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Student Profiles

Adriana Aguirre
B.A., Communications and Social Media, Tecnologico de Monterrey y de Estudios Superiores
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,Video/Digital Media,Arts/Music
Experience: Marketing Advising for conserving the San Lorenzo Canyon
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Owning a creative branding studio

 

Alkhyat Bashair

 

 

 

 

Baile Bi
B.A., Marketing, Wenzhou-Kean Unviersity
Area(s) of Interest:
Music,Video/Digital Media,Arts/Music Festivals,Nonprofit
Experience: 
Marketing roles
Ideal Job in 10 Years:
Marketing executive

 

Kayla Boye
B.A., Professional Writing & Editing, Youngstown State University
Area(s) of Interest:TV/Film,Performing Arts,Theatre,Nonprofit Work,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing
Experience:Executive Director and Development Director of The Youngstown Playhouse
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Creative Professional

 

Jassmin Brown
B.S., Business Management, Virginia Commonwealth University
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film,Performing Arts,Theatre,Nonprofit Work,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing
Experience: Executive VP of Data & Intelligence on the Medical Cannabis Student Association
Ideal Job in 10 Years: CEO/Co-Founder

 

Audrey Bruskiewitz
B.F.A., Studio, School of The Art Institute of Chicago
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film,Visual Arts,Fine Arts
Experience: Visitor Service and Events Associate at DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Museum Curator

 

Ursula Buba
B.A., Art History, University of Pittsburgh
Area(s) of Interest: Music, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Nonprofit Work
Experience: Co-chairing the safety committee
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Museum director

 

Shujun Chen
B.S., Sociology & Media + Communications, The University of Melbourne
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Photography
Experience: Internship at Warner Bros. / Discovery
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Media producer

 

Yanlin Chen
B.A., Radio and TV Editing and Directing, Communication University of China
Area(s) of Interest:Music, TV/Film, Performing Arts, Theatre, Photography, Arts/Music Festivals, Entrepreneurship
Experience: Interning at a concert company
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Experiential marketing

 

Yinuo Chen
B.A., Interactive Media & Business, NYU – Shanghai
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Visual Arts, Photography, Video/Digital Media, PR/Marketing
Experience: Working as a corporate communications intern at Disney
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Marketing/PR executive

 

George Christensen
BFA in Digital Film and Video Production, Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago

Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/film, Photography, Video/digital media
Experience: I have worked in the media industry for 10yrs prior to this degree
Ideal job in 10 Years: Working in a management role in the higher educational or film industry

 

Julia Denardo
B.A., Communications Studies, Minors in English & Creative Writing, Dance, Northwestern University
Area(s) of Interest:Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Nonprofit Work, Entrepreneurship
Experience: Working at an NGO in Cairo, Egypt , supporting the creation of custom sales programming for Google
Ideal Job in 10 Years:Children’s media or business development for growth stage companies

 

Mariah Eastman
B.F.A., Dance and Choreography, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBFA
Area(s) of Interest:Performing Arts, Dance, Nonprofit Work, Entrepreneurship
Experience:Started the Chicago Dancer Pay Transparency Project
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Artistic director of a dance company and studio

 

Jessica Fang
B.F.A., School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Video/Digital Media, Gaming
Experience: Interning at Aimer
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Curator specializing in creating multi-sensory art environments

 

Julia Finder
B.S., Business Administration, University of Evansville
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Theatre, Video/Digital Media, Nonprofit Work, Entrepreneurship
Experience: 5 years in film distribution, 3 years as production assistant, representation activist
Ideal Job in 10 Years:
President or SVP at a studio/production company

 

Malia Haines-Stewart
B.A., Film History, Philosophy, Sarah Lawrence College
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film,Visual Arts,Video/Digital Media,Nonprofit Work,Entrepreneurship,Other
Experience: Co-founding Filmfront & Inga Books; Working as a film programmer for the Block Museum
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Running an arts organization or business in a sustainable community-centered environment. Further work in film curation or art books.

 

Roderick Hawkins
BA in Mass Communication, Louisiana State University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/film, Visual arts, Fine arts, Performing arts, Theatre, Dance, Arts/music festivals, Nonprofit work, PR/Marketing
Experience: On the academic side: Co-producing a documentary about the Fisk University Jubilee Singers. On the extracurricular side: singing onstage with soprano Kathleen Battle
Ideal Job in 10 Years: CEO or senior executive of a major cultural organization in Chicago or another large market.

