An accomplished broadcast journalist in India, graduate student Anuneha Mewawalla has worked as a reporter and anchor for leading television news networks in Asia including Star News, owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Covering beats in urban affairs, health, art and culture, Mewawalla reported on South Asia's first successful ovarian transplant. As host of "City60," an evening news program, she helped galvanize the public support that enabled the life-saving brain surgery of a 14-month-old boy. At SF State, she is studying how media affects social change and teaching the Television and Social Change class this semester in the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Department.

Why did you choose to attend San Francisco State?
I was accepted to the master's in journalism at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State, the master's in broadcasting. I actually visited both schools. I loved the energy and the vibrancy and the fact that San Francisco State is so open and inviting to international students. ... I had been working as a broadcast journalist and I really wanted to understand the theoretical part of communication. … I had no idea I would enjoy school so much, and I had no idea that it would make me realize that the more you learn you realize how little you know. I'm just fascinated by every day of coming here and learning something new.

What was your first job?
I reported for Aaj Tak, which is rated the No. 1 news channel in South Asia. … On my very first day at my job as a reporter, we went out late in the night [to cover] … this group that was creating a lot of fear across low-income neighborhoods. They were dressed like "black monkeys," if you translate it into English. … The thrill of it was almost like being a detective. … It was much more than I could have anticipated for the first day of the job.

What are your passions?
I'm absolutely passionate about life, about living every moment, just making the most of every moment. I'm very passionate about learning from everything that I do, everything that I encounter, every person I meet.

Where on campus, outside of class, are you most likely to be found?
Library, third floor. It's a wireless hot spot. It's quiet and I like that it's open space. I don't like to see clutter. I like to see white space.

What is the last music you bought or downloaded? Give us a little review.
I think it was Kanye West, "Gold Digger." Oh gosh, I love the beats. It just gets me off tapping my feet.

Other than what you're reading for school, what book is currently on your nightstand?
"The Art of Loving," by Erich Fromm, and I'm reading a book on body language.

Name a guilty pleasure of yours.
Chocolate. Sinful. Oh my gosh, delicious.

Any other hobbies?
Swimming, a lot of outdoor stuff. Kayaking and paragliding. And I just love the beaches. … You can talk to me about all the best beaches in California because I've probably been to most of them.

If you could change one thing about SF State, what would it be?
Wireless connections in classrooms, everywhere, and in the basement (of the Creative Arts building).

What is guaranteed to bring a smile to your day?
Being with family. Being with my husband is certainly very important to me. He brings a lot of happiness to me.

-- Matt Itelson
Photo: courtesy of Anuneha Mewawalla