The New Mexico Fund for Public Interest Journalism welcomed a new cohort of fellows at the end of November for an upcoming six-week project focused on youth activism in Northern New Mexico. This will be the first training conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meet our new interns below!
Magnificent Farrell
Magnificent Farrell is a student at the Santa Fe Community College. They've aspired to be a writer for some time now, and since then have done works for various blogs and such. They have also done various projects with Wise Fool New Mexico, performing in many shows in the past four years. When Magnificent isn't writing, they find an interest in Forensic Science, and studying that field of work."
Kiera Ortiz
Kiera Ortiz is a junior in the International Baccalaureate program at Sandia High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is interested in pursuing a college education in journalism with a focus on International Relations. In her free time, she enjoys painting and drawing, caring for her many houseplants, and listening to podcasts about psychology.
Nicholas Romero
Nicholas Romero is a staff photographer and freelance reporter at the Daily Lobo. Nicholas is a senior at the University of New Mexico majoring in Mass Communication/Journalism and is on track to graduate in the spring of 2021. During his free time, Nicholas is found spending it with his two dogs, hiking, taking photographs, or playing sports. Nicholas has a passion for sports, animals, and culture with hopes of using his photography and writing to make a positive impact on those fronts. He has spent the last two years taking photographs of sports, culture and protests around the city of Albuquerque.
Urmi Vallassery
Urmi Vallassery is a senior at the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West in Montezuma. She moved to New Mexico a year ago, but is originally from Texas and India. From the time she was born, she moved across five different countries with her family and was exposed to a vast array of cultures. Because of this, she has always been interested in social justice, international relations, and activism. She hopes to continue her passions in these fields in college, but for now, she's enjoying the time she has left in Montezuma! While she's at home, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing with her dog, learning new knitting patterns and baking pastries.