Meet the Candidates for the 2022-2023 Chapter Board

Board elections will be held via email September 27-29. Chapter members will receive the ballot on the 27th. Candidates bios are below.

Ruth Nasrullah, Candidate for President

Ruth is an independent journalist who has served seven prior terms as President. In 2021, she earned SPJ’s Howard S. Dubin Outstanding Pro Member award.

Jim Magill, Candidate for Vice President

Jim is a journalist with more than 40 years experience as a reporter and editor. After retiring in December 2019 as a senior editor with S&P Global Platts, he began a second career as a freelancer, writing about emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robots and drones.

He has been a member of the Houston SPJ Chapter for about 30 years, and has served as president and board member. He recently concluded several years of chapter service as treasurer.

Duane Bradley, Candidate for Treasurer

Duane was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and lives in Houston. He graduated from Baylor University with a B.A. in Oral Communication/ Radio-TV-Film. He has a M.A.F.C. from Nesti Center for Faith and Culture at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, where he serves as an adjunct professor of communication.

Among his many years in media, he notably served as General Manager of KPFT-FM 90.1in Houston from 2002-17 and Program Director from 1986-89. He volunteers as the Executive Producer/ Co-host of the weekly KPFT radio magazine program, Open Journal. He is married with one grown child.

Alecia Alexander, Candidate for Secretary

Alecia has been a member of SPJ and the Houston chapter since 2019. She currently serves on the Houston board as a member at-large. Next year she will also work with the Houston Bar Association on the annual Law and the Media symposium.

Joe Carroll, Candidate for Board Member At-Large

Joe has been involved in journalism for more than three decades, working as a reporter and columnist at various Midwestern newspapers before joining Bloomberg News in Chicago in 2000. After a stint covering agricultural commodities and companies, he moved over to the energy beat. In 2017 he moved to Houston to become bureau chief.

He would like to help the local SPJ chapter focus on assisting young journalists in expanding their opportunities for professional enhancement and fulfillment.

Sandy West, Candidate for Board Member At-Large

Sandy is a Houston-based freelance journalist reporting primarily on health-related issues, child welfare, and juvenile justice. She previously reported for the Associated Press, business publications, and small town newspapers. During her career, she has covered topics as varied as local government and rural issues, the devastation of natural disasters, murder trials, real estate development, politics, utility operations, the AIDS crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health in farm country, foster care systems, and current challenges for transgender youth and their families.