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Eric Macksoud

Mental health counselor, Clark graduate and Survivor 51 contestant.

Biography

Eric Macksoud is a mental health counselor and Clark University graduate who became a Survivor 51 contestant in 2026.

Eric Macksoud brought experience in counseling, swimming and community theatre to Survivor 51. He studied psychology at Clark and spent six years applying to the show. His interviews describe the role of teamwork and listening in his working life, along with his determination to test himself in a different setting.

Known for

Contestant

Survivor 51

Eric Macksoud competed on Survivor 51 in 2026.[2]

Career highlights

  1. Career 1

    Psychology, swimming and theatre

    His background includes psychology, competitive swimming and community theatre. He grew up in Rhode Island and was living in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, when he was announced for the season.[3][4][1][5]

  2. Career 2

    Clark University and competitive swimming

    Macksoud graduated from Clark in 2013 after majoring in psychology and competing on its men’s swimming and diving team. In a university interview, he described a longstanding connection with coach Paul Phillips, who had first coached him in youth swimming. Macksoud said the team had helped him learn to work with different personalities as well as develop confidence in the water.[3]

  3. Career 3

    Six years of Survivor applications

    His interest in Survivor began during childhood, but he returned to watching the show during the pandemic. Macksoud started applying in 2020 and continued submitting applications for six years. He told CT Insider that he applied for season 51 in July 2025 and heard back around November, recalling the casting news as a particularly intense moment.[3][4]

  4. Career 4

    Community theatre and collaboration

    Outside counseling and swimming, Macksoud has taken part in community theatre. In his cast questionnaire, he said each production brought him into a new group of people with different ages, backgrounds and skills. Building those relationships quickly, then working together toward a performance, was the experience he identified as especially useful preparation for joining a tribe.[5]

  5. Career 5

    A psychology-informed approach to the game

    Macksoud also connected his psychology studies with his approach to competition. He recalled a behavioral psychology course that encouraged him to distinguish a person from an individual action. He wanted to remain outwardly relaxed while thinking competitively, and to use his professional experience to listen and form relationships without assuming he already understood everyone.[3]