Rookmin Maharaj ('96)
Manager Internal Communications, Cessna Aircraft Company

Rookmin Maharaj '96 loves telling stories, so it should be no surprise to learn that storytelling is a big part of her career.

Maharaj, who majored in broadcast journalism and minored in public relations at Radford University, is the manager of internal communications at Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas. There, she produces a broadcast news program, a monthly newsletter and intranet content that is geared toward informing Cessna employees about important company news.

"I get to tell stories about the employees of the company and about the airplanes, and attend air shows and show just how well our products are doing," Maharaj said. "I love to tell stories, and it's always a challenge to develop new ways to present stories."

Producing news about an aircraft company often lends itself to excitement and an occasional brush with celebrity. Recently, Maharaj interviewed Harrison Ford (see photo at right), who is serving as honorary chair for Cessna's Special Olympics airlift in 2010. Cessna sponsors the airlift and asks customers to donate their time and airplanes to transport the athletes to the games.

Before going to work for Cessna, the Trinidad and Tobago native worked as the communications director for Boys and Girls Clubs of south central Kansas, where she promoted the club and assisted with fundraising projects.

Before going to work for Boys and Girls Clubs, Maharaj spent seven years as a broadcast journalist for Caribbean TV station. There she reported and anchored a daily news program. Maharaj also freelanced with BBC World Service as a producer for the Caribbean section.

Maharaj got her start in broadcasting through an internship with CNN in Atlanta while she was a student at RU. She credits her success to her studies at RU, where she said professors such as Clayland Waite, Carolyn Byerly and Bill Kovarik provided her with important learning opportunities. And Teresa Dalton, Maharaj noted, was always willing to lend support to international students.

"The hands-on approach of the media program at RU helped prepare me for a successful career in broadcast journalism and public relations," she said.