Angela King, ’94, receives Charles E. Odegaard Award for her her journalism, mentorship and volunteerism

Many of us know Angela King as the morning voice of KUOW—Seattle’s public radio station. And many are familiar with King at a podium, the cheerful sound of her voice filling the HUB ballroom at the annual Celebration dinner hosted by the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity. The Pacific Northwest journalist is a perennial volunteer, ever generous with her time and talents when it comes to the University of Washington.

But this year at Celebration, instead of stepping aside for the winner of the Charles E. Odegaard Award, King, ’94, will stay in the spotlight to be honored for journalism that advances diversity, equity and inclusion and for her generous advocacy as a volunteer and mentor.

“Angela has spent her career bringing tough issues into the light, and she has done so with integrity and an honest desire to inform the public,” says Rickey Hall, vice president for Minority Affairs and Diversity and the UW university diversity officer. “In addition, she has given so much of her time and talent back to the UW, to OMA&D and to the students who came after her.”

King grew up in Pasadena, California and in 1989, moved to Washington for college. She eventually transferred to the UW to pursue majors in broadcast journalism and American ethnic studies. When she wasn’t studying and raising a child, King could be found at the Department of Communication and the Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center. She also joined the Husky Marching Band.

King launched her career in Seattle, but it was a close call. Internships at two news stations paved the way for her first full-time communications job as an overnight news writer. But “I was going through my divorce, and I had just bought a ticket, literally, to leave,” King says. “I was going to go back home to California with my son to raise him there.” Just a few days before her departure, a job offer came through.

Later, as her newsroom and its affiliates merged into a 24-hour news station, King moved to Portland to become an anchor. As a reporter, King was inquisitive, motivated and willing to take on tough issues. Amid a growing local white supremacy movement and in the wake of race-based murders nationally, she began investigative reporting on the topic. One of her first interviews was with civil rights activist Angela Davis.

“Another fascinating moment for me as a journalist in my early years was explaining to people the difference between white supremacy, neo-Nazis and the KKK,” King says. “We often just kind of lump all of those people in one group.”

King has filed many stories throughout her career, too many for her to count. But she is particularly fond of her 2020 KUOW feature on the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion of the Women’s Army Corps, the only all-Black female unit to serve overseas during World War II—and of which her grandmother was a member.

King’s efforts to ensure authentic representation of individuals in the media and behind the scenes have enriched the diversity of voices and stories on the air: She has gently guided the way newsrooms portray people of color and all marginalized groups.

“I think it’s important that we make sure we’re not afraid to talk about the ugly stuff, because you can’t fix what you think is already fine,” she says. “And there are a lot of things that need addressing, and they’re uncomfortable to talk about. I don’t mind getting in those uncomfortable spaces.”

The Charles E. Odegaard Award honors individuals whose leadership in the community exemplifies the former UW president’s work on behalf of diversity. The awardee is recognized at the annual Celebration event.

OMA&D Celebration

Join faculty, students, alumni and staff for the Annual Celebration Gala at 5 p.m., May 21, at the Husky Union Building (HUB).