Michael Heilbronner
B.A., Audio Design and Production, Columbia College Chicago
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Arts/Music Festivals, Entrepreneurship
Experience: Working with Grammy Nominated Engineers, VP & Event Organizer of DJ Club
Ideal Job in 10 Years: C suite executive / Business owner

 

Cecelia Huang
B.A., Drama, University of Virginia
Area(s) of Interest:TV/Film, Performing Arts, Theatre, Entrepreneurship
Experience: President (23′-24′) of UVA J. Sanford Miller Arts Scholars; UVA Arts Council Member(23’&24′)
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Entrepreneur

Michael Hung
B.S., Advertising Management, Michigan State University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Nonprofit Work, Entrepreneurship, Gaming
Experience: Exhibitions in Taipei, Munich and Portland
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Event Planner

 

Nivash Jayaram

 

 

 

Minghao Jin
B.S., Entrepreneurship, University of Illinois-Chicago
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music Festivals, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing, Gaming
Experience: Q3 Best Newcomer Award at HSBC
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Senior Marketing/Operations Director + Founder of a Music or Event Organization

Rachel Kennedy
B.A., Theatre, Business, Hope College
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film,Fine Arts,Performing Arts,Theatre
Experience: I currently work at Steppenwolf Theatre as the Contracting Associate, where I write contracts for all artists who come through the theatre and work closely with their unions and agents.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Producer or Executive Director at a non-profit theatre

Xiaoya Lei
B.S., Advertising, Syracuse University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music
Experience: Developing a small pixel game
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Creative director

 

Junru Li
B.F.A., Interactive Media Arts, New York University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing
Experience: Co-founded Studio Neutronium; Creative intern at Bytedance
Ideal Job in about 10 years? Event coordination and curation

 

Muyuan Li

 

 

 

Shirley Li
B.F.A., Fine Arts, School of Visual Arts
Area(s) of Interest:Music, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing
Experience: Fine arts, branding, design and marketing
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Creative director

 

Yihao Lin
B.A., Illustration, School of Visual Arts
Area(s) of Interest:Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music Festivals
Experience: Art producer in UwULabs
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Business owner/ Art producer

 

Stacy Liu
B.A., Theatre Arts, Mount Holyoke College
Area(s) of Interest: 
TV/Film, Visual Arts, Theatre, Photography, Gaming
Experience: Internship at Hismoon Gallery, designer at Rooke Theatre
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Art studio manager

 

Zhuocheng Liu
B.S., Advertising Management, Michigan State University 

Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing, Gaming
Experience: OP team member for Geely Motors; Overseas Business Consultant for Yeahmobi
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Working in a creative field that allows me to travel the world

Craig Miller
B.A., Dance Performance, Oakland University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing
Experience: Supervisor for Fig Catering
Ideal Job in 10 Years: CEO of a Production Company

 

Stephanie Muñoz
B.A., Theatre Performance, Minor in Communications, University of Illinois – Chicago
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Theatre, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Nonprofit  Media, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing
Experience:Leading the communications strategy of a special project called Art Design Chicago
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Creative director

Gina Muzi
B.S., Fashion Studies, St. John University
Area(s) of Interest: Fashion, athletics
Experience: Fashion Week in NYC internship/volunteering, and an internship in Costa Rica for a PT clinic as well as special Olympic program
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Either owning my own business within the Fashion Industry or working for a high end luxury brand/Haute Couture label

Andrés Palacios Constanza
B.F.A., Illustration, Savannah College of Art and Design
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Dance, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music Festivals, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing, Gaming
Experience: Working as an Illustrator for Filgua (Guatemalan national book fair)
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Internship at ByteDance and Nestle. Assistant director at China Media Group

Mel Brian Patrón
B.A., Psychology, California State University – Long Beach
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts
Experience: Starting a film production company which created 9 short films over the span of 3 years
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Producing at a company that is relevant and adapting at the forefront of culture.

