October 31, 2024
The 13th floor of Fiterman Hall at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) buzzed with activity on October 30 as students, faculty, and industry representatives gathered for the first-ever Media Arts and Technology (MEA) Internship Discovery Day. The event showcased internship, apprenticeship, and employment prospects across multiple creative fields, including animation, motion graphics, video arts, multimedia programming, and graphic design. Representatives from Google, Omnicom Group, and The One Club for Creativity were among the panelists.
Attendees received resume assistance, professional headshots, and in-depth information about diverse career paths and opportunities within the media and technology sectors. BMCC’s MEA department is a key participant in the CUNY Inclusive Economy (CIE) Initiative, a partnership between the New York City Mayor’s office and CUNY. This collaboration facilitates connections between classroom learning and the needs of the industry, supporting both students and potential employers.
According to CIE Industry Specialist for the Media Arts department Susan Stratton, the Internship Discovery Day was organized by students involved in the MEA Internship Program, also known as Career Connected Learning, or CCL. “Students from across our three majors of Animation and Motion Graphics (ANI), Video Arts and Technology (VAT), Multimedia Programming and Design (MMD) participated,” Stratton explained.
CIE Hybrid Academic Career Advisor Alex Vasquez emphasized the event’s importance for all students, regardless of their academic stage. “For students who started in the fall, it is a great motivator to explore potential careers within their major and highlights the importance of getting a head start on their resumes and portfolios,” Vasquez stated. “For second-year students, the focus shifts to making meaningful connections with industry partners, allowing them to showcase their unique qualities beyond what’s on paper.”
Adrienne Lucas, head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Strategic Partnerships at The One Club for Creativity, served as a guest panelist. The One Club supports the next generation of industry professionals, and Lucas highlighted the significance of events like the BMCC Internship Discovery Day. “Advertising is an incredibly lucrative career and so we’re connecting students with agencies and brands so they can apply to these jobs and show employers that they are qualified for many of these positions,” Lucas noted. She added that many advertising agencies still seek talent through traditional methods, such as portfolio schools, but not everyone has the resources or awareness of these options.
Lucas emphasized the wealth of talent within community colleges like BMCC. She said, “Community colleges are a microcosm of New York City, which is a melting pot, where we have people from all different backgrounds, and when we think about the work we do as advertisers, we’re trying to represent the community, and so who better to work on these campaigns than people who are representative of these communities.”
Nashiem Johnson, the Career Connected Learning Club (CCL) president, co-led the Discovery Day event. Johnson is currently pursuing a Digital Marketing apprenticeship at Google and recently completed an internship at StoryCorps. “The hands-on experience I gained at StoryCorps prepared me well for this role, especially through practical applications of by BMCC coursework,” Johnson pointed out. “Working with real data, producing marketing content, and analyzing campaign impact at StoryCorps allowed me to expand on skills I’d learned in class. These experiences have definitely strengthened my readiness for the career I want to pursue.” In five years, Johnson envisions themselves on a path toward a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, leveraging existing marketing and analytical experiences to innovate and contribute meaningfully to the field.
Litzy Tapia, Animation and Motion Graphics major and CCL Club secretary, has always enjoyed drawing and storytelling. She recognized the Animation and Motion Graphics program at BMCC as a perfect fit for her skills and aspirations. “In addition to the CCL Club connecting MEA students with internships at various creative organizations, we also organize field trips and help with resumes, biographies and portfolios,” Tapia shared. “In five years, I see myself working at an animation studio. CCL has helped me build on that dream. They’ve taken me on field trips including to the animation studio Titmouse where I was able to connect with various animators, talk with them and learn more about their industry and how to actually apply for position there as well.”
