December 2019

December 2019
Kevin M. Dexter

(BA, Journalism, ’13)

Q & A:

• What was your favorite class, who was your favorite professor, or what is your fondest memory of Hofstra?
  My fondest memory of Hofstra is working at our student radio station, WRHU. I was the sports director for two years, and gained so much valuable experience. I traveled the country covering the New York Islanders and Hofstra basketball, broadcast over 200 games, and hosted countless shows. More importantly, I made lifelong friendships that I will cherish forever.
• What was your first job after graduating from Hofstra, and what was the most valuable thing learned in that position?
  Getting into sports broadcasting, I had a different path than most. My first professional job actually came when I was still in school. After interning at News 12 Long Island in the fall semester of my junior year, they hired me to be a freelance sports producer. I filled in when needed through the end of my college career, and after graduating worked my way into an on-air job as a freelance sports anchor. Almost eight years later, I’m still working there. The most valuable thing I learned early on at News 12 was how to work quickly under pressure. Breaking news can sometimes throw you for a loop. It’s important to be able to quickly gather the important information and produce a story that is accurate, informative, and entertaining.
• What is your field of specialty, and how did you come to work in the industry?
  I am a sportscaster. It’s what I’ve wanted to do for a living since I was 5 years old. I grew up about 10 minutes from Hofstra, in Levittown, and decided in high school that I didn’t want to go away to college. Hofstra’s outstanding School of Communication gave me the opportunity to live at home and pursue my dream of becoming a sportscaster. After the years of hard work at WRHU, and in my classes, I was able to land a few jobs and turn this into a full-time career.
• What advice would you give Hofstra students?
  Take advantage of all the University has to offer. I got a leg up on broadcasting students from other schools, because of the opportunities I was afforded at Hofstra. There are so many new things to try and activities to explore. Spread your wings. It is never too early to get a head start on your future career.
• In one word, how would you describe Hofstra?
  Home.
• What is your favorite part about being a play-by-play broadcaster for the Long Island Nets?
  My favorite part is being the voice of a professional sports team. It’s always been a career goal of mine in broadcasting. Being around the team on a day-to-day basis, and getting to tell their stories to our viewers is a blast. I’ve been with the Nets since they were an expansion team in the NBA G League, and I’ve had a front-row seat to watch them improve year after year. Last season, they made it all the way to the NBA G League Finals, and even though they fell short, the journey was so much fun. I’m so grateful to have had this experience at the G League level with a truly first-class organization. One day, I hope to have the same experience with an NBA team as I further my career.
• As an award-winning sports broadcaster, can you explain what unique qualifications separate you from other candidates?
  Broadcasting is a really difficult field to break into. I was extremely lucky to land work in New York after graduating from Hofstra. I think the biggest reason for my success has been my work ethic. I’ve taken advantage of the opportunities I’ve gotten, and have worked hard to keep opening more doors.
• What was a major obstacle you were able to overcome to successfully perform your job?
  It’s hard to think of one example. I would say that the field of broadcasting in general is extremely competitive and hard to break into. I’ve had to be persistent in pursuing the jobs I want, and not get discouraged when I haven’t gotten them.