 

Irfan Quarashi

 

 

 

Autumn Rose
B.A., Communication Studies, Minors in Spanish and Film & Media Studies, Northwestern University 
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Visual Arts, Photography, Arts/Music Festivals, Nonprofit Work
Experience: Co-authoring and presenting a zine entitled “Inconexo: el atípico arte de ser” (Disjointed: the atypical art of being)
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Community outreach and engagement at cultural arts institutions and museums

Jade Santos
B.A., Music Education, University of Miami
Area(s) of Interest: Music, Performing Arts, Theatre,Dance, PR/Marketing
Experience: Concert Education Outreach Coordinator
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Opera Stage Manager/Opera Department Coordinator

 

Sydney Schulman
B.A., Creative Writing, Kenyon College
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Arts/Music Festivals, PR/Marketing
Experience: Internship at American High; Special events and community outreach at the Kenyon Review
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Marketing, development, or PR roles at any company that allows me to work with my passions in books or TV

AJ Schwartz
B.A., Theatre, English/Shakespeare Studies Minor, Loyola University Chicago
Area(s) of Interest: Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Theatre, Photography, Nonprofit Work
Experience: Artistic Producer for About Face Theatre Re/Generation Studio 2023. Director of How You Kiss Me Is Not How I’d Like To Be Kissed at Haven Chicago
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Artistic Director of a theatre company in Chicago

Shannen Slater
B.F.A., Theatre, Texas State University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing
Experience: Producing a Showcase and Running a Photography Company
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Creative Director

Grace Smith
B.M., Cello Performance, Baldwin Wallace University 
Area(s) of Interest: Music, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Theatre, Arts/Music Festivals, Nonprofit Work, Entrepreneurship
Experience: Planning a networking trip for arts management students while attending Baldwin Wallace University
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Working in operations for a major orchestra or for a non profit arts organization.

Holly Smith
B.S., Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Iona University
Area(s) of Interest: Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing
Experience: Intern and volunteer at Women In Banking and Finance UK
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Head of Fashion Marketing for a high-end fashion brand.

 

Claire Snyder
B.S., Learning and Organizational Change and Legal Studies, Northwestern University
Area(s) of Interest:Music, TV/Film, Video/Digital Media,Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing
Experience: Being on the lacrosse team at Northwestern for the past 5 years and attending a recent conference at Deloitte University
Ideal Job in 10 Years:Working in marketing/PR or consulting for a sports or entertainment company

Emma Somers
B.A., Theatre Arts, University of Michigan
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Performing Arts, Entrepreneurship
Experience: Working as a florist and working on large celebrations in my events roles
Ideal Job in 10 Years: CEO/Founder of my own company

 

Gemma Sun
B.A., Economics; B.S., Quantitative Science, Emory University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, Performing Arts, Arts/Music Festivals, PR/Marketing
Experience: Finance Intern at a mass media company, founder of a college rock n’ roll band
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Marketing director at a record label company; management at entertainment companies

Maelea Tan
B.S., Theatre, Minor in Entrepreneurship, Northwestern University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Theatre, Video/Digital Media, Nonprofit Work, Entrepreneurship
Experience: Vice-President of Polerize and President of the Southwest Area Leadership Council at Northwestern University
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Properties Lead or Artistic Director

Samantha Taxman
B.S., Educational Theatre, New York University
Area(s) of Interest: Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Nonprofit Work, PR/Marketing
Experience: My work with the Verbatim Performance Lab, first as an intern and then in various roles after I graduated
Ideal Job in 10 Years: On track to become an artistic Director of a non-profit theatre company

Frank Tian
B.F.A., Studio Art, Tufts University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Theatre ,Photography, Nonprofit Work
Experience: I was a Marketing & Retail Intern at YellowKorner art photography gallery in Shanghai
Ideal Job in 10 Years: I want to be at a place where I can utilize my insights and make impact on the art industry and general public

Marlo Virina

 

 

 

Ruodi Wang
B.A., Fine Arts, School of The Art Institute of Chicago
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Theatre, Video/Digital Media, PR/Marketing
Experience: I have worked at GroupM as a graphic designer for Calvin Klein
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Production Manager

 

Yihan Wang
B.A., Journalism, Shanghai International Studies University
Area(s) of Interest:TV/Film, Theatre, Video/Digital Media, PR/Marketing
Experience: Marketing assistant at EF
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Creative director in marketing department

 

Yutong Wang
B.S., Marketing, Minor in Communications, Wenzhou-Kean University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Dance, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music Festivals, PR/Marketing
Experience: Interning at Sina Weibo / CASETiFY / Ogilvy / iQiyi
Ideal Job in 10 Years: A managerial role in media or entertainment

