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AAJA Honors First Indian American Fellow Vandana Kumar in Inaugural Simon and June Li Leadership Transformation Fellowship Cohort. The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) has announced the first cohort of its prestigious Simon and June Li Leadership Transformation Fellowship, a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) journalists to accelerate their leadership and entrepreneurial journeys in media. Among the three distinguished leaders selected for the Spring 2025 cohort is Vandana Kumar, publisher of India Currents and a 2024 AAJA Community Awardee, marking her as the first Indian American to receive this honor.
Kumar, along with fellow awardees Barbara Chai, an alum of AAJA’s Executive Leadership Program (ELP), and Jin Ding, AAJA’s former vice president of finance and Convention Programming Committee chair, will participate in leading media programs aimed at shaping the future of journalism. With AAJA’s funding support, these leaders will engage in transformative experiences to develop innovative solutions for the challenges facing the media industry today.
Vandana Kumar, publisher of India Currents on her Linkedin posted “Thank you Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) for this opportunity 🙏 . I am excited about the Media Transformation Challenge“
Transformative Opportunities for Media Leaders
Kumar and Chai will participate in the Media Transformation Challenge at the Poynter Institute, a yearlong leadership program designed to help media executives drive meaningful change within their organizations. Meanwhile, Ding will join Columbia University’s Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program, a five-month initiative that equips newsroom leaders with strategic tools to address complex challenges.
“I am so grateful and honored to be one of the inaugural recipients,” said Barbara Chai, who expressed excitement about applying her learnings from the Poynter Institute to her work at The New York Times and her ongoing contributions to AAJA.
For Vandana Kumar, this fellowship represents a significant milestone in her career. As the publisher of India Currents, a leading publication serving the Indian American community, Kumar has been a vocal advocate for diverse storytelling and community engagement.
Her participation in the Media Transformation Challenge will further her mission to innovate and elevate the role of ethnic media in the broader journalism landscape.
A Force Multiplier for AAPI Journalism
The Simon and June Li Leadership Transformation Fellowship is more than just a leadership program—it’s a catalyst for change. By supporting the growth of AAPI newsroom leaders, the fellowship aims to address real-time challenges in journalism while advancing diverse voices and storytelling.
“The Simon and June Li Leadership Transformation Fellowship is a force multiplier, not only supporting newsroom leaders’ growth but making real-time impact in real-life newsroom challenges,” said Naomi Tacuyan Underwood, AAJA’s Executive Director. “We are so excited to uplift Barbara, Jin, and Vandana in their leadership journeys as they work towards meaningful and innovative solutions for newsrooms and the audiences their newsrooms serve.”
Building a Community of AAPI Leaders
The fellowship fosters a tight-knit community of AAPI journalism leaders, providing them with the resources and networks needed to create lasting impact in the industry. As the first cohort, Kumar, Chai, and Ding will pave the way for future fellows, setting a high standard for leadership and innovation.
AAJA continues to accept applications for the 2025 Simon and June Li Leadership Transformation Fellowship, which also provides funding for participants in its Executive Leadership Program (ELP). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, offering opportunities for more AAPI journalists to join this transformative initiative.
About AAJA
Founded in 1981, the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) is a professional membership organization dedicated to advancing AAPI representation in journalism. Through training, resources, and advocacy, AAJA champions accurate and fair coverage of AAPI communities while nurturing a global network of AAPI journalists.
