MEET THE Team
Cynthia Liu
CO-FOUNDER / AUDIO PRODUCER
Cynthia (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate from University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Chicago-born Chinese American. In the past, she's worked for media companies such as theSkimm, Nextshark, and ChinaDaily working across video, editorial, and marketing. Currently, she's a podcast intern for Morning Brew's Business Casual podcast. Cynthia was driven to work on AZI Media as she was researching and producing her docuseries about the underrepresented Asian American community in the Midwest.
Tiffany Huang
CO-FOUNDER / CONTENT DIRECTOR
Tiffany (she/her/hers) moved from Taiwan to Wisconsin to get her Journalism and Strategic Communication degree with two minors in Asian American Studies and Business from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She faced racism and micro-aggressions for the first time in her life and eventually found herself learning more about Asian American histories and being involved with many Asian American organizations. Since then, she has been using her passion for journalism, content creation and media to share the stories of Asian American diaspora and struggles.
Alice Liu
TECHNOLOGY / CONTENT CREATOR
Alice (she/her/hers) is a student at the University of Michigan studying Computer Science and Community Action & Social Change. She is interested in the intersectional and ethical implications of technology, along with how to leverage digital media for social good. She has also been involved with several Asian American student organizations and The Michigan Daily on campus. Through AZI Media, she hopes to empower Asian Americans to take informed action within their own communities and beyond.
Niveda Tennety
CONTENT CREATOR
Niveda (she/her/hers) received her B.S. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Environmental Health and minor in Gender Studies from UCLA. In the past, she worked as a photo editor at The Daily Bruin. She has also contributed to research on women in the ocean economy, and helped develop client recommendations on gender empowerment and cultural competency. With AZI Media, Niveda hopes to build lasting relationships with a community that holds itself and the team accountable to continue learning and producing representative and useful products.
Alina Panek
REPORTER
Alina (she/her/hers) is a Chicagoan journalist who recently graduated from Denison University with a degree in Narrative Journalism. Her day jobs are working for CBS 2 Chicago on the assignment desk and Report for America, helping revitalize local news. Starting with the Columbus Dispatch, and after a few broadcast internships under her belt, she couldn't miss an opportunity to try podcasts when it intersects with Asian American storytelling. She hopes to feel as connected to her Chinese culture through AZI media as when she performed traditional Chinese fan dancing in high school.
Sabeen Shalwani
CONTENT CREATOR
Sabeen Shalwani (she/her/hers) is a Pakistani American graphic designer, illustrator, and film editor. After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, she applied her graphic design skills through various employers and projects including Cake Meets Sherbet, Unleash Yourself, and Cartoon Network Studios. She gravitates towards projects that amplify marginalized voices that are misrepresented or silenced. With AZI Media, she strives to use art and design to unpack social justice issues and advocate for solidarity within the Asian diaspora and beyond.
Sahil Nisha
REPORTER
Sahil (they/them/theirs) is a nonbinary writer and researcher from the Carolinas. They received their degree in Post/Colonial Media Studies from Emerson College. Their research focuses on Asian-US & diasporic identity, class struggle, and the dynamics & legacies of colonialism. When not reading or writing, Sahil can be found hiking, walking dogs, and playing ultimate. They hope, through AZI Media, to deepen their understanding of Asian political identities and uplift key voices. To keep up with Sahil’s sporadic digital presence, find them on Twitter and Insta @sahelpme or check out their website & portfolio at sahil-nisha.github.io.
At The Moment Podcast
Sylvia Peng
CO-HOST
Sylvia 若晞 (she/her/hers) recently graduated from Vassar College. As a Taiwanese immigrant based in New York, Sylvia is invested in immigrant care, anti-violence work, and multimedia storytelling. Through the student advocacy to create a more comprehensive Asian American Studies curriculum at Vassar, Sylvia found a way to situate herself in the fight for social justice. Her current day job is at a non-profit serving low-income Asian immigrants in NYC. She joined AZI Media to continue shaping Asian American politics where it’s complex and messy.
Janrey Serapio
CO-HOST
Janrey (he/him/his) is a recent graduate from Vassar College and a New Jersey-based, first-generation Filipino-American. Growing up in a family of migrant workers, he strongly believes that there is a uniting power in diaspora storytelling. He hopes that amplifying the stories of marginalized Asian communities in the U.S. will encourage a larger network of solidarity among Asian Americans. Janrey is also deeply interested in seeking equity in the built environment, which he addresses in his current work at the Urban Design Forum in New York City.
Stacey Wong
AUDIO PRODUCER
Stacey (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate from Emerson College, where she obtained her Bachelors in Media Arts Production. Born and raised in the Greater Boston Area, she became highly involved in Asian American civic engagement in her local community. Through her passion of podcasting, storytelling, and documentary, Stacey is committed to representing Asian American stories at large.
Blake Lew-Merwin
AUDIO PRODUCER
Blake (she/her/hers) is an NJ-based half-Chinese American who studied Journalism + French Literature at Rutgers University. At RU, she discovered her love for all things audio and production as both the Assistant Music + Visual Media Director at WRSU-FM. At AZI, Blake seeks to not only educate others about marginalized groups in America, but learn how to preserve + actively engage with her Chinese culture along the way. When she’s not making the pod, Blake loves to read, try (and sometimes fail) to make sourdough, and tell her dog she loves him.