Florida-grown Misha found that her exposure to the ocean sparked an interest in surfing and ocean photography. Of all pursuits, this is her ultimate career goal: to cover the liberation of Black and brown people and the sea. 

Misha Bernard-Lucien is a first-generation American and university student. She studies journalism, photography and military science at Howard University. In 2023, she co-founded Selah Poets, an organization dedicated to creative voices on Howard’s campus. Bernard-Lucien conscientiously plans out the brand identity of the organization, holding the position of graphic designer and creative director. Within her time at Howard, she has gained on-set experience, being 2nd Assistant Camera Operator for Howard University’s Film Organization’s Afro-surrealism film, Where’s Everybody At? Vol. 2. Additionally, she is a Lifestyle Section Writer for Howard’s student-led magazine Cover2Cover and a photographer for the oldest Black collegiate newspaper, The Hilltop.

Beyond student life, she is one of the Public Affairs Select Officers for the U.S. Air Force set to commission upon her graduation in 2026. 

Coming from Jamaican-Haitian descent, Bernard-Lucien’s sociopolitical ideology is shaped by her upbringing. Navigating the intersection between her Caribbean identity, the influence of white Western Christianity and living in an urban neighborhood. Her ideology is charged by a strong condemnation of white supremacy, bigotry and misinformation. She holds the belief that most [if not, all] issues involving the Black diaspora can be attributed to chattel slavery. She resonates with works such as Dr. Joy DeGruy’s “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome” and cultural leaders such as Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill. 

Bernard-Lucien is grieved by harmful ideologies surrounding religion that impact Black and brown communities. She expresses this stance through journalism by covering stories with truth and nuance. She opposes the anti-intellectualism movement, rebranded as a Christian virtue and patriotism. Her journalism covers issues that intersect with these concerns. At her core, she is a passionate journalist with an empathetic heart for the condition of mankind and seeks to explore stories with depth and accuracy.