Where are you from and what were you doing before enrolling in graduate school?

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2024. Before enrolling as a graduate student, I served as an editor of UCLA’s independent student newspaper, the Daily Bruin, and as an intern for NBC News.

How did you learn of the degree program and why did you choose USC Annenberg?

I learned about the MS program at USC from a mentor and colleagues in the undergraduate program. After touring the Media Center and meeting with the esteemed faculty USC Annenberg has available, I was amazed at the opportunities students have. Just by sitting in classes taught by professors Christina Bellantoni and Gabriel Kahn, I was overwhelmed by the amount of information I had, which led me to commit to USC the next day.

What have you enjoyed the most about the degree program?

The most important thing I can highlight from my time at USC Annenberg is the challenge it provides to up-and-coming journalists. I came into the program with minimal knowledge of radio, television, and computer programming in journalism. I was honestly scared. However, the support system from your fellow peers and faculty pushes you to be your best self and learn further than you could ever imagine. Not only this, once you learn these skills, you get to apply them to the real world. I have been able to report on the presidential election in Michigan; I got to interview the Mayor of Los Angeles; and in March, I will take my skills to Berlin, Germany, to cover religious communities, antisemitism, and extremism in Europe.