Hyacinth Rucker is an esteemed woman in public relations. Recent developments in her career led Rucker to become Senior Public Relations Manager at Indiana’s first Smithsonian-affiliated museum, Conner Prairie.
Rucker graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. Since then, she has found herself in a much different career path than she originally planned.
Her alma mater owns a local NBC affiliate TV station with the idea to give students experience in a professional setting. For Rucker, the experience did not translate.
“It was a rude awakening on my first job, because I realized, this is something completely different,” Rucker said. “It took me 12 years of moving from city to city, thinking, maybe I will like it in this city. Maybe it’ll be better here. I had in my mind, that because I graduated with a broadcast journalism degree, that was what I was supposed to be pursuing.”
After 12 nomadic years in broadcast journalism, Rucker took a leap of faith into public relations and landed at the Eiteljorg Museum in downtown Indianapolis. Within her first week, she knew it was where she was meant to be.
“You may not know everything when the door is opening, right? But if the door opens, and it doesn’t close in your face, have the courage to walk through,” Rucker said.
Rucker worked at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis as the Public Relations Manager, primarily focusing on media relations. After two years, she put her faith in the Lord and applied for an open position at Conner Prairie. Within a few weeks, she secured the job.
“I started with ‘Headless Horseman’ opening two weeks later. I think I’ve done about 12 or 13 interviews. I feel like I’m a pro now,” Rucker said. “I know without a doubt it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. And I also know I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t afraid.”
Since taking on the senior management position, she has been able to allot time as an adjunct professor, teaching Public Relations Foundations at Anderson University. Teaching and passing on her experience to aspiring students is where Rucker feels she is called. Because of her journey, she is passionate about inspiring students to gain hands-on, real-world experiences through internships and advocates for trying new things.
With a journey full of twists and turns, Rucker has learned the importance of persistence when establishing a career. Moving forward, she plans to adapt and thrive wherever the Lord calls while using her experiences to guide future generations.
Cecilia López is a senior from Anderson, Indiana, majoring in public relations and minoring in cinema and media arts. López is an associate with Fifth Street Communications, a student-run public relations agency at Anderson University.
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