The UBC School of Journalism Students Association (SJSA) aims to provide our members with the best student experience possible through social activities, peer support, and advocacy for student rights.
SJSA Leadership Team
Alisa Prinyarux
Alisa Prinyarux is a second-year Master of Journalism student, originally from Kansas City. A former NCAA Division I women’s tennis student-athlete, she graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Journalism and Media Studies and a minor in Data Science.
During her undergraduate years, Alisa worked on music campaigns at Atlantic Records and spent her time attending Saturday Night Live and concerts in New York City. Now based in Vancouver, she spends her time as a part-time tennis coach, writing for the Georgia Straight and freelancing for Sony Music. When she's not working, she continues to go to concerts and can be found at a "pop girlies" themed workout class, playing tennis with friends, watching a movie or enjoying a little cookie/coffee time. With her passion for digital media and pop culture, Alisa aspires to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
Kristen de Jager
Kristen de Jager is a second-year Master of Journalism student hailing from Langley, British Columbia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Victoria. Through her studies, she discovered a passion for storytelling that examines how health, environmental, and social policies affect the lives of everyday people.
At the Climate Disaster Project, documenting survivor stories from climate-related disasters deepened Kristen’s focus on underrepresented voices and systemic inequities. It earned her a nomination for excellence in business reporting from the Canadian Association of Journalists and a Jack Webster Award nomination for Choked Out: The Wildfire Smoke Threat to Tree Planters.
At UBC, Kristen is deepening her research and reporting skills while focusing on stories with both local and international resonance. Alongside her studies, she has reported for CBC and The Tyee, covering stories that connect audiences to the people, policies, and systems that influence their daily lives.
Through her work, Kristen aims to create journalism that informs, engages, and empowers readers, highlighting the intersections between policy, environment, and social justice. She is particularly interested in storytelling that fosters understanding across communities and contributes to meaningful public dialogue.
In her freetime, Kristen enjoys hiking around the lower mainland, experimenting with cookie recipes with her roommate, and trying out new combos at the dance studio.
She encourages current students, alumni and prospective students to reach out at kristende.jager@gmail.com
Riley Brady
Riley Brady is a second-year Master of Journalism student, originally from Vancouver. He graduated from Queen’s University with a major in Political Science and a minor in History. In between his undergraduate and his master’s, he volunteered at the UN COP-15 conference and worked at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, as well as the Rick Hansen Foundation.
His own reporting work has primarily revolved around Canadian politics, at all three levels of governance. He interned for Coastal Front, a “government watchdog” media publication. His work there involved covering the recent federal election, various provincial and municipal government programs/policies, and the ongoing drug crisis in BC. Through this experience, he was also able to briefly meet Prime Minister Mark Carney at a political event.
He also has experience in community and cultural writing with prior experience at The Source/La Source, covering topics like the proposed Vancouver South Asian Museum and AI being used in art. Additionally, he also interviewed the Canadian athlete, Rick Hansen, during his internship at the foundation there.
Right now, Riley is enrolled in the Global Reporting Program, feature writing, and working with Professor Mary-Lynn Young on developing a syllabus for an undergraduate Canadian studies course focusing on News Avoidance in Canada.
In his free time, Riley enjoys working out, participating in outdoor activities like hiking and running, watching drama TV shows and movies, reading history books, and socializing with his friend group
Jeff Lee
Jeff Lee is a first-year student in the Master of Journalism program at the University of British Columbia. He completed his undergraduate degree at UBC, majoring in English Literature with a minor in Creative Writing.
As a journalist, Jeff is passionate about storytelling and finds great fulfillment in listening to and sharing the diverse experiences of others. His work spans a variety of topics, with a growing interest in arts, culture, and community-focused stories.
Outside of journalism, Jeff enjoys watching theatre productions and hopes to try his hand at an escape room again sometime soon. He’s also a rom-com enthusiast and a foodie who loves discovering new places to eat.
Anjini Snape
Anjini Snape is a second-year Master of Journalism student, originally from Dundee, Scotland. She completed her undergraduate degree at Queen Mary University of London in England, with a bachelor’s degree in English and Film Studies.
Since moving to Vancouver, Anjini has spent her time interning at Vancouver Magazine, CBC Radio Vancouver, hiking, swimming at English Bay, and trying new restaurants. With a background in, and love for, the creative industries, Anjini is pursuing a career in arts and culture journalism.
Victoria Brzezinski-Szadzianis
Victoria Brzezinski-Szadzianis is a Franco-Polish journalist based in Vancouver. She writes about politics, society, and the environment. She grew up in Warsaw, Poland, where early exposure to multiple languages and cultures sparked a lifelong curiosity about people and power structures. After moving to Canada, she earned her Bachelor of Journalism with a minor in Political Science from the University of King’s College in Halifax. Now based in Vancouver, she is pursuing a Master of Journalism at the University of British Columbia. When she’s not deep in editing or researching the next big story, Victoria can usually be found out for a walk with a podcast in her ears or scrolling through flight deals for her next adventure.
Rachel Pfalzer
Rachel Pfalzer is a first-year MJ student from California who completed her BA in English at the University of Washington. She has a background in communications and nonprofit work, but her true passion lies at the intersection of literature and journalism. She hopes to pursue research in arts, culture, and the impact of media on public perception. Ideally, she'll one day find her name at the top of the "Books & Culture" tab of The New Yorker.
Outside of journalism and a love for academia, she tries to balance a myriad of hobbies including painting, reading, yoga, and writing angsty poetry.
Alexis
Alexis is originally from a suburb thirty minutes outside of Minneapolis known as Prior Lake, and moved to Bozeman, Montana — a short drive from Yellowstone National Park — six years ago to earn her BA in English writing with minors in psychology and global studies from Montana State University, where she balanced her time between the mountains and the classroom somewhat disproportionally. She transitioned into her Master’s of Journalism in the fall of 2025 with hopes of uncovering the truth in long-form global, investigative, equal rights, and social movements coverage. Between deadlines, Alexis loves reading and writing creative nonfiction, memoirs, and micro essays. During her undergraduate studies, Alexis developed her skills as a journalist, writer, and editor in various roles — from co-founding the digital literary magazine The Times NOU to reporting on the self-governing community of Christiania (Freetown) in Denmark as an ethnographer.
In her free time, Alexis enjoys just about anything outdoors and social, and is always looking for ways to blend the two. She winds down by attending dinner parties, painting, participating in local pottery clubs or studios, knitting, long walks, and cycling. As for work, Alexis writes for The Ubyssey and The Source as a contributing journalist and teaches Chinese students who have or are in the process of immigrating to Vancouver English writing and literature