Meet grad students

Guillaine Arthur

Writing and a commitment to truth are central to Guillaine Arthur’s interests. Guillaine was born in Seoul, South Korea, and has since called Alexandria, Virginia; Nebraska; San Antonio, Texas; and Las Vegas, Nevada home. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her experience includes working at the Savitt Medical Library at the University of Nevada, Reno, serving as a teaching assistant and working as a literacy specialist with Upward Bound. Guillaine hopes to build a career as a political reporter or anchor. As a graduate student at the Reynolds School, she looks forward to developing her media literacy and pursuing opportunities for professional development. Away from her academic and professional work, she enjoys writing poetry, embroidery and watching movies.

Michelle Baker

From the U.S. Senate to podcast production and local reporting, Michelle Baker has built a varied path in journalism. Born in Southern California, she later moved to Northern California and has also lived in New Zealand, Australia and Washington, D.C. Michelle earned her undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her journalistic interests include income equality and workers’ rights, while her professional goals include investigative reporting and covering economic justice. At the Reynolds School, Michelle hopes to further develop her skills in data journalism and investigative reporting. Outside of journalism, she enjoys music, traveling, bicycling, running, hiking and spending time with friends and family.

Don Dike-Anukam 

Politics, public affairs and media are at the heart of Don Dike-Anukam’s professional interests. A Reno native, Don has also lived in Fallon and Carson City, Nevada, as well as Palo Alto and Morgan Hill, California. He earned his undergraduate degree in urban studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His professional experience includes work with Tesla, the Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, This Is Reno and the Reno News & Review. Don hopes to build a career as a reporter, particularly in a broadcast newsroom. At the Reynolds School, he looks forward to deepening his understanding of the art of journalism as he works toward that goal. In his downtime, Don values rest and relaxation.

Juliet Ojeda

Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, Juliet Ojeda is passionate about film and underrepresented communities, with a particular interest in making news and information more accessible to Spanish-speaking communities. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, focusing on film and television while also majoring in Spanish. Her experience includes an internship with nonprofits focused on environmental science. Juliet hopes to pursue creative work and eventually support a program for young people who want to pursue filmmaking in Reno without having to move to a larger city. As a graduate student at the Reynolds School, she looks forward to challenging herself, learning from people with different perspectives and continuing to grow professionally. Beyond her academic and creative work, Juliet enjoys following true-crime stories, cooking, vlogging, editing, traveling, music and dance.

Md Muntakim Ibne Salehin

Muntakim Ibne Salehin brings professional reporting experience covering crime, rights and justice to his graduate studies. Originally from Gaibandha, Bangladesh, he earned his undergraduate degree in English literature from Jahangirnagar University before building his journalism career in Dhaka. He worked for The Daily Star, one of Bangladesh’s major English-language newspapers. His professional interests include human-interest reporting and journalism that can have a real-world impact and promote accountability. At the Reynolds School, Muntakim hopes to strengthen his data and research skills while developing his knowledge of data journalism. Traveling and exploring new places are among his favorite ways to spend his free time.

Dejanae Weathersby

For Dejanae Weathersby, filmmaking offers a way to explore untold stories and moments in history that deserve greater attention. Born in Pomona, California, she has also lived in Las Vegas and Reno. Dejanae earned her undergraduate degree in journalism, with a focus on film and television, from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her professional experience includes work as a preschool teacher, behavioral specialist and Army supply specialist. She hopes to become a creative director at a major production studio or establish her own film production company. Through her graduate studies at the Reynolds School, Dejanae is eager to refine her creative craft, gain more hands-on experience with equipment and deepen her knowledge of filmmaking. Outside of filmmaking, Dejanae enjoys hiking, Pilates, comedy shows, markets and festivals.

Shaylan Young

Shaylan Young is passionate about bringing greater visibility to underrepresented communities, particularly historically Black colleges and universities. Originally from Houston, Texas, she has lived in Orlando, Florida, and studied abroad in Costa Rica. Shaylan earned her undergraduate degree in mass communications, with a focus on radio and television, from Prairie View A&M University. She gained professional experience through an internship at Disney World in concierge and hospitality. Shaylan aspires to work as on-air talent in entertainment media, interviewing artists about their work and creative processes. At the Reynolds School, she is eager to strengthen her technical skills, gain more hands-on experience with production equipment and refine her on-air presence. An outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys traveling, hiking and other outdoor activities.

Lupe Alvarez

Lupe Alvarez was born and raised in Reno, Nevada, and earned her undergraduate degree with a double major in Anthropology and Archaeology, along with a minor in Latinx Studies. She gained valuable experience through her work at The Discovery Museum, as a student reporter with the Hitchcock Project, and as a communications intern at the Desert Research Institute. Passionate about anthropology, community building, and science, Lupe is pursuing graduate studies at the Reynolds School to further strengthen her writing and storytelling skills. In her free time, she enjoys creating collages, writing, traveling, watching films, reading, and spending time with friends.

