Empowering voices: SDSU Imperial Valley students learn to tell their community’s story

For students at San Diego State University Imperial Valley, learning how to tell their stories effectively just got easier. With the Spring 2025 introduction of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) 310W: Media Writing and Reporting, students can access hands-on training that equips them with essential storytelling skills. 

Among those who see the program’s potential is Guillermina Gina Núñez-Mchiri, SDSU Imperial Valley dean.

“[We can now] offer our students journalism skills such as active listening, interviewing, and the use of technology to share newsworthy stories that elevate the unique contributions of our Imperial Valley community,” said Núñez-Mchiri. “Being critical producers of knowledge is as valuable as being critical consumers of knowledge in an institution of higher education.” 

As Imperial Valley undergoes a momentous transformation with its emergence as a hub for lithium extraction and clean energy development, the need for strong local storytelling becomes even more critical. 

The university not only supports this shift through SDSU Imperial Valley, Brawley Sciences and Engineering Laboratories, currently under construction, but also through media education, ensuring that students can document and share the region’s growth. 

“Many students at SDSU Imperial Valley are bilingual and bicultural,” says SDSU journalism assistant professor Lourdes Cueva Chacon. “Most of our graduates stay and serve their region, making them ideal candidates to reach out and give a voice to the diverse and bilingual communities in the Valley.” 

By equipping students with journalism skills, JMS is helping to amplify the voices of those shaping the Valley’s future.