Sarah Curry Rathel Alumni Feature
UC Friends of Communication At-Large Member and alumna Sarah Curry Rathel graduated with her B.A. in Communication in 2005. Since then, she’s taken on many roles, including professional storyteller and author, communicator, and non-profit manager. One of her favorite memories at the University of Cincinnati (UC) was working with the Honors Thesis Group. This is where she felt like she fit, working with others for a common goal. She recently shared the story of how she got to where she is today with us.
When asked what course was most impactful in her academic career, Sarah attributed “Careers in Communication” with giving her the opportunity to learn about Make-A-Wish Foundation, which inspired her to explore her current career path. This presentation spoke to her because she always wanted to work with children who were critically ill, and even considered going into nursing.
So what has Sarah been up to since she graduated?
In 2004, Sarah began working with Make-A-Wish Foundation, eventually leading her to the Ronald McDonald House in 2011. Since then, she’s worked in multiple capacities in the non-profit sector, including her current role as Communications Manager for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati.
On a personal endeavor as an author, Sarah set a goal to publish 40 books before she turns 40, publishing book 39, Issac’s Impact, just earlier this month! Her goal is simple, to share her passion for Trauma-Informed Care with readers. As a recently certified Trauma & Resilience Specialist, she’s set out on a mission to inform others about how trauma affects the body mentally and physically so we can be allies and learn how to practice Trauma Informed Care (TIC).
As Sarah said it best, “TIC is a mindset and a life skill as it encourages individuals to move from the mindset of ‘What’s wrong with this person?’ to ‘What’s happened to them?’” When presenting to the public on TIC, she often notices someone’s “lightbulb” turn on when they understand this concept and its importance.
Sarah is also passionate about teaching communicators not to be burdened by others’ communication styles and not to take any negative messages personally. She says, “Anytime you’re rubbed the wrong way, take a step back, reflect on all the things that could’ve led to that one comment, and don’t let that weigh on you. We can’t control what others do. We can only control how we react to it."
What’s her best advice for current students?
Join young professional groups to make new connections. You never know who can open doors for you early on in your career path.
Push yourself to be well-rounded by learning more about the world around you. This will help you fit into your future company.
Learn how to market yourself to the positions you’re applying for.
As for fellow alumni - keep pushing yourself to leave your comfort zone, whether it is with a new company or new field; keep it fresh.
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