Roxana Saberi
Investigative journalist, Iran imprisonment survivor, author
Roxana Saberi is an American-Iranian journalist, author, and television correspondent who has built a distinguished career reporting from conflict zones and challenging regions across the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. Born in Casper, Wyoming, to an Indian mother and Persian father, Saberi earned her journalism degree from the University of Missouri and began her career covering international stories for major news networks including NBC, PBS, and the BBC. In 2007, while reporting in Tehran, she was arrested by Iranian authorities on espionage charges—a claim she and international observers denied. She spent 101 days imprisoned before being released, an experience she detailed in her 2010 memoir 'Between Two Worlds.' Following her release, Saberi continued her journalism work and has become a vocal advocate for press freedom and human rights. Her reporting has earned her numerous accolades and recognition from journalism organizations worldwide.
Notable Person
American
1977
Thinking about the name
Roxanna
Persian origin
“A Latinate elaboration of Roxana, Roxanna adds an extra 'a' for visual and phonetic richness while preserving the Persian 'bright' or 'shining' meaning. This spelling became standard in English-speaking countries and conveys classical education and refined taste. It balances exotic heritage with accessibility.”