Jackson Weber
B.A., Radio/Television/Film, Minor in Business Institutions, Northwestern University
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film,Photography,Video/Digital
Experience: Working with Studio 22 and Niteskool at Northwestern

 

Stephen Wei
B.A., Game Design, B.A., History of Art and Visual Culture, University of California – Santa Cruz
Area(s) of Interest: Video/Digital Media, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing, Gaming
Experience: UX intern at Byte Dance, Marketing intern at CE-Max
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Game Director / Marketing director at gaming company

 

Samantha Westlake
B.M., Composition, Theatre Minor, Wayne State University
M.F.A., Screenwriting, DePaul University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Theatre, Video/Digital Media, Nonprofit Work, Entrepreneurship
Experience: I wrote and directed three plays that were performed in Fringe Theatre Festivals while I was in high school and college. I also completed an internship at the Cannes Film Festival during my MFA.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Artistic and/or Educational Director of a nonprofit film and theatre production company

Michael Wu
B.A., Arts and Sciences, Babson College
Area(s) of Interest:
Music, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Theatre,Photography, Video/Digital Media, Entrepreneurship
Experience: Staffer at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Opening my own music label and restaurant

Nora Xia
B.A., Fashion Design, Parsons School of Design
Area(s) of Interest: Music, Visual Arts, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing
Experience: Owning a vintage store
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Entrepreneur

 

Xinyue Xu
B.A., Communication, University of California – Los Angeles
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music
Experience: Creative intern at Ogilvy, contributing to brand renewal projects and digital marketing strategies for brands
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Being a leader strategist in the creative industry

Scott Yan
B.F.A., Film/Photography, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Area(s) of Interest:
Music, TV/Film, Theatre, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Gaming
Experience: Leader of the SAIC Chinese Students and Scholars Association /  Intern Director in MGTV
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Director of TV Shows

 

Yitao Yang
B.A., Animation / Film, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Area(s) of Interest:
TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Photography, Video/Digital Media
Experience: Created a cosmetics company
Ideal Job in 10 Years: CEO

 

Yitong Zhan
B.A., Broadcasting and Hosting, Communication University of Zhejiang
Area(s) of Interest:
Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Arts/Music Festivals, Non-profit Work, Entrepreneurship
Experience:
Gained over 2 million followers and 100 million video views within one year though an effective online engagement strategy
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Theatre actress

Rainia Zhang
B.S., Advertising, B.S., Film and Television, Boston University 
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film,Video/Digital Media,Arts/Music Festivals,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing
Experience: A creative member of Boston University’s AdLab; An advertising intern at BlueFocus Communication Group
Ideal Job in 10 Years:A marketing/branding position in the creative industry

Renyi Zhang
B.A., Digital Media Studies, University of Rochester
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music Festivals, PR/Marketing
Experience: Worked as a gallery assistant
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Owning a jazz bar where I can play music regularly

Christina Zhang
B.A., Business, Brandeis University
Area(s) of Interest:Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Photography, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing
Experience: Interning for LVMH
Ideal Job in 10 Years:Marketing/Branding in Fashion

 

Xumeng Zhang
B.F.A., Illustration, School of Visual Arts
Area(s) of Interest:
Visual Arts,Fine Arts,Arts/Music Festivals,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing
Experience: Working at the Hive Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing
Ideal Job in 10 Years:Building an efficient community entertainment space

 

Riko Zhao
B.S., Television, Radio & Film, Syracuse University
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Visual Arts
Experience: Produced short films calling attention on significant issues
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Open to all possibilities!

 

Yeye Zhao
B.A., Translation and Interpretation, Minor in International Economics and Trade, China Foreign Affairs University
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Theatre, Photography, Video/Digital Media, PR/Marketing
Experience: Interned at BlueFocus, Golin and KPMG
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Working in the entertainment industry, helping stories reach more hearts

Jingyu Zhu
B.A., Toy Design, Otis College of Art and Design
Area(s) of Interest: Design
Experience: Interning for Disney animation
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Brand manager

 

Crystal Zhu
B.F.A., Communication Arts, Otis College of Art and Design
Area(s) of Interest: Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Arts/Music Festivals, Nonprofit Work
Experience: Art gallery intern, designer assistant, marketing assistant
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Art Education/Promoting the collaboration between brands and art institutions

 

Chenzhen Zong
B.F.A., Architecture and Philosophy, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts
Experience: Producing short films in undergrad
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Creating my own exhibition and retail space