Getting to Know You: Comm Arts Students Meet Alumni Experts

Pictured: NYIT alumna Jennifer Nuñez offers current students career advice at an NYIT Career Services speed networking event on October 23.

Quick! What's your best advice? More than 50 students in communications and marketing programs got the answer to that question thanks to alumni who participated in an NYIT Career Services speed networking event on October 23.

At the meet up, students met with the industry experts in small groups to ask questions and get an insider’s view of potential internships and post-degree positions. Five other volunteers, including officers from the New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), joined the NYIT alumni.

“The event was a great opportunity to talk to people who work in various disciplines within the communication arts field, to see what’s current, and [to learn] what they expect from graduates in today’s landscape,” said Marie Ferguson, an M.B.A. student specializing in marketing.

Frank Piantini (B.A. ’84), vice president of creative services at CNBC, said, “My most important message for the students is to be curious. At this young age, you aren’t expected to have experience. Just participate, and the more questions you ask, the better off you’ll be.”

Students had the opportunity to meet with NYIT alumni and other industry professionals during the speed networking event.

The students received expert advice on how to search for a job once they graduate. Hafsatou Balde, a senior in communication and media production, said she learned “how to market myself in a better way.” Zirui Zhang, a third-year digital film and television production major, said that he enjoyed “getting to know people in my field who might get me a job.”

Nicholas Pacchiano (B.F.A. ’10), director of creative technology for Mass Appeal, encouraged the students to start seeking jobs and internships while still in school. “NYIT is giving you the basic skillset in your freshman and sophomore years,” he said. “After your sophomore year, hit the ground running looking for positions! You can balance getting your four-year degree or your master’s with working professionally.”

Kennedi Fuller, an account executive at Affect, Inc. who is also PRSA’s local programming and diversity chair, said, “I really enjoyed listening to students’ perspectives. It’s important for me to use my experience to help other people, especially women of color. I’m happy to be here to represent them and say, ‘Hey, you can do this too.’”

Other alumni who attended were multimedia journalist Maylan Studart (B.F.A., ’18), Benjamin Sberro (M.F.A., ’07), who runs his own company; Sirius XM radio traffic coordinator Jennifer Nuñez (M.A., ’15); and marketer and social media strategist Rudy Balat (M.A., ’10).