Aziza Shuler: Bio, Age, Career, Emmy Awards & Inspiring Journey to CBS News Anchor

Aziza Shuler stands as one of the most inspiring voices in American broadcast journalism today. As an Emmy Award-winning journalist who co-anchors weekend mornings on CBS News New York, she has transformed personal adversity into professional excellence. Her remarkable journey from Washington D.C.’s foster care system to the anchor desk of a major network affiliate represents a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of authentic storytelling.

Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Aziza Shuler was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in the city’s foster care system after her parents struggled with addiction issues during her early childhood. Her grandmother eventually gained custody and provided a stable home environment, though the early trauma left lasting impacts—including the development of alopecia, an autoimmune condition causing hair loss, at age 12.

Growing up without cable television, Shuler developed an early fascination with broadcast news. She would watch morning and evening newscasts and listen to radio stations like 93.9 WKYS, particularly the Russ Parr Morning Show, captivated by the voices and stories. By first grade, she knew she wanted to be a journalist.

Her father, despite limited visitation due to foster care circumstances, would tell her: “You’re going to be a journalist, a reporter, a writer, something of that nature and tell the stories of people like us, who come from certain communities or disadvantages and tell their stories and humanize them.”

Shuler began her higher education at UCLA, spending her first two years in Los Angeles before transferring to St. John’s University in Queens, New York, as a junior. She graduated from St. John’s in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Communications. During college, she completed her only internship at 1010 WINS radio in Manhattan, an experience she credits as instrumental in developing her newsgathering and storytelling skills.

In 2025, at age 32, Shuler returned to academia as a graduate student at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism—her “dream school” from teenage years—pursuing a Master of Science in Documentary Journalism with an expected graduation date of August 2026.

Career Journey

Early Career: Yuma, Arizona (2015–2020)

After graduating from St. John’s in 2015, Shuler spent months applying to news positions across the country, from Vermont to upstate New York. She landed her first professional job at KECY/KYMA, the Fox/ABC affiliate in Yuma, Arizona—a small market on the Mexican border.

In Yuma, she covered everything from agriculture and military affairs to immigration at the southern border. It was here she learned “the power of humanizing the news.” Her team’s reporting on the living conditions of migrant families along the border earned them an Emmy Award in 2020—television’s highest honor.

Los Angeles and Capitol Hill (2020–2022)

In 2020, Shuler returned to Los Angeles to work for Spectrum News as a multimedia journalist, producing hundreds of character-driven stories focused on community impact, including coverage of the city’s deepening homelessness crisis.

In 2022, she relocated to Washington, D.C., to serve as a political correspondent covering Capitol Hill and California politics. During this assignment, she covered President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union address and the historic nomination of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Philadelphia: Breaking Barriers (2022–2025)

In October 2022, Shuler joined CBS News Philadelphia as Weekend Evening Anchor and Reporter. During her tenure, she became known for her compelling storytelling and community connection.

In September 2023, during Alopecia Awareness Month, Shuler made the courageous decision to share her personal journey with alopecia on air—removing her wig publicly for the first time. Her series on alopecia earned a National Association of Black Journalists Award and an Emmy nomination.

In 2025, the City of Philadelphia recognized Shuler as a Woman of Excellence, honoring her with a citation from the city council. That same year, she reported live from Broad Street as thousands celebrated the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX victory.

New York City: Full Circle (2025–Present)

In October 2025, Shuler achieved a career milestone by joining CBS News New York as Co-Anchor of Weekend Mornings. The move represented a “full-circle moment” as her first and only college internship had been at 1010 WINS in Manhattan.

She continues to pursue her master’s degree at Columbia Journalism School while anchoring, demonstrating her commitment to continuous growth.

Personal Life

Family Background

Shuler’s upbringing in Washington D.C.’s foster care system profoundly shaped her worldview and journalistic approach. Raised primarily by her strict, religious grandmother after her parents struggled with addiction, she developed resilience and compassion that inform her reporting.

Relationships

Shuler is in a relationship with a supportive boyfriend who played a crucial role in her alopecia journey. During a trip to New York, he encouraged her to go out in public without her wig for the first time—a liberating experience that received positive reactions from strangers.

Health Advocacy: Alopecia Awareness

Shuler developed alopecia at age 12, likely triggered by childhood stress. For years, she wore wigs to maintain comfort and a consistent on-camera identity. Her decision to go public with her condition in 2023 transformed her into a prominent advocate for alopecia awareness.

