Staff Photographer

Since Alexandra Iglesia‘s role at Writing Wrongs 2019 will be to photograph interviewees, other staff members, advisors, and relevant scenes, it’s surprising to learn that her major at Haverford College is French & Francophone Studies. She decided on this major after a particularly memorable semester during which she and a professor discussed in-depth the social and political issues occurring not only in France but in the Francophone world.

“French has opened up more doors for me in so that I can communicate with more people,” Alexandra said. “As an aspiring photojournalist, I look for different ways for me to connect with my subject more. I believe that learning other languages gives me that opportunity.”

Alexandra had the opportunity to study in France this summer at the Institut d’Avignon. She is a recipient of both the Michel Guggenheim Scholarship, awarded to one Haverford College student demonstrating academic excellence and financial need, and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, awarded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to undergraduate students with financial constraints who study and intern abroad in order to gain skills critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

She is complete immersed in life at Haverford. Last year she held three on-campus jobs, was a community house leader, and is also the president of the college’s Filipinx Club, Bi-Co Barkada. Alexandra also enjoys reading, visiting museums, and creating lasting and loving relationships with friends.

Alexandra’s minor concentration is Visual Studies. After she graduates in 2021, her goal is to work in the Southeast Asia region. Alexandra plans to complete a Master’s degree in photojournalism.

The scariest thing she’s every done was to call the police in an attempt to protect her sister from their father’s domestic abuse. As a teenager, Alexandra herself was a victim of this abuse. While she is now in a better place physically and emotionally, she still worries about her sister’s well-being and her father’s mental state. As a survivor, Alexandra continues to heal and grow.

When asked about her desire to participate in this year’s program, Alexandra provided several insights:

“[M]any people assume that the LGBTQ+ community solely consists of white, cis, gay men. I believe that our society needs to equally recognize trans and bisexual people of color as being valid parts of the community as well. These identities get lost in conversations, especially those voices that are of lower socioeconomic class and are victims of Rainbow Capitalism, a major issue where large corporations abuse the LGBTQ+ rights movement with marketing and products to profit from queer people. I want to be a part of this year’s Writing Wrongs Program so that I can help genuinely share stories of identities part of the LGBTQ+ community that are not typically recognized in our society.”