NYU Alumni CONNECT

June 15, 2017

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The NYU Alumni Association (NYUAA) represents all NYU alumni, from every NYU school and department—a community nearly half-a-million strong. The diverse and active NYUAA Board of Directors is made up of alumni volunteers who steer the Association in their mission to engage and support alumni. Ron Rapatalo (CAS ’97) is an officer emeritus and one of the NYUAA’s senior members, having just completed his 17th year on the board. He is also an extremely active NYU alumni volunteer, highly engaged with the Multicultural Alumni Network and #ViralViolets, NYU’s alumni social media ambassador program. A lifelong New Yorker born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, Ron earned a BS in neural science from NYU College of Arts and Science in 1997.

Ron Rapatalo

Ron is the founder of The Rapatalo Group, LLC, a career and lifestyle consulting group specializing in talent searches, resume building, interview preparation, and coaching advice. He is also a men’s styling coach with J. Hilburn. In addition to his service to NYU, Ron is an education advisory board member at React to Film and previously served as a mentor through iMentor and a board recruitment volunteer through the Taproot Foundation. He previously worked as the director of recruitment and selection at Newark Public Schools.

Meet Ron

What is your favorite:

  • Food? Pork adobo and rice
  • Book? The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
  • TV Show and/or Movie? The Wire
  • Song and/or Musical Artist? “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi
  • Way to spend a Saturday? A morning workout, brunch, and being lazy with my family
  • Place to travel? Costa Rica
  • Place on the NYU campus? The Washington Square Park fountain

What is your favorite memory from your time at NYU?

Being a part of a student coalition that led to the founding of the A/P/A [Asian/Pacific/American] Institute at NYU.

Why do you give back to NYU?

I give because so much has been given to me. My college education, my closest friends, my strongest network are all because of NYU. There is a phrase in the Philippines called utang na loob, which literally translates to debt of the heart. I am indebted to NYU for allowing me to find my best self and surrounding me with the people and resources to make that happen.