From traditional networks to cutting-edge media companies, Center for Communication alumni have landed great jobs in the media industry. Come listen to these savvy young professionals tell what it's like to work at such leading media companies as NBCUniversal, Spotify, and ViacomCBS. Find out how they landed their jobs and are navigating their careers in a dynamic media landscape.
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DARA BEAN, PRODUCTION ASSISTANT, NBC NEWS DIGITAL; TODAY AFFILIATE COORDINATOR, NBC NEWS
Three years ago, Dara Bean was an intern at the Center for Communication. Her work with the Center improved her understanding of the industry and opportunities for current and graduating students. Since then, she has graduated with a communications degree from New York University, completed the much acclaimed NBC Page Program, and now works as a Production Assistant with NBC News Digital.
A native of Silver Spring, MD, Dara is a lifelong member of the Girl Scouts (holding a Gold Award) and has always valued community service. She is delighted at the opportunity to be part of this forum, and hopes that her insights and experiences will inspire the next wave of students interested in entering the industry.
JHANELLE DENNIS, SOURCER, TALENT ACQUISITION, VIACOMCBS
Jhanelle is an in-house Talent Acquisition Sourcer at ViacomCBS, where she finds qualified passive Talent for hard to fill, high visibility roles, as well as conducts ongoing research into media industry competitive intelligence and local & national job markets.
Prior to graduating from the M.S. in Human Resources Management & Development program at NYU School of Professional Studies in 2019, she helped coach and guide other Masters students while working part-time at NYU’s Wasserman Center for Career Development, which is where she found out about the Center For Communication.
Jhanelle is originally from Toronto, Canada (via Kingston, Jamaica) and also holds a post-graduate certificate in HR Management from Seneca College and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from York University (Class of 2011), proving that it is never too late to change the course of your career & try something new.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CREATOR RELATIONS MANAGER, SPOTIFY
Avery Friedman is a Brooklyn-based multimedia professional. She is currently a Creator Relations Manager at Spotify. Previously, Avery worked on News, Sports, and Entertainment Partnerships at Twitter.
She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2019, where she launched the podcast network and wrote about music for The Michigan Daily. Avery is also a proud intern-alumni of the Center for Communication and Global Citizen. She has a passion for all things audio and finds magic in connecting with people.
ROMEL RODRIGUEZ, FILMMAKER, WRITER, DIRECTOR
Romel is a film graduate from Bronx Community College and the City College of New York. His mission has always been to highlight Latinos in films with stories we wouldn't see elsewhere. No more cliche roles of being criminals. We are entrepreneurs, mothers, fathers, doctors, lawyers, and many more. His debut feature film SUPERBLOCKED is a funny, sentimental, and exciting film about family, friendship, surviving domestic violence, love, and starting a new business.
MODERATOR: ALEXANDRA MERCERON, EVP, RUBENSTEIN STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION; LECTURER IN DISCIPLINE, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Alexandra M. Merceron is a strategic communication professional, educator and scholar with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations use the power of digital, social and traditional media to influence publics and manage their reputation.
Merceron is a full-time faculty member at SPS, where she leads the Communication Research & Insights, Digital Communication Strategy and Strategic Communication Management core courses, and teaches the Public Relations & Corporate Communications elective. She has 10 years of teaching experience at the graduate, undergraduate and executive levels, including multiple courses in public relations, campaign planning, digital marketing, social media, research methods, persuasion, media effects and public speaking. She previously taught at Georgetown University, Boston University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Connecticut winning multiple awards for excellence in teaching.
In addition to teaching at Columbia, Merceron remains active in industry, most recently as Executive Vice President at Rubenstein Strategic Communication, one of the largest public relations and reputation management firms in the world.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.