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The Voice of OC’s legendary Civic Editor’s legacy lives on through the Tracy A. Wood Fellowship — a program that promotes and mentors women in journalism.
Wood was a former government reporter, foreign correspondent in Asia, California investigative reporter and editor. She also covered the California legislature and governor’s office for both United Press International and the Los Angeles Times. As a UPI reporter, she was one of the first women combat correspondents during the Vietnam War.
Friends and family of the journalist created the fellowship to honor Wood’s journalistic legacy after her passing in 2020 by promoting women in journalism.
Meet our current fellows:
Angelina Hicks
Angelina Hicks was hired as the inaugural Tracy Wood Fellow in 2022 but has been filing stories and mentoring students with Voice of OC since her freshman year at Chapman University in 2020. Hicks discovered her passion for journalism in high school, where she joined her school’s digital student newspaper.
Hicks, who returned to campus as a journalism lecturer this year, graduated from Chapman in 2023. There, she served as Editor-in-Chief of The Panther, the university’s student-run newspaper. She recently gained a Master’s of Science in journalism from USC in 2024 on a full scholarship, where she worked as managing editor for Annenberg Media.
At Voice, Hicks reports on south county news and civics, including issues along the coastline. She also covers the county-run animal shelter in Tustin and topics regarding the OC Fair & Event Center, including the fairgrounds and equestrian center.
Her “Pets of the Week” series – which publishes every Friday – highlights pets available at local animal shelters, including OC Animal Care.
“Being surrounded by great mentors and editors has been incredibly rewarding, especially so young,” said Hicks. “I’m so glad that I’m able to spend the early years of my career working for a nonprofit news agency that’s dedicated to accountability journalism, covering city halls and paying close attention to local government.”
“It’s something that I’ve been lucky to experience firsthand while I learned the importance of community reporting.”
Erika Taylor
Erika Taylor joined Voice of OC as a Tracy Wood fellow in 2023. Taylor – an Orange County native – began working with Voice following a photojournalism internship funded through the Scott Marshutz Endowed Journalism Fund at Chapman University, where she is currently studying marketing and visual journalism.
Under the mentorship of our Director of Photography Julie Leopo, Taylor regularly publishes photo essays on libraries, transportation, culture and open space. During her time with Voice, she also started the “Free Things to Do this Weekend Across OC” weekly series.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to be part of the Tracy Wood fellowship for the last year,” said Taylor. “It has fostered my curiosity and given me a place to learn investigative skills while working on my education.”
“Working within a nonprofit newsroom like the Voice of OC has allowed me to immerse myself in my community and motivate real change through accountability reporting.”
Taylor looks forward to finishing her degree at Chapman University this December and continuing her fellowship.
Gigi Gradillas
Gigi Gradillas joined the fellowship program in 2024. Raised in La Habra, Gradillas first started in journalism during high school, where she joined the news team.
Her passion carried her to Fullerton College’s student newspaper The Hornet, where she was co-published with the Voice of OC through the California Humanities Emerging Journalist Fellowship Program in 2022. She also interned for the La Habra Journal and wrote for a music website where she interviewed musicians, wrote album reviews and had a segment on a podcast.
Gradillas continued her studies at California State University, Fullerton, she worked in editorial reporting roles at the Daily Titan, the university’s student newspaper, and Tusk Magazine.
Gradillas has covered cannabis ordinances, housing mandates, crossing guard programs, local elections and other civic issues across Orange County.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have found myself under the guidance of the newsroom leaders at Voice of OC. Growing up in Orange County and getting to now report on the issues surrounding the county has been very rewarding,” said Gradillas.
“I look forward to continuing my learning and reporting at Voice and carrying on Tracy Wood’s legacy.”
For more information about the Tracy A Wood Fellowship or to donate click here.
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