Journalism
An editing and writing portfolio from two years with The Minaret newspaper, with published work in freelancing and interning, that allowed me to apply my skills while earning my degree.
At The Minaret, I wrote and edited for the news and opinion sections of the newspaper in my junior and senior year in my degree. I was drawn to issues like homelessness in Downtown Tampa, human trafficking and children's safety, and UTampa's resources for parenting and pregnant students. As an editor and writer, I was responsible for ensuring each article and writer followed professional standards according to the AP Styleguide and journalism best practices.
Roblox Faces Florida Investigation, Five Lawsuits Across U.S. Over Child Exploitation Allegations
Published October 27, 2025
A wave of lawsuits from Kentucky, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Oklahoma was filed against Roblox this fall, while Florida’s attorney general issued criminal subpoenas to the platform last week.
Hurricane Melissa Live Coverage
Published October 25-30, 2025
A series of live updates from The Minaret staff, led by the News Editor, that tracked Hurricane Melissa’s approach, landfall, and immediate aftermath from Oct. 25 to Oct. 30. Each update was quickly and carefully written, edited, and published when the National Hurricane Center released advisories on Melissa's forecast. The coverage also reported on Jamaica as the island braced for and recovered from the Category 5 hurricane.
Charlie Kirk Assassinated at Utah Valley University
Published Sep 12, 2025
Charlie Kirk, founder of right-wing youth organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was killed Wednesday, Sept. 10, while speaking at Utah Valley University during his “American Comeback” tour. Campus Safety and the Student Government at The University of Tampa each shared statements about how students can find mental health resources.
Car racing on Roblox. Photo courtesy of Roblox.
Car racing on Roblox. Photo courtesy of Roblox.
Kirk's assassination shook many students at The University of Tampa, which has a Turning Point USA chapter on campus. Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Kirk's assassination shook many students at The University of Tampa, which has a Turning Point USA chapter on campus. Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
How Two UTampa Professors Are Combating Human Trafficking
Published March 3, 2025
Florida ranks third in the U.S. for human trafficking, which is often referred to as modern slavery. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defines human trafficking as “the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.” With human trafficking being such a complex issue, there are countless ways to tackle it.
UTampa's Hidden Nursing Mother's Rooms
Published November 17, 2024
There are three lactation spaces on The University of Tampa campus -- one is unadvertised due to its condition -- but none of them are searchable on UTampa’s website, and there is little awareness of them and other available resources for pregnant and parenting students.
As the chairperson of the board of directors, at anti-human trafficking organization at Shared Hope International, Ernewein educates the community and trains healthcare providers, reaching between 500 and 1,500 people annually through her trainings and presentations. Photo courtesy of Shared Hope International.
At Selah Freedom, an anti-sex trafficking organization in Sarasota, UTampa criminology professor Nicole Dolack is the full-time outreach coordinator. Selah Freedom’s outreach program is the first point of contact for a survivor, where they respond to referrals and assess what resources victims need. Photo courtesy of Nicole Dolack.
Charrita Ernewein stands in front of her presentation for the 2024 American Association of Nurse Practitioner (AANP) Conference, where she presented to hundreds of providers. Photo courtesy of Charrita Ernewein.
As the chairperson of the board of directors, at anti-human trafficking organization at Shared Hope International, Ernewein educates the community and trains healthcare providers, reaching between 500 and 1,500 people annually through her trainings and presentations. Photo courtesy of Shared Hope International.
The lactation room in Thompson 207 is not publicly advertised because of the office machine inside. Photo courtesy of Faith Montalvo.
This is the folder inserter machine on the table in the Thompson building's lactation room. Photo courtesy of Faith Montalvo.
The lactation room inside the Grand Center 157. Inside is a chair, an end table, counter space, a sink and a mini fridge. Photo courtesy of Faith Montalvo.
The lactation room in Thompson 207 is not publicly advertised because of the office machine inside. Photo courtesy of Faith Montalvo.
During my time at the World Journalism Institute (WJI), a two-week intensive multimedia boot camp at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, I cowrote a 1,700-word feature about sex trafficking. We interviewed survivor Phylicia King about her experience, the director of a Family Crisis Center in the area, a volunteer from Team Iowa, and we included research to highlight the challenges in combating human trafficking.
How Sex Trafficking Lurks in Rural Communities
Phylicia King met Mark Spicer online when she was 25. It was 2016, and she had just earned her master’s degree in human services. Spicer, a 22-year-old from Cedar Rapids, wooed Phylicia — but he also confused her. He would tell her she was smart — and then ask her why he would ever stay with someone like her. A year later, Spicer introduced her to his ex-girlfriend. During a phone call, he asked her if she was ready to join their team, but he wasn’t really asking.
Phylicia felt trapped. She didn’t know that he was trafficking his ex and would do the same to her.
This 1500-word feature follows Phylicia's experience as her boyfriend trafficked her in Iowa, and highlights local initiatives to combat human trafficking in a rural area in the United States.
This 1500-word feature follows Phylicia's experience as her boyfriend trafficked her in Iowa, and highlights local initiatives to combat human trafficking in a rural area in the United States.
Published November 10, 2025
At WMNF Community Conscious Radio, I was assigned stories ranging from topics discussed on their broadcast shows to proposed bills advancing through the Florida Legislative Session. I used Adobe Audition to record and edit the audio for these stories that were featured on WMNF's Daily News Digest, "The Scoop," and on their website.
Florida House bill about former phosphate mines advances in subcommittee
A bill filed in the Florida Legislature could help shield owners of former phosphate mines from pollution liability, and critics say the bill’s text does not address important issues.
House Bill 585 advanced through the House Natural Resources and Disasters Subcommittee on March 4 with a vote of 16-2.
Listen: