Elizabeth Dinh ('03 BA, Broadcast Journalism)

Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Irving and grew up in the Grand Prairie and Arlington areas. My parents both escaped Vietnam at the end of the war in 1975 before meeting in Texas. I’m proud to be Viet-Texan, as I call it. I’m an evening news anchor in Portland, Oregon, at KOIN 6 News. Before that, I was a morning reporter and anchor at KTVT 11 in Fort Worth. I also held similar positions in Seattle, Tampa, Amarillo, and at the Fort Worth City Cable.

Why did you choose to attend UTA?
Before I graduated from Sam Houston High School (Arlington ISD), I already had some friends attending UTA who enjoyed it. One of my brothers was also a student there at the time, so I heard good things about the campus and classes.

What did you study at UTA? What attracted you to that field?
I studied broadcast communications. My then-boyfriend, and now my husband, Kevin, encouraged me to study it. He saw how I’ve always been curious and enjoy keeping people informed - whether it’s about a major world issue, traffic alert, or something about a new restaurant in town. I also love meeting people and learning about them.

Describe your UTA experience. How did UTA help prepare you for your career?
The best thing was meeting my husband, who has a degree in management information systems from UTA. We started as friends who hung out with mutual friends on campus. We started dating in late 2001, then married in 2007. Even more special is how he gave me the gift of life in 2012 when he donated one of his kidneys to me as mine were failing at the time because of an autoimmune kidney disease called IgA Nephropathy. He’s followed me every step of my career and has been by my side through all the ups and downs. I also made many lifelong friends and was proud to be a vice president of the Asian Students Association. We put together several fun events that united people while also celebrating many cultures. I learned the importance of networking and making connections while on campus. This pushed me to get out of my comfort zone.

I also took on two internships that shaped my life. If I remember correctly, there was a large notebook in an office on the first floor of one of the buildings - and that notebook listed job openings and internships. One was a paid internship for the Barney & Friends show, which was filmed in Carrollton at the time. It was my very first experience on the set of a tv show. I worked in the show’s art department and learned so much about what it takes behind the scenes to make a show come together. I also realized it was not a direction I wanted to go for my career, but I’m forever grateful I got to do it, as it was a lot of fun!

"Be proud of where you're from and the lessons you learned there."

My second internship came from me applying to all the local TV news stations, and getting accepted for a semester at KXAS NBC 5. My broadcast classes were great, but this took things a step further, as I was able to shadow a reporter and photojournalist most evenings, to see how they gathered interviews, video, and information for various assignments. Then some nights, I also stayed in the newsroom to see how newscasts come together from even more angles - including producers, editors, directors, news anchors, and so many more individuals. This experience solidified my desire to stay on the path in pursuing a TV news career by sparking my excitement and curiosity at the same time. It felt right, and 20 years later, I’m glad I was able to get that hands-on learning to help shape the career I love.

Describe your path to your current position. What have you learned along the way?
I mentioned my internship being pivotal for me. I also learned to trust my abilities and skills, to take leaps of faith into this career. I’ve learned it’s important to be a good listener to people and to be open to hearing what they have to say. Everyone has a story, and when I have the honor of sharing it, I don’t take that privilege lightly.

Can you share any defining moments in your career that inspired you to continue your work?
When I hear from someone about how a story I covered helped them in a positive way, or touched them, I know I’m making a difference. Similarly, when I’ve heard from someone about how they saw how I told their story with compassion, I feel even more proud of the work I’ve done.

What's one lesson you learned at UTA that has stayed with you still today?
Be proud of where you’re from and the lessons you learned there. Whether life takes you far, or keeps you right where you are, be proud of the people and places that helped shape you. I’m so proud of the community I came from and love telling people about it. That perspective has also helped me appreciate the cities I’ve had the honor of living in over the years, giving me a chance to soak up all of the influences around me, and continue to grow in appreciation.

What message do you have for the next generation of UTA graduates?
Ask lots of questions and feed your curiosity. You will touch many lives and make a difference in your community. Odds are - you are probably doing that now. You already have talent and what you learned at UTA is empowering you to do so much more with it. I’m rooting for you!

Thanks for including me in this. It’s a pleasure and my honor. I’m a proud UTA Mav!