Personality Profile

Among the many people passionate about their profession, Roberta Kelly is a key example of the different paths that lead to finding the right career. She is a professor of Writing in Communication at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University, who initially came to the university to work at the veterinary college.

Kelly originally enrolled in the journalism program at Hunter College, now Lehman College, in New York but changed her decision before attending the program. She ultimately pursued an associate of applied science in animal science at the State University of New York at Delhi.

Pursuing science at the time was not traditional for women, and Kelly liked the idea of pursuing a career that was non-traditional.

She later went on to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks to earn a bachelor's degree in biology and earned a master's degree in virology from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University.

However, after some time, it became clear that her passion was not science. Kelly said, "I worked 12 years, at the time, at the vet college and just got tired of it."

She chose to pursue journalism again, despite having established a career in science and earned a bachelor's degree from the Edward R. College of Communication.

Kelly has worked at Washington State University since 1985 and has established a reputation for dedication and honesty.

"I try to remember back to when I first landed and didn't know my butt from the doorknob," Kelly said. She received help at the beginning of her journalism career and seeks to help students as they work toward their career.

Kelly is a professor who cares about her students and will answer questions and push them to be successful knowing how difficult writing skills can be to develop.

Many who experience a class with Kelly learn the value she has for understanding the content rather than the grade. Her reputation among students in college has become one of fear because of how strict she can be.

"People think she's hard, but it's because she wants you to be successful," said Tamara K. Vik, academic coordinator for the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, who has known Kelly since 2007.

Kelly has earned many mentor awards throughout her journalism career. Students can see the honors she has received framed and hanging from the walls of her office. Even graduates will keep in touch or return to share how the information they learned in class helps in real-world situations.

She has built a career in journalism, practiced and mastered the skill, and is a highly noteworthy professional despite spending many years working in an entirely different field.

"Nobody is born a writer, it's a craft like anything," Kelly said.

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