Hoda Kotb

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Hoda Kotb

Cheerful Givers founder Robin Steele with Kotb (right) in December 2010
Born August 9, 1964 (1964-08-09) (age 47)
Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
Education Virginia Tech
Occupation Television personality
Years active 1986–present
Notable credit(s) Dateline NBC (1998–present)
Your Total Health (2004–2007)
Today Show (2007–present)
Official website

Hoda Kotb (play /ˈhoʊdə ˈkɒtbiː/; Arabic: هدى قطب‎ Hudā Quṭb; born August 9, 1964) is an Egyptian-American television news anchor and TV host known as the co-host of the fourth hour of Today with Kathie Lee Gifford.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Kotb was born in Norman, Oklahoma, but grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia.[1] Her parents are from Egypt. She lived in Nigeria with her parents for a while.[2] In Arabic, the name "Hoda" means "guidance", and is very popular among Arab women. The surname "Kotb" means "the pole", as in North or South Pole, and is a common surname among Egyptians. The name is usually pronounced [ˈkutub]. For a period during her career, she spelled her surname Kotbe to aid in pronunciation; she now uses the original form, Kotb.[3]

Kotb graduated from Fort Hunt High School[citation needed] in Fairfax County, Virginia, in 1982. In 1986, she graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism. She is a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority.

She was the keynote speaker at her alma mater for the 2008 Virginia Tech graduation, where she played "Enter Sandman" over her iPod.[4]

In 2010, she was elected to a three-year term to the Virginia Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors. [5]

[edit] Career

Kotb appears on the fourth hour of the Today Show. She co-hosts along with Kathie Lee Gifford. She has also been a correspondent for NBC's Dateline since 1998.

[edit] Appearances

[edit] Personal life

In March 2007, Kotb underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery for breast cancer, and has since become an advocate for breast cancer awareness.[6] Kotb allowed Today Show cameras to follow her throughout her cancer battle. After she was announced cancer-free, her story was documented on the show.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kimberly Brown (2008). "'Today' show anchor to inspire young journalists at WVU May Commencement". West Virginia University. http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/news/page/7705/. Retrieved 2009-05-01. 
  2. ^ MSNBC profile
  3. ^ Clarification on names added to page at request of subject's mother, February 20, 2009 to correct a tabloid's erroneous statement that Kotb's birth name was Choda Kotb.
  4. ^ Greg Esposito (2008). "At Tech graduation, laughs to leave by". The Roanoke Times. http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/161454. Retrieved 2009-05-01. 
  5. ^ http://www.alumni.vt.edu/board/index.html
  6. ^ Hoda Kotb (2008). "Your life after cancer is better than the one before". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26967472. Retrieved 2008-12-11. 

[edit] External links

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