She has spoken at Baldie Con and participated in the National Alopecia Areata Foundation’s Walk for Alopecia events. Her advocacy focuses on confidence, self-love, and removing stigma around hair loss.

Awards & Achievements

• 2020: Emmy Award for reporting on migrant family living conditions at the southern border (Yuma, Arizona team coverage)
• 2023: National Association of Black Journalists Award for alopecia awareness series
• 2023: Emmy Nomination for alopecia awareness series
• 2025: Philadelphia City Council Citation as Woman of Excellence
• 2025: Inductee, St. John’s University College of Professional Studies Hall of Fame (anticipated)

Physical Statistics

Quotes

On her mission as a journalist:

“We as a society have to be aware of the overlooked… It’s a Vincentian thing to do.”

On humanizing the news:

“At the border, we told stories of immigrants and humanized them. That’s what I have always tried to do.”

On her alopecia journey:

“I wanted to be free, I feel liberated.”

On returning to Columbia:

“I ended up putting it off for a whole decade before this moment finally came, and now here I am, a 32-year-old graduate student.”

Favorites

Earnings & Net Worth

Specific salary and net worth information for Aziza Shuler is not publicly available. As a weekend anchor at a major market CBS affiliate (New York) and Emmy Award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience, industry estimates suggest her annual salary likely ranges between $75,000–$150,000+, though this is speculative.

Interesting Facts

• Foster Care to Fame: Shuler’s journey from D.C.’s foster care system to network affiliate anchor desk is one of the most inspiring stories in broadcast journalism.
• Emmy at First Job: Won her first Emmy Award at her very first professional job in Yuma, Arizona.
• Cari Champion Connection: After college, she worked as an assistant to ESPN anchor Cari Champion, one of her professional role models.
• Pageant Participant: Competed in Miss California USA while living in Los Angeles after college.
• Decade-Long Dream: Waited 10 years before pursuing her master’s at Columbia Journalism School, her “dream school.”
• Super Bowl Reporter: Covered the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2025 Super Bowl victory live from Broad Street.

Did You Know?

• Shuler never had cable growing up—she watched news instead of Disney Channel.
• She missed out on all Harry Potter books and movies as a child due to her grandmother’s strict household rules.
• Her first on-air appearance without a wig was inspired by her boyfriend’s encouragement during a New York trip.
• She is pursuing documentary journalism at Columbia, indicating a potential future in long-form storytelling.

Social Media Links

• LinkedIn: Aziza Shuler
• Instagram: @azizashuler (journalist account)
• CBS News Profile: cbsnews.com/team/aziza-shuler

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Aziza Shuler?
Aziza Shuler is approximately 32–33 years old as of 2025–2026, based on her statement of being a “32-year-old graduate student” in November 2025.

Where is Aziza Shuler now?
As of October 2025, Aziza Shuler serves as Co-Anchor of Weekend Mornings at CBS News New York.

What awards has Aziza Shuler won?
Shuler won an Emmy Award in 2020 for her team’s coverage of migrant families at the southern border, a National Association of Black Journalists Award for her alopecia series, and was named a Philadelphia Woman of Excellence in 2025.

Does Aziza Shuler have alopecia?
Yes, Shuler developed alopecia at age 12 and became a public advocate for alopecia awareness in 2023 when she revealed her condition on air without wearing a wig.

Where did Aziza Shuler go to college?
Shuler attended UCLA for two years before transferring to St. John’s University, where she earned her B.S. in Communications in 2015. She is currently pursuing a master’s in documentary journalism at Columbia University.

Is Aziza Shuler married?
Shuler is not married but is in a relationship with a supportive boyfriend who encouraged her alopecia advocacy journey.

Conclusion

Aziza Shuler represents the future of American journalism—authentic, resilient, and deeply connected to community. Her journey from foster care to the CBS News anchor desk demonstrates that background does not determine destiny. By sharing her alopecia story, she has inspired countless viewers to embrace their authentic selves while maintaining the highest standards of broadcast journalism.

As she balances her weekend anchor duties with graduate studies at Columbia, Shuler continues to evolve as a storyteller. Her mission to “inform, inspire, and ignite change” resonates through every broadcast, proving that the most powerful journalism comes from those who understand struggle, survival, and the human capacity for transformation.

If this biography inspired you, please share it with others who might benefit from Aziza’s remarkable story of resilience and achievement.