Christine Bedell
Storytelling has always been at the heart of what I do. Whether I'm crafting a story, organizing a campus event, or putting together a newsletter, I’m driven by a desire to connect people through meaningful, engaging communication.
That passion began in the newsroom, where I spent 23 years as a journalist—most of them at The Bakersfield Californian, where I grew from reporter to senior news editor. Journalism taught me how to find the story that matters, how to ask the right questions, and most importantly, how to serve an audience with integrity and curiosity.
Eventually, I found myself drawn to higher education, where I could apply those same principles in a new context. For five years, I led communications for the Alumni Engagement Office and Alumni Association at Cal State Bakersfield. In 2022, I joined Cal State Long Beach, where I now manage communications and events for the College of Education.
I approach my role here much like I approached my reporting career: I think about the audience first. What do they want to know? What will inspire them, make them feel connected, or help them serve students? Whether it's ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñfaculty research, sharing student successes, or planning events that bring our community together, my goal is to inform, engage, and elevate. Take, for example, this story about the College of Education's study abroad programs.
I'm a South Bay native—raised in Torrance—and hold a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, along with a master’s in public administration from Cal State Bakersfield.
In my free time, you’ll find me in the garden, in the kitchen, buried in the news—or, more often than I’d like to admit, doomscrolling my way through Twitter/X.
- Bachelor's in Journalism, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1995
- Master's in Public Administration, Cal State Bakersfield, 2021
ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñTeachers Association John Swett Award, Feature Story, 2020
ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñNewspaper Publishers Association, Special Section, 1st Place: 2017
George F. Gruner Prize for Public Service Journalism: 2006
Kern Press Club, General Reporting Series: 2002
Kern Press Club, Series by Multiple Authors: 2001
Kern Press Club, Business Story: 2001
Inland Press Association, Local News Writing, 2nd Place: 1999
Judge, Council for Advancement and Support of Education Awards, 2020
Board member, Maddy Institute: 2016-2022
Mentor, `Runner Alumni Mentor Program: 2019
President, Kern Press Club: 2006-2013
Judge, CNPA Better Newspapers Contest: 2012, 2014
Judge, Peninsula Press Club awards contest: multiple years
Judge, Pacific Northwest Newspaper Association contest: 2017
- Member, College Meeting Planning Committee
- Member, Staff Awards Committee
- Member, Technology Committee