Alexandra Rodriguez
Alexandra Rodriguez (New Media Photojournalism MA, ‘24) is a digital storyteller from Miami, Florida. She works as a part-time photographer at the George Washington University Museum and The Textiles Museum, and has experience as a sports photographer for the University of Florida, as well as with freelance projects on subjects such as the Washington Ballet and food insecurity in the D.C. Metro area. Her creative work focuses on themes of culture, family and identity.
Alexandra’s thesis project for NEXT, Rooted, is based on her Cuban-American identity and her perception of how the two cultures interact with one another. She creates a family narrative, beginning with her grandparents’ migration from Cuba after Fidel Castro’s rise to power, to tell her own story and highlight the different factors that encompass her character. Alexandra shows us the ways in which she and her family preserve important aspects of Cuban culture and emphasizes the importance of staying connected to one’s roots. Alexandra writes: “For me and my siblings, identifying as Cuban-American is more than a label: it is a reminder of the sacrifices made on our behalf. The hyphen bridging Cuban and American is a connection to our roots and the diverse experiences passed down through generations.”
