Danielle Monaro

Danielle Monaro '95SVC

Internships Gave Graduate Fast Track to Success in Radio

"St. John’s University is the reason I have this dream job,” says Danielle Monaro ’95SVC, Z100 radio disc jockey and St. John’s University alumna.

While studying communications at St. John's College of Professional Studies, Danielle became interested in radio when she was asked to join the University’s station, WSJU, and become a radio host:

“I was in the elevator and a girl asked me if I wanted to be on air," she said. "Radio has been my passion ever since." It was Danielle’s vibrant personality and dedication to whatever task she was assigned that helped this self-proclaimed “tough chick from the Bronx” go from student to co-host.

Danielle got her big break in the media industry when she received an internship at “New York’s Hit Music Station” Z100: “I got my internship at Z100 with the help of another radio student at St. John's. I took radio courses and worked at WSJU, and it all helped me learn about the industry and what to expect once I graduated.”

Danielle believes the key to success in the media industry is to seek out internships while students are in college: “Interning gives you hands-on experience and insight into whether or not it's something you actually want to continue doing.”

There were two professors in the communications department that Danielle says made a huge impact in her life: Lawrence Pitili and Antoinette Durso: “I owe a lot of my success to my professors and experiences at St. John’s. I learned so much from my professors, including how to speak and communicate effectively - two very important aspects of this industry.”