Hmmm... I am sure that there is a rational explanation for this, but the esteemed Mr. Schuller contacted me earlier this year through this forum, inquiring as to the actual dates of my enrollment and my identity, claiming to be working in radio and TV. Perhaps by that time he was no longer working at Hyde, and had resumed employment at WCRB?
This from the Alumni Newsletter, Fall 2003. PDF download link states that it is 2004, but that title is incorrect. Pic on the download, in case you are interested.
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A Born JinglerRob Schuller '78, Hyde-Woodstock's director of development, recalls that when he entered SUNYCortland in 1978, having graduated from Hyde-Bath the previous spring, his major was vocal performance because he had hopes of becoming a jingle singer for television and radio. However, he recalled a suggestion made by Hyde faculty member John Chesterton, that Rob should get into radio as he possessed the perfect voice for that medium. Soon after, Rob joined his college's radio station as an announcer. The following year, he worked at a nearby commercial radio station and, thus, his first career—as a radio broadcaster—was born.
While he was waiting for SUNYCortland to institute a radio/television major, Rob took a semester off to work for Hyde in 1982. He and fellow alumnus, Scott Bertschy, worked with Hyde's admissions office, touring America to visit with educational consultants to share their experience at Hyde. (Interestingly, Scott stayed on and became director of alumni affairs, thus launching his successful 20 year career in that field.) Following his Hyde admissions adventure, Rob transferred to Pepperdine University in Southern California, to major in radio and television production.
While at Pepperdine, Rob worked as an intern in the promo and marketing department for CBS' Television City. But when employment with the program
Hill Street Blues was suddenly closed to him because the producers instead hired a number of people emigrating from the just-cancelled Mary Tyler Moore comeback vehicle,
Mary, Rob decided to head east again. He moved to Boston and spent the next 18 years working briefly in video production and then, for many years, as a producer of radio commercials. He was employed alternately at a smooth jazz station (WCDJ-FM), sports radio (WEEI-AM), and a classical music station (WCRB).
A little less than two years ago, Rob received a job offer from Hyde-Woodstock. At Ken Grant's suggestion, it was believed that Rob would be an ideal candidate to take over the newly created position of director of development for the Woodstock campus. Rob had always remained connected to Hyde—whether as a class agent, through involvement with reunions, or the aforementioned stint as an admissions consultant. He already had some flourishing connections with the Woodstock campus (he and his eight-year-old daughter, Blake, would visit friends there), and so, having had his fill of the daily grind of radio production, he decided it was time for a career change.
The transition from being a creative services director for radio to his present role with Hyde has gone smoothly for Rob. Some techniques used in his previous job were easily transferable, and others he has had to learn, such as asking people for money. But he fervently adds that "...because I
believe in what is going on here, I don't have a problem asking for money." In some sense, he has returned to his earlier ambition of singing jingles, albeit in spoken or written form, for the sake of netting some "jingle" for his alma mater.
