Rekha Basu is an award-winning columnist for The Des Moines Register. Rekha's columns and editorials promote social justice, giving voice to women, minorities, immigrants, and the poor. Born in India to United Nations parents, Basu grew up internationally. She holds advanced degrees in journalism from Columbia University and political economy from Goddard Cambridge Graduate School. Her byline has appeared in The New York Times, The Nation, USA Today and The International Herald Tribune, and her Register columns frequently are distributed nationally through Gannett New Service. She is a frequent public speaker and has made guest appearances on C-Span, CNN, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer and National Public Radio.