JTC 26: Through Her Lens

For Antonella Rescigno, a senior integrated marketing communications major from Caracas, Venezuela, photography has never just been about capturing images; it’s about documenting truth. 

“I just kind of grew up in that world,” Rescigno said. "I grew up going to protests. I’ve been taking photos back home and documenting everything that’s been going on for 10 years.”  

Rescigno first picked up a camera when she was 12, accompanying her mother to protests during a time of political unrest in Venezuela. Those early experiences shaped both her eye and her purpose as a photographer. 

“It’s just great being able to show people what’s going on, because you don’t really get that back home,” she said.  

At the University of Mississippi, Rescigno has turned that passion into a growing body of work, one that has reached audiences across the country. Her work as a student photographer has contributed to campus storytelling and beyond.  

Her path to Ole Miss began thousands of miles from home. 

“I’m from far away and the first time I walked on to campus, I just started crying,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it was real.”  

Rescigno originally declared a major in dietetics and nutrition but quickly realized her interests were elsewhere. After switching to integrated marketing communications during her sophomore year, everything fell into place. 

“As soon as I changed my major, I way happier and had more opportunities that aligned with my interests,” she said.  

Through her coursework and involvement in student media, she began refining skills she had once taught herself. 

“I didn’t know anything about photography; it was self-taught,” she said. “And then I got The Daily Mississippian job here and it’s been a great experience.”  

That experience culminated in a defining full-circle moment during her sophomore year. When a small protest unfolded on campus, Rescigno instinctively stepped into a familiar role, this time in a very different setting. 

“Being from back home just gives you that kind of sense; I knew where to position myself,” she said. “I was really calm; for me, it just felt like I’m just here taking pictures.”  

What felt routine quickly became something much bigger. 

Her photos were picked up by major national and international outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post and the Associated Press. 

“It was one of the first times I got to put my skills from back home and my skills from here into practice in a safe environment,” she said. “At that moment, I realized how much I’ve grown as a person and as a photographer. 

"It showed me the value of my job, being in the right place at the right time, but also the hard work.”  

Chris Sparks, instructional associate professor of integrated marketing communications, said Rescigno’s drive has set her apart. 

“Antonella has always brought a passion and a desire to learn,” Sparks said. “She wants to elevate the experience for not only herself but others. As the president of UM Ad Club, she wanted programming that had real-world experience and bring another level to the clubs and organizations that she's in.” 

Rescigno’s perspective is shaped by her upbringing, one where access to journalism and visual storytelling was limited. 

“Things that are small for people here are really big to me,” she said. “Just being a photographer… it means a lot more.”  

That appreciation has fueled her deep involvement across campus. From student media outlets such as The Daily Mississippian, The Ole Miss yearbook and Rebel Radio to organizations such as the Latin American Organization, TEDx University of Mississippi and the School of Journalism and New Media Ambassadors, she has embraced every opportunity available. 

“I want to do everything because all of the opportunities, they just seem unreal,” she said.  

For Rescigno, each new experience is not just a resume builder, it’s a chance to grow and connect. 

“Every time I join something new, I just meet incredible people, and it pushes me to be better,” she said.  

Mark Dolan, assistant professor of journalism, said Rescigno’s work reflects both technical skill and a deeper perspective. 

“One time, she brought me a postcard that she had made of images that she had taken in Venezuela,” Dolan said. “It was a collage of all these beautiful images, and I was struck by her ability to see the big picture, as well as the tiny detail, and to see how those things collide, form meaning of Venezuela for her.  

"I think she's one of the strongest visual students we've had in some time. She taps into a side of humanity with her photography that we don't often come across.” 

As she prepares to graduate in May and continue her Ole Miss education at the graduate level, her goals remain simple but meaningful. 

“I just want to take photos, be creative and be happy,” she said.

Top: Antonella Rescigno, an integrated marketing communications senior from Caracas, Venezuela, turned a lifetime of documenting political unrest back home into a thriving photography career at Ole Miss, with her campus protest photos being picked up by The New York Times, The Washington Post and the Associated Press. Photo by Hunt Mercier/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services

See more photos from Antonella Rescigno's Journey to Commencement