Lexi Pandell is a journalist from Oakland, CA. Prior to joining the UC Berkeley J-School, she attended UC Santa Barbara where she was Managing Editor of The Daily Nexus. During her time with the Nexus, Lexi won first place for the California College Media Association's award for "Best Feature" and was the two-time winner of the George Obern Award for Excellence in Writing. She discovered a love for international culture and politics early on during her undergraduate career and spent six months studying abroad in Ghana where she volunteered at the Liberian Refugee Camp, taught English, took courses at the University of Ghana, traveled throughout West Africa and kept a travel blog. During her time at UCSB, Lexi was also the founder and three-year captain of the UCSB Equestrian Team and an intern for the Pacific Coast Business Times. Lexi received her B.A. in Global & International Studies with an African emphasis and a minor in English. In her free time, Lexi enjoys travel, reading, music and horseback riding. Lexi is also a reporter with Richmond Confidential's sister site, Oakland North. You can read her ON stories at: http://oaklandnorth.net/author/lexi-pandell/