Hello! My name is Valentina Arismendi.
I'm a senior at UNC's Hussman School of Journalism and Media. In 2011, I was first runner-up for my middle school’s science fair. Though in the moment my project outdid all the paper mâché volcanoes, the realization has since set in that this marked the peak of my science career. These days I’ve transitioned into storytelling and design.
I’m specifically interested in how digital rhetoric can be applied to change public perception of social issues.
During the summer of 2020, I interned at Adobe on the education team. In my role, I created materials that would advance Adobe's digital literacy mission for higher education institutions. I developed a motion graphic video that told the story of Hillary Andales, an MIT student using Adobe Creative Cloud to improve science communication. My time with Adobe inspired me to delve deeper into the benefits of technology in the classroom. Now, I'm a policy research intern at The Hunt Institute, an educational policy firm working to improve public school education in North Carolina.
2019 Burch Fellow
In 2019, I was chosen as one of five Burch Fellows. The fellowship awarded me a grant to study the challenges Venezuelan small-businesses face in Los Angeles, CA.
While documenting the experiences of these immigrants made me realize the shortcomings of public education, government communication, and immigration policies, it also shined a light on the opportunities for change in the future.
My studies at the Hussman School of Journalism and Media have taught me how digital design can be used to spark conversations on important issues. I've created projects about gender equality, mental health, and more. My work has been recognized at both collegiate and international competitions.