Recent graduate Ruelle Fludd began her postgraduate career as a reporter for Gainesville’s WCJB TV20 in early January. The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) affiliate serves Alachua and Marion counties. Fludd, who served as a FAMU News 20 at 5 multimedia journalist, transferred from Florida International University in 2017.
“I chose FAMU because I felt like I was lacking something in Miami,” she said. “After plenty of research, I knew that FAMU could give me everything I wanted and more.”
In just two years, Fludd was inducted into and served as president of the Tau Sigma National Honor Society; selected for the National Society of Leadership and Success; served as peer mentor, Journey magazine copy desk chief, FAMUan newspaper Lifestyles editor, FAMU TV20 live shot reporter, Journalism LLC student volunteer, and FAMU chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists’ secretary.
“She’s a really hard worker,” said Alexis Hamilton, FAMUan newspaper photographer, and Journey magazine staff writer. “If anybody was going to get a job, I definitely have my money on her. It was a joy to work with her.”
According to Fludd, her experience in SJGC was a positive one. She counts Kenneth Jones as mentors who enhanced her SJGC experience and provided valuable feedback she took into the real world.
“It’s very fulfilling knowing that a student in the case of Ruelle, can come in as a transfer student and now two years later with the work that we’ve done and mentoring, advising, teaching the skills and all, and now has a professional career as a reporter,” said Jones, long-time SJGC professor.
“Without doubt, she took advantage of everything we had to offer and maximized it in a very short time and is an awesome, incredible journalist,” he said.
Fludd says she has a “strong passion for journalism, writing, and news” that bloomed in high school. This love was further cultivated on News 20 at 5.
“Graduating from FAMU, being a Rattler alum is a blessing,” she said. “Trust your abilities. Trust your personality. Trust in whatever faith you believe in. Trust in something bigger than rejection and trust in the process because it works.”
Prof. Francine L. Huff is Knight Chair for Student Achievement at SJGC and collects data on graduates. One of the main goals of the survey is to capture data on graduating students. In 2018, fifty-five percent of post-grad survey respondents had found full-time employment. Of those job offers, eighty percent were related to their major.