Tinisha Brugnone

Tinisha Brugnone is an award-winning freelance filmmaker from Detroit, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Arts and Studies from Wayne State University. Over the course of her career, she has held roles such as field producer, unit production manager, fixer, liaison, videographer, and more. She is also the published author of her debut book, Pimpette Chronicles: A Modern Black Woman’s Guide to Dating Safely and Navigating These Mean Streets. Tinisha is passionate about storytelling, women’s rights, and creative writing, and she aspires to teach at the collegiate level, fostering the next generation of filmmakers. In her free time, she enjoys great food, nature, dancing, and roller-skating.

Ella Burriss

Ella Burriss was born in Reno and has lived here most of her life. She earned her undergraduate degree in Communication Media and Art Studies from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. Her work experience includes positions in the coffee industry and as a high school tennis coach in Washington. Ella is passionate about sports and aspires to work with a media team for professional football or baseball teams. She is a graduate student at the Reynolds School, where she is eager to gain advanced knowledge in media to support her career goals. In her free time, she enjoys attending concerts, shopping, and playing tennis and pickleball. 

Eliseo Claro

Eliseo Claro was born in San Bernardino, California and raised in Reno. He earned his undergraduate degree in Art and Spanish through the Professions from the University of Nevada, Reno. He works for the University as a graduate resident director, and has previously been a student worker, recruiter and in various customer service roles. Through his graduate studies at the Reynolds School of Journalism he hopes to make the most of the resources and opportunities available, aspiring to pursue independent creative work in his professional career. Eliseo is passionate about drawing, dance, and sports, and enjoys staying active.

Yasmin Dianni

Yasmin Dianni Barbosa was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and has also lived in Chicago, Illinois, and Doha, Qatar. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Northwestern University, concentrating in Media Industries & Technology with a minor in Strategic Communication. In her career, Yasmin has worked as a production assistant for CNN Brazil, interned with FIFA+, and served as a marketing communication specialist for Unilever Brazil, among other roles. Yasmin aspires to deepen her expertise in journalism, video production and writing as a graduate student at the Reynolds School. She enjoys cooking, gardening, and exploring new cultures and cuisines.

Gaby Moreno

From launching Vanity Fair's online presence in Mexico and Latin America to leading communications initiatives in higher education, Gaby Moreno has built a career centered on storytelling and impact. Born in Mexico City, she has also lived in Toronto and Reno. Gaby earned her undergraduate degree in mass communications from Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico City and has worked in public relations, magazine publishing, marketing and strategic communications roles with organizations including Diageo, Shopify and the University of Nevada, Reno. Her interests include journalism, content creation, social entrepreneurship and mission-driven communications. Through graduate school, Gaby is excited to reconnect with her roots in media while building on her marketing experience. Outside of work, she enjoys camping, exploring new restaurants, spending time with family and friends and beading.

Jazmine Perez

Jazmine Perez, born and raised in Nevada, earned her undergraduate degree in Public Health from the University of Nevada, Reno. She is passionate about creating content that promotes mental health and wellness. Jazmine has previously worked as a research assistant and content creator at the University, experiences that deepened her interest in communication and storytelling. She wants to hone her skills in audio and video production through the graduate program at the Reynolds School. Outside of academics, she enjoys reading, writing, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Josue Ponce

Josue Ponce was born in Los Angeles and has primarily lived in Reno. He earned his undergraduate degree in Creative Writing and Spanish through the Professions from the University of Nevada, Reno, where he was also involved in Noticiero Móvil, the Reynolds School’s bilingual (Spanish/English) news outlet. He has previously worked for Patagonia. Josue is passionate about writing, sports, and connecting with nature and the outdoors. He hopes to experience life beyond routine through travel and aims to use communication as a tool to support this goal. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, hiking, spending time at the lake, gardening, and watching movies.

Alex Mounde

Alex Mounde, born and raised in Kenya, holds a B.Sc. in Graphic Communication and Advertising from Moi University and an M.A. in Design from the University of Nairobi. With professional experience at non-profits like SNV and Agriterra, he is passionate about using his skills to address global challenges and support the Global South. Alex is currently pursuing an M.A. in Media Innovation at the Reynolds School of Journalism, aiming to further his goal of working with international non-profits. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and volunteering.

Zareen Tasnim

Zareen Tasnim was born and raised in Bangladesh and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Journalism and Media Studies from Jahangirnagar University. She has worked with leading Bangladeshi media outlets, including The Daily Star and Kaler Kantho. Currently, Zareen is pursuing graduate studies at the Reynolds School driven by her passion for using multimedia to tell impactful, people-centered stories. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, she enjoys reading books and watching films since she wants to nurture her creativity and broaden her perspective as a storyteller.