SPJ Executive Board 2012-2013

Kimberly Brooks received a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University. Originally passionate about science and medicine, Kimberly succumbed to her love of storytelling and moved into television production. She began working as an assistant at the Oprah Winfrey Show including a freelance project at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa. Later, she joined NBC and worked almost four years as a Segment Producer for their lifestyle brand. Kimberly is now is a full-time M.S student concentrating in Broadcast.

Magdalene Castro holds a B.A in International Studies and Asian Studies from CUNY City College in New York. Prior to starting her M.S in Broadcast Journalism at Columbia University, she interned at a local radio station in Harlem and at MTVs International Communications department.

Sana Bég is a graduate of the S.I.Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University where she studied broadcast journalism and international relations. She has worked as a journalist for 10 years in upstate NY--as a reporter and producer for the NPR affiliate in Syracuse and as a news anchor and producer for a television network in Buffalo. Most recently, she taught journalism at a university in conflict-ridden Kashmir. Sana helped set up the region's first community radio project, where she trained and provided editorial guidance to members. She also worked as an editor for a newsmagazine in Kashmir. During her time in Kashmir, she also helped produce content for Al Jazeera English's website.Sana is interested in international reporting and investigative journalism.

Keira Lu Huang is a multimedia journalist and PR pro from China. Prior to her move to New York City, she was a contributing writer for Xinhua News Agency’s Houston Bureau. Last year, she worked in the PR industry in Houston, TX, and freelanced for multiple newspapers in Houston. She holds a B.A. with honors in Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Currently, she is pursuing a graduate degree in digital media at Columbia University.

Sanjana Chowhan used to be a broadcast journalist for 2 years with TIMES NOW in India before she moved to New York. Prior to that she was a radio jockey for 2 years in India. She is now your crazy events director for SPJ, so be nice, if you want to have a good time!

Mansi Choksi worked as principal correspondent for the Times of India in Mumbai for five years where she covered human rights, rural development, environment, shipping, terrorism and lifestyle. She contributed to an anthology on Asia's largest slum, Dharavi, and now co-runs a cartoon blog on the Indian newsroom. She majored in Journalism at Mumbai University and moved to New York City as a Fulbright Fellow for an M.S. in Magazine Writing at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Gayatri Kaul completed her bachelor's degree in Political Science from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, India. Her activities have always merged with her passion and enthusiasm for learning, creativity and human interaction. She has interned with the DNA Newspaper, Bombay, and worked with the Football Players' Association of India, as their Media and Player Relations Intern. Gayatri is currently pursuing an M.S in the Documentary Broadcast Program at Columbia University.

Kenny Suleimanagich has spent the last decade working on and writing about films. He earned his B.A. in Film Studies at San Francisco State University where he focused on new media and ethnography in cinema. He has worked as Press at the Cannes Film Festival and producing work for the UN Department of Public Information. Now studying Digital Media at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, he hopes to incorporate his interest in visual language to his future work.

Dhiya Kuriakose is a currently in the M.S. Broadcast program at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Before moving to New York she lived in Chennai, India where she earned a degree in English Literature from Stella Maris College and a diploma in Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism. Dhiya loves dogs, running and chocolate. She frequently blogs at www.dhiyakuriakose.com.

Cherlynn Low is currently a student of the M.S. program, concentrating in Broadcast. Born and raised in Singapore, she completed her undergrad at SUNY Buffalo, spending a semester in Buffalo, NY, where she was taken by all things American. She is fascinated by New York City's complex and diverse mix of people and cultures. Her love for New York City comes second only to her love for her fellow CUJ13 schoolmates, and she is excited to be working on chronicling the year's events and people as part of the Yearbook Committee. In her spare time, Cherlynn enjoys singing, shopping and sleeping.

Keith Collins was a programmer and web developer for more than seven years before becoming a reporter. He interned with the Interactivity team at The Washington Post and the web team at Philadelphia's Fox affiliate before entering the Digital Media program at Columbia Journalism School. In 2011, he earned an B.A. in magazine journalism from Temple University, where he was a student editor of Philadelphia Neighborhoods, the school's online news service. Keith is interested in covering business, technology, and technology policy.

