Professor Steven Roberts describes himself as an “old white guy from New Jersey.”

But D.C. Spotlight, an online newspaper, prefers to call the journalist the “fourth most interesting person in D.C.”

Roberts worked for the New York Times for 25 years and was the senior writer at U.S. News and World Report for seven years. Now, he’s a New York Times bestselling author and a substitute host on NPR’s “The Diane Rehm Show.” Since 1997, Roberts has been teaching at GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs.

Roberts’ first job was at the New York Times in 1962, when he worked as a research assistant to James “Scotty” Reston, the paper’s then-Washington bureau chief. Reston was one of the most influential figures in journalism at the time, yet Roberts recalls, “Every day, he made time for me and it made a profound impact.”

Though Roberts is usually noted for his work as a political analyst, he has recently spoken at several arts festivals.

“I am pleased to be recognized for a whole different side of my professional life, the storytelling side,” Roberts said of a recent event at Politics and Prose bookstore.

The stories that capture Roberts most are about families – his three published books all relate to different aspects of family life.

In “From This Day Forward,” Roberts and his wife, fellow journalist Cokie Roberts, comment on their own partnership, as well as marriage in general in America. “My Fathers’ Houses” is Roberts’ childhood memoir of growing up in an immigrant community in Bayonne, N.J.

“I encourage my students to write about their families, because the material is accessible,” said Roberts. Reading about his students’ families inspired Roberts’ latest book, “From Every End Of this Earth,” which uses personal stories to show the large contributions made by immigrant families in today’s society.

“I care about [my students]. And because I care about them, they share things about their lives with me,” Roberts said. “I learn as much from my students as they do from me.”

Senior Haley Friedlich, one of Roberts’ current students, said she looks forward to doing his assignments and spends more time on work for his feature writing class than on any other subject.

“I know that when [the assignments] are in Roberts’ hands they will be genuinely appreciated,” she said.

Roberts’ openness allows his relationships with students to continue even after they leave GW.

“I have a vast network of several hundred students who I’m still in touch with,” he said, especially when it comes to jobs. Roberts said he facilitates networking among former students.

“One of the greatest lessons professor Roberts has given his students is how to give back,” said Vanessa Maltin Weisbrod, a former student of Roberts who is now the food and lifestyle editor for Delight Magazine. “If you’ve had a class with him, you know that he’s always helping students find internships and jobs through his previous students.”

Roberts’ newest book, “Our Haggadah,” which he co-wrote with his wife, is set to be released this spring. The book will illustrate how differing faiths within a family unite, rather than divide, its members.

For the moment, however, Roberts plans to continue teaching and spend more time with his six grandchildren.

“What my heroes taught me is that the time you spend with young people – the time you spend helping them, mentoring them – is as profound a work that you can do,” he said.