NPR host visits Hood

National Public Radio Newscaster Korva Coleman visited Hood on Sept. 22 to kick off the Passion and Profession series.

Coleman, who has been working at NPR since 1990, talked about her experiences with failure, how they have shaped her into the person she is today, and how this brought her into the world of journalism.

“I am doing what I desire to be doing,” Coleman said. “It’s the experience of failure that helped me learn this.”

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Coleman majored in journalism at Howard University. She later went on to Georgetown University to study law, but dropped out when she realized that her true passion was radio.

“Radio is both an art and a science,” she said.

During her talk, Coleman quoted both Alanis Morissette and Kahlil Gibran. Coleman also talked about the importance of college and how important a college experience can be in shaping someone’s character.

“College is here to help you learn about your humanity,” Coleman said. “Let yourself become exceedingly uncomfortable.”

In addition to her talk for the Passion and Profession series, Coleman also spoke to a class of Communication Arts and English students, moderated by Professor Orloff.

“I thought that it was a rare opportunity for CMA majors to have time to talk with somebody who is actually practicing the profession, in a way that many of our students aspire to,” Orloff said. “She’s actually doing the news.”

Orloff normally teaches Reel Journalism during this time, but volunteered her classroom so that Coleman could have a chance to speak directly with students.

“The timing worked out, and she was generous enough to come a little bit early just to meet with students, rather than through the campus wide presentation in the evening,” Orloff said.

During this time, Coleman spoke about a day in the life as an NPR newscaster, which involves going into work at 3 a.m. and often having to be quick on her feet. Coleman says that she likes to use her platform to talk about stories that not everyone is looking at.

Many students felt that Coleman was enriching.

“Her talk was very inspirational and life-changing. I idealize her,” said John Curran, a senior. “She’s just a great human and there is a lot to learn from her. I love NPR and didn’t know what I was going to do when I graduated. Now I want to work for NPR.”

Coleman said that she feels she currently has her dream job, and that the hardest story she has ever had to work on was the Sandy Hook shooting.

“It has great value for me to tell the truth, even with a broken heart,” Coleman said.

According to the Hood website, the Passion and Profession series “will bring to campus speakers whose careers are based in a particular set of personal values that connect to a current social justice issue.”

The series was created by the Career Center and the Office of the Dean of the Chapel.