Dinah Eng Steps Down As AAJA Executive Leadership Program Director

(SAN FRANCISCO) - Dinah Eng, director of the Executive Leadership Program (ELP) for the Asian American Journalists Association, will step down in August.

Eng has spent 15 years at the helm of AAJA's marquee leadership program, which has trained more than 400 journalists. Eng founded ELP and has served as its director since. She has served as national president, convention chair. In 2009, Eng was named the recipient of AAJA's 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award.

"I am grateful to the boards, the national presidents, the executive directors, and staff I have worked with over the years, who have supported the vision of ELP," Eng said. "My deepest appreciation goes to the training team and facilitators who have worked hand-in-hand with me on a true labor of love. What I am proudest of is hearing that we not only helped to advance careers, we changed people's lives...for the better."

In honor of Eng's work, AAJA is setting up a Dinah Eng Leadership Development Fellowship fund to support leadership training for AAJA members.

"We're sad but excited for Dinah's next adventure. Her stamp on AAJA and journalism is indelible. She has changed the lives of so many Asian-American journalists, serving as a leader, mentor, and fundraiser who never stopped pushing AAJA to greater heights," said Sharon Chan, AAJA National President. "She has led, and more importantly, inspired others to lead. ELP is a signature AAJA program -- one our members need more than ever -- and one that will continue innovating to lead the industry and our membership."

The AAJA Governing Board is working on a transition plan with Eng. Her last day will be Aug. 4, at the ELP 15th Anniversary Leadership Summit at the AAJA National Convention in Hollywood. This year, ELP launched Media Demonstration Projects in Chicago, Detroit and New York focusing on ethnic media, students and mobile technology. Mae Cheng, a former AAJA National President and executive editor of amNewYork, will serve as director of the projects until the board chooses Eng's replacement.

About AAJA

The Asian American Journalists Association is a non-profit professional and educational organization with approximately 1,200 members across the United States and in Asia. Founded in 1981, AAJA has been at the forefront of change in the journalism industry. AAJA's mission is to encourage Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to enter the ranks of journalism, to work for fair and accurate coverage of AAPIs, and to increase the number of AAPI journalists and news managers in the industry. AAJA is an alliance partner in UNITY Journalists of Color, along with the Native American Journalists Association, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and National Association of Black Journalists. For more information, visit www.aaja.org.