Hofstra Inducts ’24 Radio HOF Class
• Hundreds of Hofstra University alumni, students, faculty, staff, and administrators gathered on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Hofstra University Club to celebrate the induction of seven alumni into the University’s Radio Hall of Fame. Over its 65-year history, Hofstra’s 88.7 WRHU (previously WHCH and WVHC) has won some of the industry’s most coveted awards, including four NAB Marconi Awards for College Radio Station of the Year.
• Among this year’s Class of ’24 is Danielle Dellilo (pictured), currently Promotions Director for WLTW/New York and iHeartRadio Broadway, and Artist Relations and Public Relations Director for iHeartMedia New York. Dellilo graduated from Hofstra in 2001 with a bachelor’s in communication, and received her master’s in journalism from Hofstra in 2021. In her not-so-spare time, Dellilo also teaches Public Relations at Hofstra.
“I am deeply honored by this recognition,” Dellilo said. “It’s a testament to the incredible support I’ve received from the faculty, students, community volunteers, and alumni at WRHU. Their guidance has been invaluable, helping me grow professionally in ways I never thought possible. On a personal level, their encouragement and mentorship have been a constant source of inspiration, shaping not only my career but who I am as a person. I couldn’t be more grateful!”
• Another familiar face in Hofstra’s HOF Class of ’24 is Shawn Novatt (’00), who, while at WRHU, served as Station Manager, News Director, and Jazz Café producer. Novatt went on to work at WBLI (twice) as morning show producer, as well as a stint with Long Island Radio Group as Production Coordinator and Webmaster. In 2006, Novatt joined Buckley Broadcasting as Executive Producer of the morning show on 710 WOR/New York. Since 2016 Novatt has served as the Faculty Director of 90.3 WHPC, “The Voice of Nassau Community College.”
Novatt commented, “I am honored to be recognized by the Hofstra Radio Alumni Association. Without my time at WRHU at Hofstra in the ’90s, and the mentorship of then-General Manager Bruce Avery, I know that I would not have had the successful 24+ year career in the radio industry since. I am proud to be a WRHU alum!”
• The third radio vet in the Hofstra Radio Hall of Fame is Stu Rushfield (’89), who, just two weeks after graduation began his career at WABC/New York, engineering talk shows, New York Yankees baseball, and The Rush Limbaugh Show. After working at sister WPLJ, Rushfield relocated to Washington, DC, where he worked for the Unistar Radio Network and CBS Radio before landing at NPR, where he has spent the better part of the last three decades.
Rushfield commented, “It really is a great honor to be inducted into the Hofstra Radio Hall of Fame. The Hofstra Radio family has truly been my family. I stay in touch with friends of 35-plus years and have made many more among the amazing array of media professionals that WRHU has produced. The Hofstra Radio program is just fantastic. If a student dedicates themselves to the opportunities WRHU provides, there is no limit to what they can achieve in an ever-changing media landscape. Every day, that makes me proud to be a Hofstra Radio alum.”
The complete list of 2024 Hofstra Radio Hall of Fame inductees is posted HERE.
