A seasoned communications professional, Rachel (Sacharow) Goemaat JMS’01 began her career working for the New Jersey state government just six months after she graduated from Rutgers.

Starting as an assistant to the Director of Communications for the Division of Criminal Justice, she worked her way up in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, functioning as a Public Information Officer for the Office of the Attorney General before becoming a Communications Officer at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). Today, she is the Deputy Communications Director for the New Jersey Assembly Majority Office. 

Speaking of her career in government, Goemaat said, ‘It’s been a long journey, and my time in state government has afforded me a front-row view of how things work. The institutional knowledge I have acquired has also allowed me to bring a unique perspective to my role.”

In our profile, Goemaat describes a typical day at work, her experiences working in state government during the COVID-19 pandemic, and her advice for SC&I students planning to pursue a career working in communications for a state legislature. 

What is a typical day like as the Deputy Communications Director of the New Jersey Assembly Majority Office?
RG: Busy! There are 52 Democratic Assembly members, and we promote their legislative accomplishments. As bills are introduced, make their way through committee, and then go to the to the voting floor, it’s our job to promote the legislation, as well as the Assembly Majority Office’s legislative priorities. 

One moment, I’ll be writing a press release about a bill. Another minute, I’ll be writing a social media post about an event that happened or making calls to the media. 

What was it like to lead the New Jersey economic development authority’s social media platform through the COVID-19 pandemic?
RG: As the entire world went through COVID, we had to navigate challenges and learn to adapt to them. For several months at the beginning of COVID, I had a two-and-a-half-year-old child at home with me while I worked, and at the NJEDA, we were on the front lines of keeping the economy afloat. At some point, our social media pages became not only a go-to resource for people outbound in terms of information flowing, but it also became an avenue for people to ask questions. 

It was ‘pedal to the ground’ every moment because the NJEDA was front and center getting programs up and running to support businesses. It wasn’t just doing social media, I was also writing press releases. I was working at a very frenetic pace, but it felt good knowing that I was helping people. The NJEDA as a whole was helping people, especially owners of small businesses, who were finding themselves in uncharted territory.

What specific knowledge or advice did you gain from your time as a student at SC&I, including classes and internships, that you still apply to your career today?
RG: I had so many teachers and professors that really impacted me. One in particular saw my potential, and really helped me hone my skills. The writing classes I had sharpened my expertise and taught me how to ask the necessary questions. Being in state government, particularly in the beginning stages, I found that so many people I talked to were Rutgers alumni. There’s a network of Rutgers alumni to tap into, and this shared history opens up any conversation.

I had an internship going into senior year that changed the trajectory of my career. I had originally wanted to pursue journalism, and then I interned with Thomas/Boyd Communications, a woman-owned firm that was very involved with the NJ state government. It made me realize that I wanted to do public relations and communications and not journalism, so I pivoted to the career I have today.

What advice would you give SC&I students looking to pursue a career in the public sector today, and what have you learned during your career so far that you would pass on to SC&I students?
RG: Network. Network. Network. Rutgers does a tremendous job of building a solid foundation; it’s up to students to take what they have, what they’ve learned at Rutgers, and fly. Never turn down an opportunity to go out for a cup of coffee, never turn down a business card. If you see an internship that looks interesting, but maybe is out of your comfort zone, apply for it. You’re not going to walk into a job knowing everything. Take a chance.

Learn more about the Journalism and Media Studies major at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website. 

Photos: Courtesy of Rachel Goemaat. Also pictured: her husband, Rutgers alumnus Daniel Goemaat RC’01, CLAW’05.