December 2018

December 2018
Melaine R. Rochford

(BS, Video/Television and Business, ’03; MA, Rhetorical Studies ’12)

Q & A:

• What was your favorite class, who was your favorite professor, or what is your fondest memory of Hofstra?
  My favorite class was definitely Producing and Programming. I love television, and that class taught me a lot about the business side of the television industry. My favorite professor is kind of hard to name. So many professors impacted me during my undergraduate years. Dr. Peter Gershon stands out, as I took several of my foundational television courses with him. Also, Dr. Matt Sobnosky and Dr. Lisa Merrill pushed me a great deal during my graduate studies.
• What was your first job after graduating from Hofstra, and what was the most valuable thing learned in that position?
  My first job upon graduating from Hofstra was a training position in the Programming Department at Fox 5 WNYW in New York City. I literally started the day after graduation. I was so adamant about getting into the media industry that I went to job fairs and networked to make valuable connections. I learned that relationships are key in every industry, and you never burn bridges.
• What is your field of specialty, and how did you come to work in the industry?
  I’d say my field of specialty now is ministry. I finished seminary in 2017. Now I use my education and experiences to help people in various ways. I’m an associate minister at New Life Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY. I teach, preach, sing, plan events and conferences, and even use social media networks like Instagram (@melrocs) to share Christ’s love.
• What advice would you give Hofstra students?
  Take advantage of every opportunity afforded to you as a student. Participate in conferences. Join student organizations and clubs. Run for office. Get to know faculty and staff members. You never know what connections will pay off in the future. Also, if you’re having a difficult time, please utilize the services of the counseling center and get the help you need. We all go through tough times. Be encouraged!
• In one word, how would you describe Hofstra?
  Home.
• Having worked as a communications coordinator for various media groups, including Fox Television Studios and Katz, what led to your transition to nonprofit sectors, specifically your current role as the communication consultant for New Life Cathedral?
  Communication is critical in every industry. After earning my master’s degree in rhetorical studies at Hofstra, I transitioned to the nonprofit sector. I took the skills I garnered from school and applied them to my work at the church. At the heart of the church’s mission is simply “communicating” the message of Christ’s love.
• What inspired you to become an ordained Christian minister?
  I believe that becoming a minister is a divine calling. It’s not something you choose; rather it’s something you’re chosen for. Growing up as the daughter of a pastor, I never really wanted to be in ministry. I always wanted to be in media. I had no plans to be ordained. I wanted to be a mogul. Like the famous quote says, “We plan and God laughs.” I guess the joke has always been on me.
• As the author of Launch Time: The Fast Guide to Making Your Career Take Off! and co-author of Got Faith or Nah?, can you explain what sparked the creation of both books?
  I saw a need for both books at the time I wrote them. Launch Time came about as millennials were first entering the work force and graduating from college. I immediately noticed the gulf between our expectations of “the real world” and our reality in it. There were hundreds of articles and studies being written about millennials and the differences in our perceptions and attitudes, especially in the workplace. I was living it and wanted to write about it too. As for Got Faith or Nah?, that book was written to encourage youth to spend time daily reading the Bible and deepen their spiritual lives. It was a blessing to many churches.
• What is the single most rewarding experience in your career thus far?
  I think my most exciting experience has been traveling to Ghana, South Africa, and South Korea with my seminary. I learned how to relate to people in different cultures and on different continents. I shared meals, music, and experiences with my global family and learned so much in the process. I will travel as long as I am able to.