Leyna Nguyen

(credit: CBS)

Leyna Nguyen anchors the 4pm and 9pm newscasts on KCAL9. She came to America as a refugee in 1975, and credits her family’s struggles for her thirst for knowledge and appreciation of opportunities.

Before KCAL, Leyna was a news anchor and reporter at KCRA in Sacramento, where she also hosted a quarterly program on Asian American issues. She started her TV broadcast career at CBS affiliate WRDW-TV in Augusta, Ga.

Leyna is also host of the annual Jerry Lewis MDA telethon, the Special Olympics Summer Games, and Heal the Bay.

This Emmy-Award winning journalist also prides herself on the work she does off-camera. Leyna has built and renovated several schools in Vietnam through her non-profit foundation Love Across the Ocean, which benefits underprivileged children and their families, and assists refugee families in Southern California. Leyna is also one of our most-requested speakers and spends much of her off-time making public appearances and hosting charity events.

Leyna earned a degree in Mass Communication from Webster University in St. Louis. In St. Louis, Leyna did “Morning Drive” for jazz radio station WEBU, and was a substitute teacher for grades K through 6.

In 2000, Leyna was named one of “25 Most Influential Vietnamese-Americans in 25 Years.” In 1996 she was chosen “YWCA Woman of the Year.” She is the recipient of numerous television news awards, including three Emmy Awards.

Leyna’s interests include martial arts, cooking, and racing.