More than Just a Sports Journalist

Ricky Recchia (CAS '09) is a New York Emmy Award winning sports journalist deeply influenced by his pre-NYU life in poverty. His stories are an attempt to humanize the athletes he interviews. And in his own words, he wishes to "give a voice to the ‘voiceless’" and reshape the way news is delivered. 


Alumni Relations: Can you talk about your NYU experience? What specific memories do you have of your years at NYU. Were there any professors who had an influence on you?

Ricky: Even though I grew up in Manhattan, coming down to NYU was a huge culture shock for me.  Moving from a public housing complex, where I lived in poverty and was surrounded by a lack of positivity, to having the opportunity to live on campus in the midst of affluence and a general aura of hope is an experience I am so grateful to have experienced.

A Guest Post by Judy Umlas--"Grateful Leadership"

Today we have a guest blog post from an alumna, Judith W. Umlas (Heights '70), Author, Trainer, and Sr. Vice President of the International Institute for Learning, Inc. (IIL). Judy specializes in strategic and organizational communications, specifically involving leadership in organizations.

Judy will be hosting a free webinar next Thursday, March 28, and she is also offering all NYU alumni a free downloadable poster on the 5 C's of Grateful Leadership Acknowledgement. For the link, send an email to judy.umlas@iil.com.

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Judy Umlas:

Little did I imagine when I was an English major at New York University that I would not only be an avid reader (had to be!), but that I would become an avid writer – a published one at that! My first experience with being published occurred when I was working at CBS Television, and was one of the few women who worked until the end of their pregnancy. However, I paid a price – my colleagues kept saying the strangest things to me, such as “Did you swallow a basketball?” and worse. 

Career Advice from Greg Giangrande, Executive VP at Time, Inc.

Greg Giangrande (WSC '84, Steinhardt '86) went to NYU for journalism, but in the midst of an early career move, discovered his love for a different field of communications; human resources. 

As is often the case, Greg found his passion unexpectedly. Years later, he maintains that one's career choices should never lose sight of what really matters--being happy.

In April of last year, Greg was named Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Time, Inc. He also writes a column for the New York Post called "Go to Greg," where Greg offers career advice on issues that are encountered in the workplace.

What do you remember most about your time at NYU? 

Greg Giangrande: I spent 24 years at NYU as a student and Adjunct Instructor so there are lots of memories. I remember my tuition being $6,000 my first year and not knowing how I was going to come up with even that much! I remember waiting in long lines that wrapped around Washington Square Park signing up for courses where student enrollment was marked by hand on index cards and if the card for a particular class was full when you got to the front of the line you had to quickly choose another class from the catalog.

In Tennessee, a Hidden City of 75,000 People

Denise Kiernan (WSC '91, Steinhardt '02) is the author of a book released today, The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped to Win World War II. Kiernan's book tells the story of a secret city in Tennessee, a city with a population of over 75,000 people, that was completely hidden from the world as part of "The Manhattan Project" during the second world war.

We had the pleasure of talking with Denise about the research behind her book and the legacy of the Manhattan Project. Be sure to come onto campus next week to hear her speak more about her The Girls of Atomic City as NYU's featured author for Speakers on the Square.