Makena Huey is an award-winning journalist with a passion for empowering others through storytelling and leadership.

In November 2018, the Borderline shooting and Woolsey fire threatened to destroy the very place she and the rest of the Pepperdine community called home, and although she was not a student journalist at the time, she knew she needed to help in any way she could. In the midst of tragedy, she learned the power of storytelling. In the midst of tragedy, she discovered her purpose. 

Now, more than two years later, Makena has served as editor-in-chief of Pepperdine’s Currents magazine and managing editor of Pepperdine’s Graphic newspaper. She was the executive editor of Pepperdine Graphic Media, overseeing a variety of nationally-recognized publications — all of which were Associated College Press Pacemaker finalists or winners during the 2020-2021 school year; she trained over 80 students in a remote, digital-first newsroom while covering instances of injustice and building trust with her audience.

She is now a reporter at The Acorn Newspapers, where she covers stories that matter to the Ventura County community. 

During a time of division, dehumanization and distrust of the media, Makena is dedicated to telling the stories that are too often left untold and amplifying the voices that are too often left unheard.