Photo credit: Hillary Tan
Houston, TX, USA
I’m a first generation Syrian-American with Armenian ethnic roots. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Currently, I’m a freelance visual journalist based in Houston, Texas, who covers stories in the Gulf region and beyond. My work focuses on immigration, environment, politics, and marginalized communities.
I’m a member of the Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association and Diversify Photo.
I graduated with a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2025. I speak English, Armenian, and Spanish. I’m also HEFAT and Stop the Bleed certified.
Past employment and experience:
Co-Director of Photography/ Staff Photographer, Houston Landing, 2023-2025
Photo/ Video Journalist, Arizona Republic, 2021-2023
Photo Intern, Star Tribune, Summer 2021
Photo Intern, Detroit Free Press, Fall 2020 to Spring 2021
Photo Intern, The Commercial-Dispatch, Summer 2020
Lead Coordinator, Pictures of the Year, Spring 2020
Lead Coordinator, College Photographer of the Year, Fall 2020
Honors:
2025: Texas Managing Editors Awards, Second place in Feature photo and Photojournalism
2020: College Photographer of the Year, Documentary Bronze, COVID Silver, General News Bronze
2019: Alexia Foundation Student Grant: Shortlisted
2019: College Photographer of the Year, Feature Category: Silver
2019: Missouri Press Association Awards, Best Sports Feature Photography- Third Place
2018: AP Sports Editors Contest, Feature Photo- Top 10
2018: Missouri Associated Press Media Editors Awards, Sports Photos- First Place
Workshops:
2026: Reuters HEFAT and Stop the Bleed training
2025: US/Mexico Border Journalist Security Training: El Paso, TX. Training by ACOS Alliance, CIK, Freedom of The Press Foundation, EFF
2024: The Kalish Workshop: Rochester, NY.
2022: Missouri Photo Workshop: Excelsior Spring, MO.
Education:
University of Missouri-Columbia:
Master’s degree- Journalism, 2025
California State University- Northridge:
Bachelor’s degree- Art, 2018
