Portrait by Hannah Carroll.
Diane Bou Khalil is a journalist and writer passionate about storytelling and art. With six years of experience covering immigration, culture, and art, she has seen firsthand how transformative writing can be. She shares this expertise through talks on storytelling and journaling workshops focused on self-discovery, empowerment, and well-being.
She serves as marketing and engagement manager for Borderless Magazine, an award-winning immigration news outlet in Chicago, and newsletter editor for Women Migrant Press, a UK-based platform amplifying migrant women’s voices through journalism. Diane holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Northeastern Illinois University and a master’s degree in international studies from DePaul University. An alumna of the Emma Bowen Foundation Leadership Program, she has also taught journalism at After School Matters, a nonprofit serving Chicago teens.
Diane has delivered a TED Talk, speaks nationally on journalism, creativity, and community engagement, and is the creator of The Opal Journal: Stories We Hold, a project exploring reflection, creativity, and storytelling. She welcomes opportunities to collaborate or serve as a guest speaker.