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Yusra Farzan
What I cover
I report on issues affecting students (prospective and current), their families and communities. Some big questions I am pondering on this beat: who are higher education institutions set up to serve? Who determines who has access to these institutions? How is changing technology affecting higher education? Is access to higher education a ticket to a different trajectory in life?
My background
I didn’t think about university up until I graduated high school. Neither of my grandparents nor parents had completed college. We were residents in the UAE and that residency was dependent on my dad holding down his job. A college degree was a nice to have, not a need to have in my family. And it was only thanks to a combination of luck (Sri Lanka’s civil war ended), grit (I balanced 3 freelance jobs and a paid internship) and sheer determination (I dodged countless marriage proposals) that I graduated with a degree.
And it’s these forces that led me to complete my master’s in race and social justice reporting from USC almost a decade later. (Add a 2-year-old to the mix and grieving the sudden death of my mother.)
I previously covered Orange County for LAist.
My goals
I want to find what works and expose what doesn't, and help students and their families find solutions to their problems.
Best way to reach me
Covering Southern California’s universities and community colleges can be a lot, so I need your help in being my eyes and ears on the ground. If you have a tip, you can email me at yfarzan@laist.com or on Signal at username: @yusramf.25
Stories by Yusra Farzan
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Adoption fees will be waived for the ducks in Riverside County that need to find a new home.
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Residential and business properties in Orange County are valued at over $850 billion. The assessor determines the taxable value of those properties.
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Ancient landslide was activated by recent storms.
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After a month of day-time fasting, breakfast is back on the menu — and in SoCal, doughnuts are a celebratory treat.
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People with ties to the region are feeling recent events, including the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, in a variety of ways. Experts offer tips for coping.
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“ This is one of those situations where both the left and the right should be supportive.”
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The city is set to receive around $10 million from a FEMA grant.
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The three-year contract would be with a company that also has a contract with the Department of Homeland Security.
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Jim Vanderpool has come under fire recently for his close ties to resort interests.
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Results of the three-day count are expected in May.
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This year's count comes amid anti-camping enforcement and potential federal funding cuts to homelessness services.
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Orange County saw economic output drop by $58.9 million over an eight-week period alone, an UC Irvine study found.
