Board of Directors
AAJA is led by its national Board of Directors with the counsel of its Advisory Board.
The board is composed of AAJA’s national officers plus 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
Nicole Dungca
Investigative Reporter,
The Washington Post
Senior Vice President
Frank Bi, 2022-2023
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
Incoming: Leezel Tanglao
Vice President Of Civic Engagement
Marian C. Liu, 2023-2024
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
Incoming: Anika Varty
Small/Medium Chapter Representative
Anika Varty
Assistant Metro Editor, Seattle Times
Small/medium Chapter Representative
Daigo Fujiwara
Senior Newsroom Developer, The Boston Globe
Large Chapter Representative
Moriah Balingit
National Education Reporter, The Washington Post
At-Large Chapter Representative
Aric Johnson
Graduate Programs Recruiter, Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
At-Large Chapter Representative
Chris Nguyen
National Correspondent, CNN
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
Jenny Hsu
Founder and CEO, Cetacea Inc.
Atlanta
Nandita Godbole,
Freelance Journalist
Chicago
Jessica Kim Cohen
Precision medicine reporter, GenomeWeb
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
Jireh Deng
Freelance Journalist
Michigan
Megan Schellong
Host & Producer, WKAR-FM, MI Morning Edition
Minnesota
Nancy Yang
Senior Editor for Audience Engagement, Minnesota Star Tribune
New England
Daigo Fujiwara
Senior Newsroom Developer, The Boston Globe
New York
Ron Nurwisah
Senior Editor, Audience and Analytics, McKinsey & Co.
Philadelphia
Kristine Villanueva
Project Editor, Resolve Philly, Equally Informed
Portland
Peter Wong
Regional Reporter, The Portland Tribune/Pamplin Media Group
Sacramento
Chris Nguyen
National Correspondent, CNN
San Diego
David Jones
Producer, KFMB Stations
San Francisco
Cecilia Lei
Fifth & Mission Podcast Host/Producer, San Francisco Chronicle
Seattle
Anika Varty
Assistant Metro Editor, Seattle Times
Texas
Howard Chen
Producer, ESPN