My COMM student Kyle McCaghren wrote this “profile story” (of me) for his assignment elsewhere. I showed it to my kids and told them, “This is exactly your mom.”

(posted with Kyle’s authorization)

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Born amid China’s chaotic Cultural Revolution in the 1970s, Roselyn Du emerged from immense social upheaval with the desire to effect change through her words. Growing up in the wake of such turmoil, she witnessed firsthand the effects of injustice and its detrimental impact on her society. Yet, being among the fragmented nation on the path of recovery, Du found inspiration in the power of journalism.

As China slowly emerged from the shadows of its past, she began to embark on her educational journey. Du was attracted to journalism as a means to expose the injustices she had witnessed. Driven by her ideals, she believed she could improve the world through her writing.

“By growing up in social injustice, I witnessed a lot of things and that contributed to my determination to become a journalist because I was really much a very idealistic student, and I thought I could make the world a better place by my writing,” Du said.

Du’s path led her to Huazhong University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism. Upon graduation, she joined the ranks of the Yangcheng Evening News in Guangzhou, China.

“I finished my college degree as a journalism major, and I went into a national-level newspaper. It was probably the largest circulated paper at the time because it was in southern China. … It was the frontier of door opening and reform,” Du said.

Over eight years, her reporting earned her four national recognitions for the China National Evening News Award from 1996-1999. However, Du’s quest for knowledge and desire to further her education led her to leave her role as a journalist and cross the globe.

“After eight years, I kind of feel like I had enough fun, and I always like to receive more education. So, I decided to apply for graduate school,” Du said.

She pursued further education in the United States, earning her master’s degree in communications from North Carolina State University and a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The transition from China to the United States for the first time was not without its challenges.

“The hard part was the transition from that part of the world to this part of the world. It’s entirely different,” Du said.

Adapting to a new lifestyle, navigating cultural nuances and overcoming language barriers tested her resolve. Despite the doubts and warnings from others, Du stayed committed to her pursuit, unwilling to compromise her passion.

“I was apparently disadvantaged with English not being my first language,” Du said. “I was still a very idealistic person. … Looking back, I am glad that I did not change my area of study and compromise my passion in that way.”

Her experience as a journalist in China was the inspiration that laid the groundwork for her academic endeavors. With such an extensive background in the field, Du sought to bridge the gap between journalism practice and journalistic research.

“I sense there is a deep gap between what works in the newsroom and what people are doing research for in terms of journalism studies. I feel that gap is kind of significant and the two camps are not really connected,” Du said. “I am trying to be the connecting point.”

Her journey led her to Hong Kong Baptist University in 2009, where she was drawn by its balance of Eastern and Western influences and the opportunity to escape the U.S. recession. She thrived as an educator for a decade while continuing with her research.

In 2019, Du decided to return to the United States, joining the faculty at California State University, Fullerton. Despite the transition, her goal stayed the same: to foster conversation and collaboration between journalism and research.

“Professor Du’s professional experience definitely translates to the classroom and makes it a practical learning environment,” said Victoria Bridenbecker, a former student of Du at Fullerton.

Du aims to create a classroom atmosphere where students recognize the value of linking research with journalism. Aware of her material’s challenges from the start, she dedicates herself to supporting every student’s success.

“She treated the whole classroom as like another family. … I thought that her treating us as her own kids, she really wanted the best out of us,” said Logan Bevins, another former student of Du at Fullerton.

Roselyn Du’s journey, from the upheaval of her youth to her dedication to journalism and academics, is fueled by one clear goal: to connect journalism and research. Paving the way for a more knowledgeable and united world by instilling the same determination in her students like Logan, “She’s definitely been one of the best professors that I have had. … She’s one of those professors that inspires people to go more in-depth in the field.”