Board of Directors
AAJA is led by its national Board of Directors with the counsel of its Advisory Board.
The 11-member board is composed of AAJA’s six national officers plus five members elected from the Advisory Board.
The board ensures AAJA is fulfilling its mission, meeting the needs of its members and operating legally, effectively, and efficiently.
President
Michelle Lee
Tokyo/Seoul Bureau Chief,
The Washington Post
Senior Vice President, Incoming president
Nicole Dungca
Investigative Reporter,
The Washington Post
Frank Bi, 2022-2023 (Incoming)
Director of Tools and Technology, The Star Tribune
Vice President of Journalism Programs
Kris Vera-Phillips
Adjunct Professor & PhD Student, Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Vice President Of Civic Engagement
Julia B. Chan, 2021-2022
Editor-in-Chief, The 19th News
Marian C. Liu, 2023-2024 (Incoming)
Projects Editor, The Washington Post
Vice President of Finance
Jin Ding
Chief of Staff, The Center for Public Integrity
Vice President of Communications
Shirley Qiu
News Analytics Editor, The Washington Post
Small/Medium Chapter Representative
Julia M. Chan
Writer/Producer-Special Projects, CNN
Small/Medium Chapter Representative
Anika Varty
Assistant Metro Editor, Seattle Times
Large Chapter Representative
Moriah Balingit
National Education Reporter, The Washington Post
At-Large Chapter Representative
Benjamin Pu
Producer for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,
NBC News
At-Large Chapter Representative
Aric Johnson
Graduate Programs Recruiter, Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Advisory Board
The National Advisory Board is comprised of Chapter Board Representatives who are elected by their local members.
The Advisory Board advises the Board of Directors to ensure chapter interests are represented.
Arizona
Aric Johnson
Graduate Programs Recruiter, Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Asia
Oanh Ha
Senior Reporter, Bloomberg
Atlanta
Willoughby Mariano
Reporter, Investigative Team
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chicago
Ariel Cheung
Food Editor, The Chicago Tribune
Florida
Moni Basu
Professor, University of Florida College
of Journalism and Communications
Hawai’i
Wes Nakama
Assistant Director of Information, Hawai’i High School Athletic Association
Los Angeles
Samantha Masunaga
Business Reporter, The Los Angeles Times
Michigan
Dorothy Hernandez
Writer, City of Detroit
Minnesota
Nancy Yang
Digital Producer, Minnesota Public Radio
New England
Daigo Fujiwara
Newsroom Web Developer, WBUR
New York
Ambreen Ali
Sustainability Editor, Fortune
Philadelphia
Kristine Villanueva
Project Editor, Resolve Philly, Equally Informed
Portland
Peter Wong
Regional Reporter, The Portland Tribune/Pamplin Media Group
Sacramento
Chris Nguyen
Correspondent, CNN
San Diego
David Jones
Producer, KFMB Stations
Justine Saldana
San Francisco
Cecilia Lei
Fifth & Mission Podcast Host/Producer, San Francisco Chronicle
Seattle
Anika Varty
Assistant Metro Editor, Seattle Times
Texas
Lauren Hardie