Columbia, Mo. (May 18, 2022) – Kexin Li, the undergraduate student from the class of 2017, was invited to join Kappa Tau Alpha in journalism and mass communication. Only the top ten percent of the graduating journalism students are invited to join the Society.

      Founded in 1910 at the Missouri School of Journalism, Kappa Tau Alpha is the seventh-oldest national honor society in the United States. It recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication. With 99 chapters, the Society has inducted approximately 75,000 members since 1910.

      Kexin Li is the first student to participate in the "Journalism and Communication Undergraduate Dual Degree Program" between the University of Missouri and Shandong University. She benefited greatly from being a participant in the program. During her two years at the University of Missouri, she learned fundamental theories of western media and American media law and mastered news production skills and brand-building strategies. At the same time, she has broadened her horizon and gained a deeper understanding of international communication and cross-cultural communication through studying and living in the United States. Finally, she received two Bachelor’s degrees from two universities.

      With the strong support from the University's International Affairs Department and the Undergraduate School, this program was successfully signed in the Central Campus of Shandong University on March 8, 2019. It is the first international dual degree program signed by the Journalism and Communication School of Shandong University since its independence in September 2016. The signing of this program will further contribute to the cooperation and communication between Shandong University and other famous foreign universities. Besides, It will help the School globalize the undergraduate education level, thus laying a solid foundation for cultivating international journalism and communication talents.