With a natural curiosity about how the world works behind the scenes, Northwestern Professor Claudio E. Benzecry found his calling in researching global supply chains to learn about the people, culture, and expertise that make them tick. As a well-known sociologist, he explores the complex social dynamics at play in industries and cultural institutions. (more…)
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For Cameron Burrill ’22, what started as a fifth-grade obligation to his mother quickly became his biggest passion.
All it took was a role as the emperor in The Emperor’s New Clothes to convince Burrill that musical theater was for him. Growing up in California, he was surrounded by an active theater community that supported him as he explored his creative abilities. (more…)
Editor’s Note: In March 2025, Michele Ganeless, CEO at Comic Relief and former president of Comedy Central, returned to Northwestern University, her alma mater, to talk about her career experiences and the state of entertainment with MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises (MSLCE) students.
Although she spoke at length about her career path and the shift away from traditional television content, Ganeless wanted to share more about the lessons she’s learned, the importance of giving back throughout your career, and why students shouldn’t overlook the opportunities and rewards of working for nonprofits. (more…)
High on the extensive list of reasons why summer in Chicago is the best is the urgency with which Chicagoans go outside. There’s so much to do and so many people craving the sun that the city feels uniquely alive and present. To help prepare for the season, we’ve curated a master list of the best happenings around Chicago this summer. Activities are organized by month. You can find the full list with breakouts for each event linked here. The list will be updated with new events throughout the season. (more…)
One trip to Disneyland at the young age of five was all it took for Julia Finder ’25 to discover her true calling: creating immersive experiences. The attractions. The music. The characters. She loved it all. But what she adored most was the Light Magic Parade.
“I can still sing the main song,” says Finder. “The floats stopped in the middle of Main Street, and you watched the fairies wake up. Disney characters danced with the crowd. I danced with Genie from Aladdin and a fairy who put pixie dust in my hand. I wasn’t just watching a parade go by … I was interacting with characters and experiencing the magic of a whole other world.” (more…)
When she decided to study communication and film/media studies at UC Santa Barbara, Alyssa Fine ’22 –working as an Events Marketing Coordinator at Tubi, at time of publishing– knew she was learning about subjects she loved, but they felt like separate paths.
With her sights set on a live television production career, Fine interned for a local community broadcast station and with the Television Academy Foundation. While film and media fit, she wasn’t sure where or how communication could play a role in her future. (more…)
Notorious for infusing originality into everything she does, Emily-Nicole (Micki) Pease ’22 wanted to build on her undergraduate business degree by choosing a graduate program that would let her flex her creative muscles: She loved to write, she’d been a practicing artist for as long as she could remember, and she enjoyed playing video games with her friends. (more…)
In first grade, when people asked Autumn Rose ’25 what she wanted to be when she grew up, she had one response: singing and performing (except for a few months when she wanted to be an astronaut).
“I enjoyed performing so much,” says Rose. “I distinctly remember making a project about it to present to my class. I even loved going to the movies and seeing people perform.” (more…)
Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s as a child of immigrants, Professor Aymar Jean (AJ) Christian learned about American culture by watching television. He was a preteen when cable became a dominant force in the industry, and he saw how the transformation of broadcast television reshaped entertainment. (more…)
When Gina Muzi ’24 discovered a letter she had written to herself years ago, it talked about one thing: playing Division I soccer. Today, she’s living her dream as a member of the varsity women’s soccer team at Northwestern. But sports aren’t her only interest: She’s just as passionate about the creative arts. (more…)