’s legacy, Gardner highlighted the unique moment in which he and Sands are taking the reins. “With the new Republican administration in office and America’s 250th anniversary on the horizon, we have an incredible opportunity to advance the good, the true, and the beautiful at Princeton,” he noted. “We also have the chance to commemorate Princeton’s role in the forging of the world’s greatest nation.”
Sands, who previously served as a writer and editor, also spoke to the privilege and responsibility of leading the Tory. “It is a great privilege to serve at the helm of this publication,” he said. “I am very proud to carry on our long-standing tradition of providing a platform for thoughtful, reasoned, and diligent conservative voices at Princeton.” He added, “I look forward to working with Zach, who I have known since my first day on campus. I have great confidence in his leadership and vision for the Tory.”
The Tory covered a variety of controversies during the previous year, including in-depth reporting on the anti-Israel encampment in the spring and related protest activities following October 7. Woodard, reflecting on his time as Editor-in-Chief, pointed to the Tory’s role in shaping campus discourse. “It has been an honor to help carry on the Tory’s tradition of incisive conservative journalism by serving as Editor-in-Chief for its fortieth volume,” he said. “Guiding writers as they honed their arguments and prose was unfailingly rewarding, and I am grateful for both their trust and their hard work. Together, we shaped campus discourse for the better. I am particularly proud of our coverage and criticism of the anti-Israel encampment last spring, when the Tory was a rare voice of reason in the midst of campus chaos. I know it will continue to be so under Zach and Khoa’s leadership.”
Orbuch, who held the role of Publisher, also praised the incoming leadership. “I am confident that the Tory will continue to thrive under Zach’s leadership,” she said. “He has been a diligent Managing Editor, and he brings both experience and energy to the role.” She also reflected on the Tory’s journalistic impact. “Over the past year, the Tory has put out many hard-hitting stories, closely following the encampment and related protest activities on campus in the wake of October 7. I look forward to seeing the publication continue to produce important journalistic work.”
Under Orbuch and Woodard, the Tory also modernized its operations, revamping its website and digitizing its print archive, ensuring that decades of conservative journalism remain accessible for future generations of Princeton students.
As the Tory enters its next chapter, its alumni continue to make their mark in national politics. Several former Tory editors and writers are now working within the Trump administration. Notably, Pete Hegseth ’03, a former publisher of The Princeton Tory, was confirmed as the United States Secretary of Defense in January 2025. Hegseth, who previously served in the Army National Guard and as a Fox News host, played a significant role in shaping military policy under the new administration. Additionally, Will Scharf ’08, a former Tory managing editor, now serves as the White House Staff Secretary, while Michael Kratsios ’08, who previously held the position of Chief Technology Officer of the United States, has been nominated as the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Jacob Reses ‘13, a former Tory writer, now serves as Chief of Staff to Vice President JD Vance.
Under Gardner and Sands, the Tory is ready to expand on its historic legacy and further solidify its position as a voice for campus conservatism at Princeton.
Image credit: John Witherspoon Statue, Wikimedia Commons
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