Two alumni panels offer industry insights, experiences and connections to Elon undergraduates participating in Elon program in Los Angeles this summer
share:
Eleven alumni of Elon’s performing arts and music programs met with students participating in Elon summer courses and internships in Los Angeles to offer advice on planning entertainment careers.
The two Alumni Intelligence Sessions were held at My Second Home in Hollywood, the co-working space and academic hub of the Isabella Cannon Center for Global Education’s Study Abroad in America program in Los Angeles.
Performing Arts alumni include:
- Tristan Bailey ’11, actor, writer and executive assistant at Comcast
- Julia Gallagher ’12, actor, producer and writer
- Kalie-Ann Nassoura ’21, dancer, actress, model and communications professional
- Alyssa Needham ’19, dancer, choreographer and Pilates instructor
- Maurice Whitfield ’07, actor (SAG-AFTRA)
Music alumni include:
- Lauren Fisher ’19, Brand Partnerships Coordinator, Select Management Group
- Emily Hubbard ’18, associate conversation editor, Disney Publishing
- Steph Militello ’12, Paramount Worldwide Music Licensing Administrator
- Sean Renner ’06, composer, recording and performance artist
- Benjamin Soldat ’13, sound engineer
- Chris Tarpley ’17 and L’19, attorneys at Kjar, McKenna & Stockalper
Butler alumna Meredith Burns, who works in project management and music marketing, joins the Music Alumni Group. The session was moderated by Jordan Roman, 15, a film major at Elon University.
“All the wonderful music alumni from Elon Butler University shared such useful, down-to-earth and applicable wisdom with students, generously answered deep technical questions and clarified industry terminology. The best part was seeing all the students interact with the alumni Interact and connect in a personal way after classes are over. This is a great way for alumni and students to connect and celebrate the greater Elon community in Los Angeles.
Organized by Jen Guy Metcalf, associate professor of dance and interim director of the Elon Program in Los Angeles, these classes provide students with the opportunity to connect with industry professionals to gain practical knowledge and hear firsthand about the challenges and opportunities of a career in the entertainment capital of the world. Timely information about the Actors and Writers Guild strike and its impact also became a focus of discussion.
“Our alumni share messages that help our students succeed in internships, academics and as professionals after graduation,” said Guy Metcalf. “They provided information on how to navigate a career, maintain mental health and well-being, how to handle and understand contracts, and commented on the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.”
Students said the advice helped clarify their career goals and better understand the skills and characteristics needed to succeed in music, film and acting.
“Alumni emphasized the importance of staying connected with the people we met in LA, especially through our internships. This industry is all about building connections, and the people we met in LA are helping me expand my network and my skills in the industry. majoring in acting and minoring in psychology “They also encouraged me to be brave and go after what I wanted. “
Alyssa Needham ’19 clearly remembers the uncertainty of establishing herself after graduation and wants to reassure current students that they can be successful and happy.
“It feels like just yesterday that I was sitting in the shoes of a student, interning in Los Angeles and excited about the future. It’s great to reflect on my transition from Elon to graduate school life and share successes, learning moments, and successes in the entertainment industry and life in Los Angeles Struggle. I want students to feel more confident about life after Elon and know that they can have a community in Los Angeles if they choose.
Sean Renner ’06 — who earned his MFA in Music Composition and Performance from CalArts at Elon — was excited to participate in the panel discussion because he knows music students and graduates are dealing with the same challenges he faced.
“The Smart Meeting felt like a real full moment,” Rayner said. “I love sharing my experiences and perspectives over the years because I know how valuable this can be to graduates just starting out on their career path. There are few reliable paths to career success. Sharing what has been most helpful to me in my career things and being able to share advice that I know helped me in the early stages of my career brings me so much joy.
Guy Metcalf said the alumni panels are a hallmark of the Elon in Los Angeles program because of the connections they create and for students, hearing from alumni and younger alumni in established and growing careers. value in career.
“Elon alumni in Los Angeles are very supportive of our students and want them to succeed,” she said. “This is a great opportunity for current students to connect with Elon alumni and hear advice on a variety of topics. Alumni answered students’ questions and offered to stay in touch. I am honored to work with my colleagues and Alumni came together to organize this important conference, as it has been an important part of Elon’s Los Angeles program for more than a decade.
