Sydney Ross

Graduation year and major:

2016 and Agricultural and Environmental Plant Sciences, specifically a double concentration in Greenhouse and Nursery Production and Plant Protection Science 

Position at KCPR:

I was a radio DJ for about two and a half years and mainly focused on special format shows. I had a show called “Wilted,” which was mainly darkwave, gothic rock, industrial, and experimental music. I also did “This Ain’t No Disco,” a vetted post-punk show, for a bit, too. For a while, I was doing a noise show called “White Noise” late at night, which was fun too. During my last quarter, I became the ASI or Student Instructor. I taught one group of incoming students before quitting the station. 

Favorite part about working for KCPR:

The best part for me was sharing the music I loved with the public. I had a lot of fun broadcasting for folks that liked something a bit different and darker. I actually had a pretty vocal audience! I loved being able to share new bands I found and filling listeners in on a bit of music history while doing my shows. I also met some of my best friends at KCPR, people I still adore and often speak with! ️

Where do you currently work and what do you do?

I currently work for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture as a Pesticide Specialist, so not really related to the radio at all! 

How did, if at all, KCPR help or prepare you for your career trajectory?

KCPR didn’t really prepare me too much for my career in agriculture, but I do occasionally still DJ. I’ve done a few sets for a local Goth Night in Raleigh, North Carolina and would like to get back into community radio if I can sometime soon.