WSOU Spotlight: Rachel Haggerty ’19  

Rachel Haggerty '19.

From hard rock to college sports ad everything in-between, WSOU Alumni Legends play a part in continuing the success and reputation of the award-winning, student run radio station. Now an engineer at iHeart Radio, Rachel Haggerty, an alumna of the College of Communication and the Arts, shares about her experience at WSOU and how it jump-started her career.

Could you describe your overall experience at the WSOU 89.5FM radio station? How you got involved and the roles you had within the station.

My experience at WSOU was one that I wouldn't trade for anything, it wasn't just sitting in front of a professor learning about the history of [the radio]. It was a trial period of doing something in the real world and I can verify those skills transferred over to a corporate radio station very well. Going to a university, I thought I would graduate with a physics degree and work in a lab. Instead, I saw a wheel at an open house and could not resist a free piece of merchandise. I didn't think after listening to phone taps on Z100 that a college student could also be on the radio. I went to go see what it was all about, and I never turned away. I got really into learning how I can talk into a microphone and my dad can hear me on his way to work. I got into the technology side, staying many overnights observing maintenance on the transmitter and following our chief engineer around whenever I wasn't in class. I end-ed up being the Technical Operations assistant for two years, and the Technical Operations Manager for one year. I managed the website, leading a whole revamp of the visuals, and learned everything I could so I became the on call for problems 24/7. 

How was your experience as a commuter student before joining the station versus after joining the station?

I joined the station the summer before my freshman year, so as I left high school I already knew the station was a welcoming place for commuters. I don't think I would have liked commuting if it weren't for WSOU, because I don't know what I would've done besides sit in the library or the green waiting for my next class. WSOU was a very welcoming place where I could come eat at a kitchen table, talk to the managers, and hang out with other students who loved WSOU. As my college career progressed I found myself purposely schedul-ing time between classes to wind down at WSOU. It was a home away from home. 

In what capacity did the those working at the station, help you find apprentice pro-grams in NYC? 

Frank Scafidi, the station's chief engineer was a huge help, along with Mr. Maben, the station's general manager. Mr. Maben had told me about apprentice programs, so I found the NAB (Na-tional Association of Broadcasters) one and started getting as much experience as I could from Frank. He taught me what I needed to be able to express how passionate I was about radio in my application and later on when meeting who I would be an apprentice to. He allowed me to be a part of transmitter maintenance, walked me through technical issues on the phone, and gave me lots of hands on technical opportunities. When it came time to apply, I had enough to write about so I could express how interested I was in pursuing broadcast engineering. If it wasn't for Frank, I would not be in the position I am today. 

How did your career start at IHeartMedia? 

My career started shortly after I got accepted into the NAB apprenticeship. The program was to place me with engineers in the field for two months and hopefully get hired afterwards. I had told the NAB where I lived and where I was interested in working. Even though they have never accepted an intern, Josh Hadden at iHeartMedia in NYC decided to see what I had to offer. Him and his teammates were quickly able to see I had a passion for radio and quickly picked up and learned everything they showed me. Within a week they had me soldering my own microphone cables and tagging along on remote broadcasts on Friday nights. By the end of the two months I had gained a lot of experience and been exposed to what the career would really be like. There wasn't an immediate position, however, so I kept in touch and explored things I thought would keep me occupied while I searched for a similar job. Eventually Mr. Hadden reached out to me and had an opening for me in November of 2019 so I was able to join the team full time. 

What would you tell other students that are possibly thinking about joining WSOU? 

I would tell other students not to take the opportunities there for granted. There's something for everybody at WSOU even if it's not necessarily radio. You can learn actual management skills, PR skills, writing, behind the scenes, and talent. The management there wants to help you in every way possible. It's the best that Seton Hall has to offer in terms of preparing students with real experience and opportunities. There's a list of notable alumni on WSOU.net, scroll through and you'll probably see someone you know. Maybe a reporter on a news station you've heard before, or a sports anchor you've seen before, or maybe you'll see one with an interesting job you want to know more about. WSOU is one of the most valuable resources you'll have and it will stick with you past graduation. 

About WSOU

WSOU 89.5 FM, which began broadcasting in 1948, is the student-run radio station of Seton Hall University. Celebrated for its loud rock format and coverage of Seton Hall athletics, WSOU's signal reaches all five boroughs of New York City and much of northern and central New Jersey and is available on iHeartRadio. WSOU was the 2016 winner of the National Broadcasters Association's Marconi Award for Noncommercial Station of the Year and a 2019 nominee for the Marconi Award for Best College Radio Station. More information about the station can be found online at https://www.wsou.net and www.facebook.com/WSOUFM. 

Categories: Alumni, Arts and Culture