Nuri Vallbona

Nuri Vallbona is a Lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin's School of Journalism and Media. She is a renowned documentary photojournalist and writer specializing in social justice issues, including modern-day slavery, inner-city poverty, immigration, and crime. Born in Houston, she graduated in photojournalism from UT Austin before working for major newspapers like the Miami Herald and Reuters.

Education:

• Bachelor's in Photojournalism, University of Texas at Austin

Research Interests: Vallbona's work focuses on marginalized communities, particularly Latino communities and social justice narratives. Her photography explores themes of identity, migration, and systemic inequality, leveraging her bilingual skills and cultural heritage to document underrepresented stories.

Awards:

• Pulitzer Prize Finalist (2000)
• Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University
• Exhibitions at the Smithsonian and Elizabeth Ney Museum

Teaching & Career: She teaches photojournalism and reporting courses at UT Austin and Texas Tech University. Her career includes documenting Latin America's crises, such as the 1985 Mexico City earthquake and Colombia's volcanic eruptions, as well as chronicling South Florida's housing crisis and farmworker exploitation.

Labs/Teams: Her work has been featured in collaborative projects like Americanos (a book documenting Latino life) and the Suffrage Now exhibit.