Our Team
Produced by digital media interns of the Dow Jones News Fund in assocation with the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in Phoenix.
Read more about the reporting of UNSHELTERED and about the behind-the-scenes of our coverage and production.
Elizabeth Backo
Reporter
Elizabeth Backo recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. She will be a digital intern at The Arizona Republic.
Neetish Basnet
Data Editor
Neetish Basnet is a University of Texas-Arlington journalism graduate. He will work as a digital intern at Dallas Business Journal.
Elizabeth Castillo
Multimedia Reporter
Elizabeth Castillo graduated from California State University, Chico in December with a degree in journalism. Following her work on Unsheltered, she'll cover education policy at CALmatters in Sacramento.
Samantha Gebers
Videographer
Samie Gebers’ passion for visual storytelling led her to the Dow Jones News Fund where she contributed to UNSHELTERED as a videographer. She is a senior at Arizona State University where she continues to seek visual stories that leave an impact. She will be contributing to the digital desk at Hawaii News Now in Honolulu.
Angela Gervasi
Photo Editor
Angela Gervasi is a recent graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia. This summer, she will be producing photo and video content at the Lexington Herald-Leader in Kentucky.
Kathryn Hardison
Multimedia Reporter
Kathryn Hardison is an upcoming senior studying print and digital news reporting and political science at the University of Missouri, where she’s a statehouse reporter and news editor for the Columbia Missourian. She will be interning at Storyful in New York.
Sierra Juarez
Social Media Editor
Sierra Juarez is a student journalist at the University of Texas. She’s heading to The Arizona Republic as part of the Dow Jones News Fund program.
Lauren Lee
Multimedia Reporter
Lauren Lee is an upcoming senior studying digital print journalism and political science at Penn State University. She is the news editor of The Daily Collegian and will be interning at Centre Daily Times.
Cecilia Mazanec
Reporter
Cecilia Mazanec is a recent graduate of the University of Florida where she studied journalism with minors in business administration and English. She will be interning at The Palm Beach Post.
Narda Perez
Copy Editor
Narda Perez is a broadcasting communication and public relations senior at the University of Texas at Arlington where she works for the student-run newspaper The Shorthorn as editor-in-chief. She will be interning at the Austin-American Statesman.
Cristobal Reyes
Multimedia Reporter
Cristóbal Reyes is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where he studied journalism and political science. He will be interning at the Miami Herald through the Dow Jones News Fund, where he will be contributing multimedia content for the newspaper’s breaking news desk.
Charlene Santiago
Spanish Editor
Charlene Santiago is a senior at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication minoring in Spanish and Latino studies. Through the Dow Jones News Fund she will be interning in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and La Estrella producing multimedia content in Spanish and English.
Divya Thirunagari
Project Editor
Divya Thirunagari is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with a BS in journalism and minors in Integrated Marketing Communications and Psychology. She will be interning at the International Center for Journalists in Washington D.C. and contributing work regarding communications and public relations, thanks to the Dow Jones News Fund.
Tess Vrbin
Video Producer
Tess Vrbin is a rising senior at the University of Missouri, where she is pursuing a degree in multimedia investigative journalism and minors in Spanish, English and political science. She will be interning at the Kansas City Star via the Dow Jones News Fund.
Austin Westfall
Video Producer
Austin Westfall is an upcoming senior at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Through the Dow Jones News Fund he will be producing digital content for Hawaii News Now in Honolulu.
