Ana Lourdes Cárdenas

Ana Lourdes Cárdenas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism at San Francisco State University, serving as a Journalism Faculty Advisor. She holds a Master’s in Journalism from the University of Southern California, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso, and a Nieman Fellowship from Harvard University. Currently on sabbatical during Fall 2024, she previously taught at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Her research focuses on drug policy legalization, border violence dynamics, immigration trends, and the role of Hispanic media in the U.S. She has extensive binational journalism experience spanning 25+ years with CNN Mexico, Al Día (Dallas Morning News), and as founder of SomosFrontera.com. Her book Marihuana. El viaje a la legalización analyzes U.S. marijuana legalization’s impact on Mexico’s drug trafficking and organized crime.

Awards include the prestigious 2001 Nieman Fellowship. Her teaching emphasizes critical reporting on transnational issues, media innovation, and the evolving landscape of Hispanic journalism.