Mariana Atencio

Mariana Atencio
Atencio at the Latinos Unidos/National Council of La Raza Gala in 2017
Born	April 2, 1984 Caracas, Venezuela
Education	Universidad Católica Andres Bello, Caracas. Columbia University in New York City
Alma mater	Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Occupation	Anchor/Correspondent
Employer	NBC News & MSNBC (2016-present)
Spouse(s)	José Antonio Torbay
Awards	Peabody Award, Investigative Reporters and Editors Award, Gracie Award
Website	www.marianaatencio.com

Mariana Atencio (born April 2, 1984) is an award-winning journalist and news reporter for MSNBC and NBC News out of Miami, Florida, from where she has covered domestic and international issues for breaking news and special reports since September, 2016. A native of Venezuela, fluent in Spanish and English, and holding a Master’s degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, she has won a Peabody Award, Investigative Reporters and Editors Award, and Gracie Award for her reporting. Before her employment with MSNBC and NBC News, she had been a reporter and anchor for Fusion TV and Univision. During the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, she reported from Miami, Texas, and Puerto Rico.

Mariana Atencio is the eldest of 3 children. She grew up in Caracas, Venezuela and attended a local school.

After high school, Mariana took a gap year to study at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut but returned to Venezuela for college. Atencio has an undergraduate degree in Communications, from the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas where she majored in advertising. She was also part of the student movement that emerged after Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez shut down Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV), the oldest television station in the country. Mariana left Venezuela when she was awarded the Castagno full-merit scholarship from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2008.