Keyao (Bella) Du (’26SPS)

Keyao (Bella) Du is a full-time graduate student in Strategic Communication at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, where she is pursuing an M.S. degree with a fellowship award. She is originally from Zhengzhou, China, and earned her B.A. in Media and Journalism with Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2023, graduating with highest distinction.

Driven by a commitment to supporting underserved populations, Bella has contributed to initiatives that translate complex systems into accessible information, amplify marginalized voices, and reduce stigma around seeking help. Through journalism, advocacy, and independent, research-based storytelling, she has helped advance awareness of mental health access, eating disorders, and inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Having studied and lived in China, the United States, and the United Kingdom, Bella brings a cross-cultural perspective to her work and is particularly interested in improving access to justice by making legal information clearer, more approachable, and more human-centered through strategic communication and the responsible use of technology.