Kat Rowett-O'Neil

Kat is a seasoned media professional with extensive experience in her field. In her current role as anchor/producer at WAER in Syracuse, NY, she plays a vital role in delivering local news content to listeners, including local hosting of NPR’s “All Things Considered” and contributing to the production process.

Previously, Kat worked as a producer/anchor, providing timely traffic reports for New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey radio stations. During this time, she also earned a bachelor of science in professional studies: business from Le Moyne College, graduating summa cum laude with concentrations in communications, film studies and project management.

Kat's diverse career journey includes serving as the corporate customer relations advocate and closed captioning coordinator at Bright House Networks, where she managed escalated concerns and received recognition as Employee of the Quarter in 2014. She also demonstrated her technical prowess as a field support representative II, saving the organization significant funds through error corrections and identifying compatibility issues.

Her background extends to law enforcement as a police communications operator at the Clearwater Police Department, contributing to public and officer safety. Kat's media experience encompasses roles such as technical director, co-host and internship coordinator at Genesis Communications WWBA/WLVU and lead radio instructor at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Tampa, FL.

Kat's international exposure includes a Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange vocational exchange scholarship to Germany, where she created daily weather graphics for RTL's morning news program "Punkt 7." Her upbringing in a military family instilled adaptability, as she relocated regularly during her youth.

Beyond her career, Kat and her husband run a small farm in Oswego County, raising goats and poultry. They have numerous indoor cats and dogs as well. Her rich and diverse background makes her an asset in the ever-evolving world of news and media and her lifelong learning mentality is a natural fit for Syracuse University.