Annie Means �22: A Confident Storyteller
Annie Means ’22 has an instinct for telling stories that matter. At 吃瓜网, she found opportunities to explore her interests in the environment, journalism and filmmaking. She also had mentors and peers who encouraged her to pursue meaningful internships, do collaborative research, and ultimately land a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—the , which she used to interview women working in the maritime industry around the world.
Today, she has crafted a career at the intersection of her passions. As a , she writes, photographs and films stories about the global social, environmental and economic impact of the world’s marine environments—and returns to Whitman to help the next generation of Whitties dream boldly too.
�If Whitman taught me anything, it’s that with proper support and determination, we are all more capable than we realize.
�
Annie Pathway
2018 | Admitted to Whitman
as a recipient of merit-based scholarships and the Patricia Feldman Noyes Scholarship from West Seattle High School
2018�2022 | Worked as a Climbing Instructor
at the Climbing Center
2018�2021 | Served on the Sustainability Committee
for the (Co-Chair, 2020–2021), leading initiatives like distributing free menstrual cups on campus and advocating for a more robust climate tax policy
2018-2022 | Interned as a Marketing Coordinator
with the with support from a Whitman Internship Grant (WIG)
2019�2021 | Worked for the Whitman Wire
as a Podcast Editor and Reporter and Videographer/Photographer
2019 | Interned as an Environmental Communication Intern
with the King County Wastewater Treatment Division
2020 | Interned with the Seattle-based film production house
where she learned more about the film industry, funded by a WIG
2021 | Worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant
for Professor of Hispanic Studies Janis Be and Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies Aarón Aguilar-Ramirez, with support from a Student-Faculty Summer Collaborative Research Grant
2021 | Interned as a Communications Intern
with the with support from a WIG
2022 | Won the David Nord Award
for her short documentary, about discrimination within the blood donation system, supported by a Ben Rabinowitz Award
May 2022 | Graduated from Whitman
with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Humanities and Hispanic Studies
2023�2024 | Completed a yearlong Watson Fellowship
within the maritime industry and blue economy
2023 | Began working as a Multimedia Marine Journalist and Filmmaker
publishing the Substack —where she explores the intersections of sea and society, gender and the marine world
2024 | Honored as a runner up
for the 2024 Young Journalist of the Year Award
�Sometimes, it simply comes down to having someone in your corner who truly believes in you. I experienced that support both during my time at Whitman and as an alum. Without the incredible faculty and staff I had the privilege of learning from, I wouldn’t be where I am today, pursuing storytelling and this career path.
�
Upward Pathways. Our alumni’s diverse student experiences and career paths showcase the transformative power of a Whitman education. Find other Upward Pathways.
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Published on Nov 12, 2025