Meet the Fellows: Alexa Ard

June 15, 2015June 29, 2015 Carolina Lopez alexa ard, marijuana, News21, reno, university of reno

Alexa Ard photographs a growing operation in Nevada. Photo by Kathryn Boyd-Batstone/News21 — Alexa Ard photographs a growing operation in Nevada. (Photo by Kathryn Boyd-Batstone/News21)

Posted: June 15, 2015

NAME: Alexa Ard

SCHOOL: University of Nevada, Reno, senior

BEFORE NEWS21: During my first two years of college I wrote for the sports section of the student newspaper, The Nevada Sagebrush, and contributed to a startup called UsportsHub by writing feature stories on pre-draft picks for the 2013 NBA Draft. I then gained an interest in radio reporting after I participated in the NPR Next Generation Radio boot camp at the end of my freshman year. This last semester, I worked as a photographer for Reno Public Radio’s website and social media.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?: I am covering marijuana legalization and regulation in Nevada, and whether Las Vegas is poised to become the cannabis capital of the world. I’m also part of team exploring marijuana research, with a goal to answer questions about what is and isn’t known about marijuana.

FUN FACT: I’ve wanted to be a journalist since I was 11 years old, and I feel so grateful for this field because it leads me to people from different walks of life. Meeting people and getting to hear their stories has made me the person I am today and gives me the drive I need to keep going.

CONNECT WITH ME: @Alexa_Ard on Twitter.