Volunteer Profile: Anna Zuccaro (CAS '13), Co-President, NYU LGBTQ Alumni Network
June 15, 2019
NYU alumna and Co-President of the NYU LGBTQ Alumni Network, Anna Zuccaro (CAS ’13), shares how her passion for sociopolitical causes shaped her journey as a public relations professional and leader in the NYU Alumni community.
Whether she was honing her writing skills in the halls of Bobst or delving into the histories of feminist and gender causes, Anna Zuccaro (CAS ’13), Co-President of the NYU LGBTQ Alumni Network, has always sought to bring people together. As a student, her natural affinity for language and passion for a wide array of sociopolitical issues allowed her to land internships at VICE and the Council on Foreign Relations where she furthered herself as an activist and critical thinker focused on the way organizations can make the world a better place.
Today, she is a leader in both the NYU community and the public relations field where she’s launched a communications firm, Unbendable Media, to instill progressive strategies for non-profit organizations and social enterprises. Channeling her passion, her work’s mission is to raise awareness for issues from gender equality and the #MeToo Movement to corporate accountability. No matter her environment, from the grassy fields in Central Park to the echoing halls of Manhattan’s latest art gallery to a vibrant event with the LGBTQ Alumni Network, Anna Zuccaro is always ready for a conversation.
Meet Anna
What is your favorite:
- Food? Basically every pasta that exists
- Book? This is a tough one. A few are: Where'd You Go Bernadette, Zami, Middlesex, Mrs. Dalloway and Stone Butch Blues.
- TV Show and/or Movie? Movie: Kill Bill Vol 1+2 | TV: Broad City
- Song and/or Musical Artist? I've always loved Queen. Song of the moment is Kelly Lee Owens' cover of "More Than a Woman" by Aaliyah.
- Way to spend a Saturday? Hanging out with friends at Central Park or Prospect Park when it's nice out as well as going to art museums and galleries with my sister.
- Place to travel? Iceland.
- Place on the NYU campus? Anywhere in Washington Square Park or the 8th floor of Bobst.
- Favorite NYU alumni celebrity? Lady Gaga, by far!
What is your favorite memory from your time at NYU?
As a transfer student, I expected there to be hundreds of people in all of my classes at the College of Arts and Science. One of my most memorable moments at NYU was arriving at my first class on my first day of school to find five students total. It was a funny little reality check.
Why do you stay involved with NYU?
I stay involved with NYU specifically because of the LGBTQ Alumni Network. Our members are some of the more thoughtful, motivated and fun people I've met living in the City, and our collective dedication to the LGBTQ+ community keeps people, including allies, coming back to our events.
Why would you encourage other alumni to be involved with the NYU LGBTQ Alumni Network?
If you're looking for safe spaces to network or meet new people, the LGBTQ Alumni Network is a solid place to start. Our programs range from happy hours to volunteering opportunities, and our members reflect a wide array of letters under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, though that particular aspect is (and will likely always be) a work in progress.
Did you have any NYU mentors, professors, or classes that inspired or impacted you?
Lisa Duggan's Queer Histories class had a big impact on me. Lisa was a powerhouse in her own right as a professor and figure in the LGBTQ community. The class itself taught me a lot about my privileges as a white and able bodied cisgender woman. It also taught me a lot about the experiences of select groups of LGBTQ people outside of the Western hemisphere.
Where has your career lead you thus far? How did your experience at NYU prepare you for the accomplishments and/or challenges one faces in their career?
For the past six years, I've worked in public relations and communications as a consultant for progressive non-profit organizations, foundations, and socially conscious companies. Today, I am a partner and co-founder of a firm called Unbendable Media.
My experience at NYU helped prepare me for the "real world," in a few different ways: I was able to hone my writing abilities and learned how to distinguish myself both academically through my work and personally through some of the things I'm passionate about.
What are you passionate about today? What advice would you give to recent NYU graduates who want to follow their dreams?
I'm passionate about art, music, animals and issues like criminal justice reform, immigration, feminism, and women's health.
I would tell recent graduates to be creative in their professional pursuits, specifically carving out spaces to do something they love while providing a service that is either unmet or underrepresented.