Randi Honkonen
This month the spotlight shines on Randi Honkonen. From helping instructors navigate teaching tools to dancing her heart out in local theater productions, this Marketing Communications Lead brings energy, creativity and heart to everything she does. With 12 years at Ohio State and a career path that took a detour from childhood vet dreams to marketing strategy, she now helps bridge the gap between tech and teaching. Whether she’s battling her fiancé in one of their 328 board games, cross stitching sassy quotes, or wrangling her very opinionated (and photogenic) rescue dog, Rax, she’s doing it all with smarts, quirk and a whole lot of passion.
Q: What is your role at the university? I am a Marketing Communications Lead, working primarily with our Learning Systems team to inform instructors about our teaching and learning tools and services.
Q: How long have you worked at Ohio State? I have been at the university for 12 years, all in OTDI (or OCIO, ODEE, etc.)
Q: Have you worked on any large projects since you’ve been here? Several! Some have been fun and exciting (D2L to Canvas) and others were neither fun nor exciting (adding Duo to Carmen). From big projects to small, I really enjoy the variety and that every day looks a little different.
Q: What do you like best about your job? I like knowing my work is in some way improving the lives of instructors and students at Ohio State. Whether I’m promoting a new tool for them to use or announcing new ways to protect their privacy, it feels good making a difference. In a previous job, I often felt like I was helping make rich companies richer, which was nowhere near as rewarding as working for a university.
Q: Did you always know this is what you wanted to do as a career? I did not. When I was really young I wanted to be a vet, until I learned they had to put animals down from time to time. Then I thought I’d be a famous author, but the practical side of me wanted a roof over my head, so I went into business/public relations/marketing/strategic communications.
Q: How did your career path bring you to work for us? I was working for a small market research firm and the culture was…..awful. I wanted out, I wanted a more nurturing environment, I wanted my MBA. Ohio State was the obvious next step for me!
Q: What was your very first job? I worked at a mom-and-pop restaurant and ice cream shop, in the era when “Milkshake” by Kelis was popular.
Q: Where did you go to college? I completed my undergrad at Otterbein College and attended Ohio State for grad school. Fun fact, I was among the last graduating class from Otterbein College before they changed their name to Otterbein University.
Q: Where are you from originally? New Philadelphia, OH – really the only thing it has going for it is Tuscora Park with an old-timey carousel, ferris wheel, rollercoaster, pool, etc.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? I’d love to see Greece and live the Mamma Mia! dream.
Q: Can you tell us about your family? My fiancé Mike (who I call Wally) and I live with our dog Rax. He was a rescue from Kentucky in a town that still had an operating Rax restaurant. He’s a senior dog who loves naps, sunbathing, chasing chickens and “water chickens” (aka ducks), and telling the neighborhood children and pets to get off his lawn. Wally and I both work remotely, which gives us the opportunity to take Rax for lunchtime walkies to break up the workday. Rax is also quite photogenic, as you can tell from our profile pic captured by OTDI’s own Mindi Leggett!
Q: What do you do for fun outside of work? Do you have any hobbies? I really enjoy dancing, for fitness and for theater. My next performance is May 16-17 in a wacky variety show! (Shameless plug for tickets: https://bit.ly/Ce4C-Legends) This season we are highlighting music legends like Madonna, Dolly Parton, Tina Turner and Lady Gaga, and I get to dance everything from swing to clog! We donate to various charities each season, so even if you buy a ticket and don’t see the show, you are still helping a local organization! I’m also a member of the board of Aethereal Jest Arts Council, an up-and-coming theater group, and I often dance in summer shows with Hilliard Arts Council.
Other hobbies include but are not limited to cross stitching nerdy things and swear words, home improvement projects to give our house personality and wedding planning at the moment!
Q: What is something most people might be surprised to know about you? I have an extra vertebrae, you know, in case I lose one. Always good to have a spare!
Q: Favorite place to eat in Columbus? Since we moved to Westerville, my fiancé and I have really been enjoying Asterisk Supper Club. Great food and cocktails with some seasonal menu changes here and there, and you can’t beat the cozy library vibe.
Q: Favorite quote? It’s a toss-up between these two:
“Jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down.” – Ray Bradbury
“Doin’ my best, bitch I’m blessed.” – Kesha (my current cross stitch project!)
Q: Do you have a favorite book or movie? I was originally a big Harry Potter fan (Hufflepuff and proud!), but J.K. Rowling’s politics and personal beliefs make that hard these days. I still have the books on my shelf, but the collection is housed between two books decorated with the colors of the trans flag.
Q: It’s 9 p.m. on a Saturday. What are you doing? If we’re not playing one of our 328 board games (no lie, my fiancé has a….collection…..not a problem), we’re probably snuggled up on the couch with Rax watching a ridiculous movie.
Q: Give three adjectives that best describe yourself. Smart. Quirky. Passionate.