Ezra Broder ’05
Tell us briefly about your career path and where you are today.
I was born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut. After graduating from Newhouse in 2005 with a degree in broadcast journalism, I began my career in local television sports. Over the next eight years, I worked in three different TV markets—Farmington, New Mexico; Rochester, Minnesota; and Springfield, Massachusetts—as a sports anchor/reporter. In 2013, my wife and I relocated to the Bay Area, and I began working in collegiate athletics. I am the Director of Video Services at the West Coast Conference, where I shoot and edit video features, and produce a monthly TV show that airs across the West Coast.
When you look back on your life, what has your SU experience meant to you?
My four years at Syracuse help define who I am today. I wasn’t just an Orangeman for four years; I am one for life!
What successes in your life (personal/professional) do you attribute to SU?
I credit Syracuse with preparing me for the professional world. The amazing professors in Newhouse taught me everything I needed to know in the classroom, and helped me with my job searches. It wasn’t until I was in the “real world” that I realized how excellent my education was, specifically my training in my major, broadcast journalism.
How did SU change your life, help you get to where you are today?
I definitely grew up during my four years at SU. Coming in, I was a shy, 18-year-old; in fact, when hearing I wanted to be on TV, my own family said, “You know that means you have to talk, right?” But I left as someone who was confident in myself, and I give credit to my friends and professors at SU for that.
What is your favorite memory of Syracuse University?
A big part of the Syracuse experience is sports! And I was lucky enough to be a student during the school’s only basketball championship in 2003. Watching the title game inside the Carrier Dome with 10,000 other Orange fans is an experience I’ll never forget.
As an alum in the SF Bay Area region, how have you enjoyed connecting with other alumni in the area?
Though I’m relatively new to the area, finding and connecting with other Orange made my move to the Bay Area easy. In fact, my old boss is also a Syracuse grad! I sought out the alumni club upon moving here, and served as the president for two years. I really enjoyed meeting and connecting with SU alums!
Why do you think it's important to help future students get their start at SU by making SU part of your philanthropic priorities?
One of the biggest things I took from my college experience is the sense of community in the SU network. No matter where I go, I always meet people who have some connection to Syracuse. Helping current and future SU students and alums is my way of “paying it forward.”