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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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City officials are requesting Gov. Gavin Newsom declare a state of emergency in the Portuguese Bend area while also seeking a federal declaration from the Biden administration.
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The program aims to help businesses threatened by gentrification in their neighborhoods.
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For one couple, it's an easy date to remember. For another, it's the wedding after a NASCAR proposal.
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The climate crisis is destabilizing cliffs and making landslides more likely, an expert says.
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Sunny day ahead with temperatures in the 60s.
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The effects of the recent mega storms will be seen when water percolates into the ground, an expert says.
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City officials will be tasked with recovering costs from property developer.
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The recommendations come after Caltrans undertook a review of the sites following the 10 Freeway fire.
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Historical photos show a pattern of damage during Southern California’s rain storms.
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The unveiling of the statue will the prelude to the Lakers donning their "Black Mamba" uniforms against the Denver Nuggets.
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The worst of the atmospheric storms have passed, but officials say potential landslides and other hazards will remain.
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Flood and debris flow warnings remained in effect overnight for some areas as the worst of the rain subsided Tuesday afternoon.
