Speak with Professor Margaret Rakus for a few minutes deep excitement can be heard in her voice about the upcoming year after leaving Albright College and taking a position at Cabrini University.
Rakus worked at Albright College for 10 years building the communication program from the ground up as the chair of the department. That alone shows the large amount of experience and expertise that the communication family has gained this year.
“I was excited to see that she seemed as if she had a lot of experience in the classroom setting,” senior Jill Nawoyski said.
After finishing her bachelors and masters degrees at William Patterson University, she continued her studies at Temple University in the doctorate program for mass media.
Rakus explained that she wanted to join the Cabrini communication department because she appreciated this department’s equipment and resources. Also, she is very interested in a program that deals with the Hispanic population on campus and has already gotten a good deal of excitement from other faculty members, including President Donald Taylor.
Rakus has ideas about developing ownership and representation for the Latino community at Cabrini over the next couple years. She has always had a deep passion for Latino studies and has an interest in Latino media.
Another idea of Rakus’ is a hybrid study abroad program in Ecuador where the students would travel for a few weeks and return to America to continuing their learning on the subject. Along the same lines of the study abroad idea, Rakus spoke about a very interesting “alternate spring break” for students who want to travel and see the world.
“She has a fun personality and a passion for what she does which makes her a perfect fit for the Cabrini communication department,” Nawoyski explained. “She makes class interesting by telling stories and keeping lessons not just straight from the textbook for the whole lecture like some teachers do.”
Classes that are offered with Margaret Rakus as the instructor include COM-101 Intro to Mass Comm, COM-231 Comm. Engagement & Social Media, as well as COM-232 Social Media Planning Strategy & Campaign.
Rakus’ favorite food is seafood. Also, her favorite weekend activity is kayaking on a river but not in the ocean! Twitter was stated as her favorite social media platform for both personal and professional sides of life.
Rakus described the communication department as “the most friendly place ever.”