Tanay Warerkar is a student at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism where he is pursuing a degree in Newspaper Journalism. Warerkar is originally from Gurgaon, India. In May 2012, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a B.A. in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Non-Fiction Writing and Gender Studies. Warerkar hopes to use the skills and experience he gains during his time at Columbia to write and cover, in a creative manner, the fight for gay rights in India.

Stuart Sia grew up in southern California, graduating from UCLA with a bachelor’s in psychology and minor in urban & regional studies. He has extensive experience in public health with Planned Parenthood and most recently the NYC Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence. He also served with the United States Peace Corps in Botswana where he taught health and HIV/AIDS education. Sia is pursuing his M.P.H. in population & family health and M.S. in broadcast journalism at Columbia, and he ultimately wants to cover humanitarian and human rights stories around the world.

Bryan Koenig is a writer, of small truths and larger narratives, of pointed facts and complex people, of witty dialogue and really bad jokes. A Connecticut native, he earned his undergraduate degree in print journalism and political science from American University in 2010. After college Bryan spent a year as a local news reporter for the New Britain Herald in central Connecticut. There he pursued every conceivable aspect of local news, including exhaustive coverage of a referendum on renovating a local high school. At Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, the young writer wants to pursue every story there is to tell.

Shadi Bushra was born in Sudan and raised in Minnesota. He attended Stanford University, where he earned a B.A. in International Relations, with honors in Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. His journalistic experience includes editing the Stanford Progressive, editing photos for the Stanford Daily, and interning at Sudan’s The Citizen newspaper.

Nicolas Niarchos, an M.S. student with a concentration in newspapers, was an Arts and Living reporter and editor at Yale University's daily newspaper (The Yale Daily News) while pursuing his bachelor's degree in Literature. Niarchos then spent a year freelancing and subediting for London newspapers The Independent, The Racing Post and The Guardian. He hopes one day to write and "grasp therein the interplay of subjection and resistance that explains both the materiality of class relations and the ideality of a culture of resistance."

Luke Hammill is a full-time M.S. candidate at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. He is a spring 2011 graduate of the University at Buffalo (SUNY) Honors College, where he received a bachelor’s degree in English and the school’s journalism certificate. Luke has written and reported for The Spectrum (the University at Buffalo’s independent student newspaper), Investigative Post, and the Queens Chronicle, among other publications. He plays the bass guitar, enjoys basketball, and likes writing about himself in the third person.

Mohamed Al Shaaban (Dr. Moe) is a Fulbright Scholarship recipient. Born and raised in the Bahrain, Mohamed went to Med School and received his MD in 2009. He also received a Bachelor’s in Medical Research from the University of Manitoba in 2006. Prior to Columbia, Mohamed worked as a surgeon. He has also worked as a news anchor and reporter on Bahrain Television and Radio. Coming from his drive to combine his two passions together, Mohamed hosted and produced his own health show which aired on Bahrain TV, called ‘Healthy Minutes’. Mohamed is interested in reporting on health issues, but also has a soft spot for International Politics. When not fishing for a story, you will probably find him socializing in a Hookah Lounge somewhere in NYC.

Tenzin Shakya is a second generation Tibetan in the U.S, born in Nepal and raised in San Francisco Bay Area. Shakya has more than four years of experience producing news stories in private and nonprofit journalism. Shakya’s interests include following social justice movements, women’s movement, studying institutional structures of power, human rights, free speech, religion and cyber security. Before becoming a journalist, Shakya worked for Rethink Media, a non-profit organization working to shift the public discussion on issues related to peace and security, national security, and human rights. Fluent in Tibetan, English and Hindi, Shakya believes journalism provides a platform for the public to be informed about their community, an essential part of a democratic society. Her work has been published in San Mateo County Times, San Jose Mercury News, Contra Costa Times, and the Oakland Tribune. Follow her on Twitter @tenzinshakya, her website or connect on LinkedIn.

David Winograd is a multi-media journalist with a background in strategy consulting and media marketing. David was born and raised in New York City and received his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, where he majored in Political Science and International Studies and minored in Business Institutions. Following graduation, David worked as a Business Development intern for Darren Star Productions in Los Angeles. He then spent two years working as a Business Analyst at Deloitte Consulting, a leading management & strategy consulting firm, where he focused on the media and entertainment industries. David is currently a graduate student at Columbia Journalism School, concentrating in interactive publishing and multi-media production. Connect with him on LinkedIn or follow him on Twitter @davidwinograd.