Resume

Bilingual multimedia journalist with extensive experience in aggressive watchdog reporting and passionate storytelling about California politics and government.

EXPERIENCE

State Capitol Reporter, CalMatters
January 2022 to present

I lead coverage of Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature for a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to California politics and policy. My focus is accountability and explaining to readers how the state government directly affects their lives. I was recognized by
the Sacramento Press Club for the best Capitol coverage of 2022.

State Capitol Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle
January 2019 to December 2022

I covered Newsom and the Legislature from Sacramento, with an emphasis on housing policy and other topics important to Bay Area readers. My scoop about Newsom attending a birthday dinner for his political adviser in violation of his own coronavirus restrictions generated international coverage and bolstered a recall campaign. I was recognized by the Sacramento Press Club for the best Capitol coverage of 2021.

Senior Writer, The Sacramento Bee
December 2013 to January 2019

I joined The Bee’s Capitol bureau to write a morning newsletter about state politics, but I quickly gained additional responsibilities covering higher education and the Legislature. As lead legislative reporter, I exposed sexual harassment by lawmakers at the Capitol and an overnight ride service for senators too drunk to drive home. In 2018, I was promoted to a senior writer.

EDUCATION

Stanford University

M.A. in Communication, Graduate Program in Journalism (June 2013)

B.A. in American Studies (June 2012)

SKILLS

Language: I speak, read and write fluent Spanish.

Video: I have two decades of video production experience on Final Cut Pro, Videolicious and iMovie. I trained The Bee newsroom in mobile video reporting and editing.

Public records: I used records requests to uncover a $400,000 harassment settlement involving one of then-Attorney General Kamala Harris’ top aides at the Justice Department and to shape a project on geographic disparity in the use of California’s gun violence restraining order law.

Data analysis: I regularly analyze databases in Excel to inform stories, such as coverage of campaign finance and an investigation into California lobbyists who took millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection funds during the pandemic despite being ineligible.