DES MOINES, Iowa — WHO 13 welcomes Samantha Mesa, a seasoned journalist with more than a decade of anchoring and reporting experience across the country. Samantha returns to Des Moines after anchoring in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her reporting has spanned politics, the economy, immigration, healthcare, and community issues. A familiar face to Central Iowa viewers, Samantha previously anchored at WOI-TV, focusing on stories that connect local communities. Her career has also taken her to newsrooms in Texas, New York, and along the Mexico border. Samantha’s passion for journalism began while studying abroad during the Arab Spring uprisings. She later earned her Master of Science from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, and holds a B.A. in Communication and Political Science from the University of Colorado, Denver.

She’s excited to return to Des Moines — where she met her fiancé and adopted her dog Buddy — and looks forward to reconnecting with the community. Samantha is a proud member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, salsa dancing, and exploring new places.