Footsteps to follow
Communication students network with NYC alumni

By Erin Roberts

Thirty-seven students from the College of Communication spent three days in New York in December to tour major companies, meet alumni living in the area and shadow professionals in their desired field. In addition, 15 were lucky enough to meet "Today" show host Matt Lauer, BSC '97, who fielded questions from students, posed for one-on-one photographs and waived the entire group's admission fees for the "Top of the Rock" observation deck at Rockefeller Center.

Lauer wasn't the only alumni Bobcat to make the trip a success. Gregg Hano, BSJ '82, publisher of "Popular Science," was generous in hosting a reception for the event Wed., Nov. 30, at the Time & Life Building. Paula Shugart, BSC '81, president of the Miss Universe Organization, was instrumental in arranging shadow placements for more than 10 of the students. And countless others, including John Cassese, BSC '76, MA '79; Mark Malabrigo, BFA 82; Paul Schneider, BSC '86; David Jones, BSC '86; Wendi Berger, BSC '88; and Kate Schlegel, BSJ '99, hosted student shadows and supported the trip in other ways.

According to Holly Jacobs, College of Communication internship coordinator and event organizer, the alumni element is crucial to the success of the annual trip.

"The exciting thing about these trips, and this trip in particular, is that they wouldn't happen without the help and support of alumni," she said. "We chose a committee of alumni with expertise in all areas. For example, with their help, our students were able to secure prestigious shadow positions and tour elite companies --no small feat for a town like New York."

Several of the students actually took the trip a step further by scheduling interviews for internship and entry-level positions. Ashley Ferguson, a senior magazine journalism major from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, interviewed for internship positions with both "Teen People" and "Budget Living" magazines. She toured "ELLE Magazine" and shadowed Hano at "Popular Science."

"I was able to get information from Gregg Hano on the move to New York," Ferguson said. "If things go my way, I will be moving there after graduation. I also enjoyed hanging out with Erin Parker, a recent graduate who showed me it's not impossible."

Ferguson reports her interviews went well and that, pending her class schedule, she'll return to New York as an intern.

"I think I'll probably be interning at 'Budget Living,' as it's more flexible and has a smaller staff," she said. "It seems like it would be a better experience for me, as it's very artsy and not mainstream."

Many of the alumni were impressed with the student talent in New York and were more than happy to give of their time to help make the event a success.

"I have had great conversations with [School of Visual Communication Director] Terry Eiler about getting talent and alumni from his program, but it's always good to see students from other parts of the college," said Malabrigo, who now serves as technical director for creative services at MTV Networks. "I can see we are making headway in all areas of the industry. I'd love to come back to campus to interview not only for internships, but for permanent positions. I would like to use Ohio University as a place to find talent for our group here at MTV Networks."

Kristen Mueller, a telecommunications senior who actually helped Jacobs to plan the trip through her PACE position, felt overall response from her fellow students was positive.

"Everyone I've talked to was really impressed with their experiences," she said. "Personally, I was just so surprised at how helpful and welcoming the alumni were in New York. I thought we'd be on our own, but it was just the opposite. Because the alumni realize how hard it is to make it in New York, they were really willing to help students out."

Jacobs said this is the fifth annual trip the college has offered. Other locations have included Chicago, Cleveland, Washington, D.C., and Cincinnati. While Jacobs says the students have benefited from the trips in the form of internship and job offers, she notes that the alumni contact has also enabled her to expand the college's internship database.

"Alumni provide the bridge to other professionals in the shadow process, which opens the gate to internships," she said. "It's also important to note that alumni enjoy the opportunity to give back to students. The enthusiasm with which they approach students is both genuine and heartfelt."

Six of the 37 students who made the trip were from underrepresented groups at Ohio University. One of University President Roderick McDavis' goals is to diversify the student body and to make opportunities equally available to all students. College of Communication Multicultural Programs Coordinator Greta Oliver was pleased with the percentage of underrepresented students on the trip.

"It doesn't seem as though many underrepresented students have taken advantage of the opportunities that have been available to all students in the College of Communication," she said. "Twenty percent of students on the trip being underrepresented is good. It's a step in the right direction. I'm happy to see that underrepresented students took advantage of the shadowing and networking opportunities in New York."

Next year's networking trip is being planned for Columbus.

Erin Roberts, BSJ '00 and BA '00, is the external relations coordinator for the College of Communication.

Posted 1-23-06