Hampton Alumna and Now Emmy Award Winning Journalist Leslie DelasBour Takes Kansas by Storm

Leslie DelasBour ’19, Hampton Alumna and Emmy-winning journalist, discusses her career journey and the factors that influenced her decision to pursue journalism. She attributes her success to her love for community service, honed by her parents’ involvement in humanitarian work and her natural aptitude for reading and writing. DelasBour also credits her time at Hampton University, particularly the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, for providing her with the necessary tools and connections to succeed in her career. She advises aspiring journalists to be authentic, take initiative, and not be afraid to make mistakes. In the future, Debo hopes to return to her hometown, Houston, to anchor and engage in community service. She also aspires to host her talk show or work on a network show.

Hampton University is commonly known as the foundation of many alums’ successes. The same rings true for Hampton Alumna, c/o ’19, Leslie DelasBour, a journalist and now an Emmy award winner. Growing up, Leslie shared that her strong suits were not in math and science, but she had a deep yearning and passion for reading, writing, and being a part of the community via humanitarian work. “My parents were involved in the community in my hometown of Houston, Texas. And so with that, all I’ve known my whole life is helping others through humanitarian work. That’s what my dad was known for his humanitarian efforts, philanthropic efforts, and all that kind of stuff. So, for me, I wanted to do the same thing just in a different light.” Said DelasBour.

DelasBour shared her journey and experiences in journalism and explained that growing up around humanitarian work, she wanted to make a difference in people’s lives through storytelling. DelasBour emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself and not letting others’ opinions define one’s worth or capabilities. DelasBour works as a reporter in Kansas City and teaches broadcast journalism to kids at a small black private school in Kansas City. “It started as a volunteer thing, but then I fell in love with just being there with the kids, so it became like a once-a-week thing or, you know, when, whenever I can go, but I go once a week. On Fridays, we’ll have class and stuff, and they love it. It’s the time of their lives because I bring all my equipment and whatever. And I really bonded with them and created a good relationship with them.” Said DelasBour. She encourages aspiring journalists to pursue their goals, take initiative, and believe in themselves. Leslie also highlights the impact of Hampton University and the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications on her career, providing her with the necessary tools, connections, and support to succeed. She expresses gratitude for her opportunities, including winning an Emmy and covering national events. Leslie’s future aspirations include anchoring in Houston, hosting a talk show, and working on documentaries for major networks. She hopes to continue giving back to the community and mentoring aspiring journalists.