My name is Shirley Liu, and I’m a freelance writer specializing in education reporting. I began writing in high school and have always believed in the transformative power of storytelling. That belief drew me to journalism, where I aim to tell critical and personal stories that make educational research accessible.

I graduated from Henan University in May 2024 with a bachelor of arts degree in Network and New Media. There, I studied communication theories and became fascinated by how mass media shape people’s beliefs. I’m currently pursuing a master of science in Education at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy. My research focuses on media literacy education and how individuals process information in a complex media landscape.

I became more deeply involved in journalism after joining the Educational Journalism Collaborative at Northwestern. In that program, I worked closely with student journalists and professors from Medill to report on education. That experience sharpened my reporting skills and affirmed my commitment to bridging research and real-world impact through storytelling. One of my recent stories is a collaboration with journalist Jill Barshay on reading comprehension.

Through my work, I hope to reach educators, policymakers, and curious readers who care about equity, learning, and how we understand the world through media.