Alum of the Month

February 2012

February 2012
Jenna Mucha

B.A. '08

Q & A:

  • What was your favorite class, who was your favorite professor, or what is your fondest memory of Hofstra?
    My favorite classes were the journalism classes I took with Professor Smith, Professor Zook and the late Professor Licata. I attribute the early career success I've had not only to the journalism classes but also to life lessons learned in their classes.  Some of my favorite memories are with the classmates, and now colleagues, that I spent hours getting to know during my four years at Hofstra.
  • What was your first job after graduating from Hofstra, and what was the most valuable thing you learned there?
    After graduation I worked at ABC News as a desk assistant, working on World News, Weekend News and at the assignment desk. Working in a very demanding, entry-level job at a television network taught me a few important things as I began my career – give 110 percent every day, don't complain, respect those more senior, and always offer your help no matter how small the task, because it will prove to others that you really want to be there. In the competitive communications job market, there is always someone eager to take your spot – so always prove that you are the best. 
  • What is your field of specialty, and how did you come to work in the industry?
    I'm now working as a social media specialist in talent acquisition and employee communications in New York's largest health system and Long Island's largest employer, North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System. I decided to move to healthcare communications with the exciting revolution of social media communications in the field.
  • What advice would you give current Hofstra students?
    Get the most from Hofstra, both inside and out of the classroom. The faculty will go above and beyond to help you succeed – you just have to ask for their help. And remember that your classmates, will be your future colleagues – so be nice to everyone and stay connected.
  • In one word, how would you describe Hofstra?
    Dynamic.
  • What is the most interesting aspect of your job at North Shore-LIJ?
    The most interesting aspect of my current job is that it is constantly evolving in new and exciting ways. Talent acquisition and employee communications didn't have a social media specialist until I came on board, so there is lots of room to shape future communication strategies. 
  • You've mentioned that you've mentored students in their search to obtain an internship. Can you tell us more about that?
    I've spoken to communication classes a few times in recent years, and my advice to students is to network through Hofstra alumni to find great internship opportunities. In my experience, Hofstra students outshine interns from other top New York schools due to their enhanced skill set and drive to succeed. I also think that students need to think of an internship not as credit to graduate, but rather as a semester-long interview for a future job.
  • What are your future career plans?
    I would like to continue my education through a graduate program at Hofstra in the near future, and hope to continue to make a positive impact on the global community through communication.
Jenna Mucha

Jenna Mucha (B.A. '08) is the social media specialist for talent acquisition and employee communications at North Shore-LIJ Health System, the nation's second largest non-profit secular health care system. Jenna began her career in 2008, working full-time as a desk assistant at the ABC Television News Network. After spending a year working at World News with Charles Gibson, Weekend News, and contributing to ABCNews.com (and a long run down the West Side Highway chasing the "Miracle on the Hudson" plane), Jenna found her passion in television and moved to ABC's Good Morning America as a segment producer. She didn't sleep much during the two years she spent as a booker for the Emmy-Award-winning morning show, but she has never-ending stories about the guests and shows she produced in the studio. During her time at Good Morning America, Jenna learned about the power of social media and became an avid Twitter and Facebook user, using the tools not only to promote hot segments, but to find guests for interviews as well.

In switching gears and moving to North Shore-LIJ, Jenna embraced the use of social media in her new communications areas. Jenna's day-to-day tasks include working with the talent acquisition team to engage and communicate with potential candidates throughout the hiring process, in new and exciting ways. She creates and posts unique content for the North Shore-LIJ Careers social sites, including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. She also works with the employee communications department on special projects and events.

Jenna grew up outside of Buffalo, New York, and always dreamed of moving to the metropolitan New York area. After being on Hofstra's campus for all of five minutes, she knew it was the perfect fit. While at Hofstra, she was active as a senior resident assistant (Colonial Square), admissions ambassador, WRHU-88.7 FM D-J and news reader, and as a member of Lambda Pi Eta. Jenna invites you to follow her on Twitter and connect with her on LinkedIn .