WCC alumnus Praveena Ranaswami leads community relations for the Toyota Research and Development Center’s communications division.
Why did Praveena Ramaswami decide to pursue Washtenaw Community College’s new Internet Professional program in 1999? “I knew the Internet was the future, and I had to be a part of it,” she explains.
During her studies at WCC, she took coding, web development, traditional graphic design and graphic communications classes.
Ramaswami fondly remembers her classroom team’s development of Washtenaw County’s nonprofit Student Advocacy Center website. “The site was so robust,” she says, “we received a statewide award for it.”
While attending WCC, she worked part-time in the college’s IT department, developing the Child Development and other department websites. After graduating in 2001, Ramaswami and her husband moved to California for his new position at the Toyota Research and Development Center.
Ramaswami was soon working in the same division, but developing the organization’s first internal website and coding and digitizing its policies and forms for its corporate human resources department.
“The website was the first one ever for this division and among the first for the entire North American company,” Ramaswami said. “Embracing digital communications in 2001 put our location ahead of the industry.”
Ramaswami and her husband later returned to Michigan, where she subsequently became the first team leader of Toyota’s Calty Design studio. She now leads community relations for the company’s Michigan corporate communications division.
Ramaswami attributes her opportunity and success at Toyota to Washtenaw Community College.
“I truly believe my experience in the Internet Professional program at WCC helped me get my foot in the door. I know it continues to support my growth within the organization.”
She’s also proud of her employer’s ongoing support for her alma mater.
“We work closely with the automotive program and give equipment donations such as iPads, laptops and engines,” she said. “We’ve also hired many WCC grads and continue to advocate for the college and its importance to Washtenaw County’s workforce pipeline.”
Ramaswami gives generously to her career, family, community and college. She currently is a member of the City of the Ann Arbor Parks Advisory Commission, the Ann Arbor Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee, the Thurston Community Players, and Washtenaw County’s Champions for Change.
She provides funding to WCC for student scholarships and support through the WCC Foundation.
“I commit to my community for its betterment –the mission is also the reward,” she said. “I believe when you are passionate about continuous improvement and have the capacity to give your time, skills, knowledge and/or funds, it’s your responsibility to do so.”
Tags: Alumni Profile, December 2019, On The Record, Toyota, ousearch_News_On The Record