Skip to main content

Student Profiles

Ugochukwu Achara
B.A., Communication, University of Louisville
Area(s) of Interest: Arts/Music Festivals, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing, Other
Experience: Being a student-athlete
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Business manager

 

Ali Almansour
B.A., Public Administration, Najran University
Area(s) of Interest:
TV/Film, Entrepreneurship, Nonprofit Work
Experience:
Ph.D in Instructional Management and Leadership from Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh PA 
Ideal Job in 10 Years:
CEO of the Heritage Commission

 

Rashida Anderson-Abdullah
B.A., Political Science, University of Illinois – Chicago
Area(s) of Interest: Music, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music Festivals, Entrepreneurship
Experience: Research intern at Hearst Television’s National Investigative Unit, Produced a short documentary on hair relaxer lawsuits and hair straightening products’ impact on the health of Black and brown femmes.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: I dream to own my own digital production company after spending several years in A&R and artist development.

Grecia Bahena
B.F.A.,  Theatre, Concentration in Stage Management, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Area(s) of Interest Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Arts/Music Festivals
Experience: I had a short assignment working with the Krannert Center for Performing Arts Events Office as a Production Assistant. It was very fulfilling for me as an artist as I was tasked with communicating with clients and reviewing paperwork by day, and then was on my feet to ensure they had a great experience before, during and after their performance at the center in the evening.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Production Stage Manager or Events Coordinator for a performing arts center/institution.

Hongjin Chen
B.F.A., Studio Art (Film Production & Photography), School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Theatre, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Entrepreneurship
Experience: Founder of Dope Film Studio
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Film Director/Producer

 

Jialu Chen
B.A., International Tourism Management, Macau University of Science and Technology
Area(s) of Interest Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music Festivals, Nonprofit Work, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing
Experience: I worked as a Public Relations intern at MSL Group. I used to interview niche brand owners,learn about their brand stories, like the progress from the brand idea to an enterprise with its unique mission and vision. I finally conveyed their values and stories to the public on the official account. It was this experience that helped me to define my career path because it brought me a sense of value.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: My goal is to work in a cultural nonprofit and someday to run my own company to promote Chinese minority culture that are facing extinction. I want to preserve these cultures, to make people aware of them, and to save these cultures.

Yao Chen
B.A., Communication, The Ohio State University
Area(s) of Interest Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Video/Digital Media, Entrepreneurship,Gaming
Experience: I worked for General Administration of sport of china as Communication Specialist
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Video game marketer

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

Kay Cui
BA Communications, Minors in Music Technology, Business Institutions, Northwestern University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music Festivals, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing,Gaming,Other
Experience: A&O Productions, BSE Global
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Working in the Music and Live Entertainment Space, Getting to travel and play music as a DJ, meeting artistic and creative folks in my work!

Yuxin Feng
B.A., Communication, The Ohio State University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music Festivals, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing, Gaming
Experience: Participating in E-Sports
Ideal Job in 10 Years: I don’t really have a specific ideal job, but I want to be well known in a creative field.

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

Zahra Freedman
B.A., Sociology, Music and Culture, Bates College
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,Video/Digital Media,Entrepreneurship
Experience: I’ve gotten to work in music studios and local creative startups in my home city over the past 2 years. Both experiences have taught me all I know about the music industry, entrepreneurship, music production, songwriting, and community building.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: I want to start my own inclusive music studio/creative space that fosters storytelling across many artistic mediums such as film, photography, dance, digital design, and visual media. I’ve seen how powerful music can be in making people feel represented and seen in their lived experience, so with this space I aim to also support the voices of musicians from diasporic communities.

Xiuqi Fu
B.A., English, Fudan University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film,  Visual Arts, Photography, Video/Digital Media,Arts/Music Festivals,Entrepreneurship
Experience: Working as a music video director
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Being a producer in a music company or working on the creative side of the industry.

Sierra Gao
B.S., Math/Economomics, B.A., Japanese Studies, University of California San Diego
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,PR/Marketing,Gaming
Experience: Business Assistant internship in an industrial company; Social media Influencer (Scripted, shot, edited, and published 62 blogs including Vlog and received a total of 1.5 million views);
Ideal Job in 10 Years: PR/Marketing

Jewel Garcia
B.A., Creative Writing, Digital Media, Valparaiso University
M.S., Communication, Northwestern University
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film,Video/Digital Media,Entrepreneurship
Experience: Interning at IFA Chicago
Ideal Role in 10 Years: Running my own successful independent film production company.

Yiru ZhouYilei Han
BA in Advertising, Zhejiang Normal University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/film, Performing arts, Theatre, Video/digital media, Arts/music festivals
Experience: Worked as intern for musical Next to Normal in Shanghai. Assistant producer and stage manager of an immersive musical.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Independent producer for theater

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.

Rachel Garoon
B.M., Vocal Performance, Lawrence University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music Festivals, Nonprofit Work, Entrepreneurship
Experience: Working as an Assistant Stage Manager during San Francisco Opera’s Centennial Season.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Working in leadership at either a for-profit or non-profit business centered around music and it’s performance.

Minghao Guo
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,Visual Arts,Photography,PR/Marketing,Gaming
Experience: Working as a planning intern in an advertising company.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Any kind of marketing position

 

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.

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

 

Bora Kang
B.A., Viola Performance, Xi’an Conservatory of Music
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,Visual Arts,Performing Arts,Theatre,Video/Digital Media,Arts/Music Festivals,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing
Experience: I have studied music for more than ten years. Besides viola, I am also proficient in piano and guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument. In early 2022, I joined Beijing Xihang Technology as a user operation specialist, focusing on solving problems for our music education app users. Our company develops various music related applications.
Ideal Job in 10 Years:Music, entertainment industry event organizer or manager

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

Minh Ha Le
B.A., Communication Studies, Theatre Minor, Loyola University Chicago
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance
Experience: I co-founded a theatre company in Hanoi, Vietnam when I was 17.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Creative Director and/or Artistic Director in Theatrical Arts

Longhao Li
Honors B.A., Communication, Psychology Minor, University of Ottawa
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts,  Fine Arts, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Nonprofit Work, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing,Gaming
Experience: Directing a movie and working for Galt International as a marketing consultant.
Ideal Job in about 10 years? Marketing Consultant or Film Producer

Stephanie Lawson
BA in Communication, Hope College

Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Performance Arts, Nonprofit Work, Entrepreneurship
Experience: Worked for 3 Regional Tony Award Winning Theatre Companies
Ideal job in 10 Years: Managing Director of a performing arts institution

 

Isabel Lima
B.A., Management, Marketing Minor, La Roche University
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Nonprofit Work
Experience: I’ve worked as a professional dancer for the last 8 years, the first 5 years with the well-known Cisne Negro Dance Company in Brazil, 2 seasons with Bodiography Contemporary Ballet in Pittsburgh.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: I’d like to be working in the nonprofit realm.

Kexin Liu 
B.A., Media and Communication Studies, Xi’an Jiotong-Liverpool University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, Dance, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music Festivals
Experience: Head of Communications Planning for “Teaforence” Team, an entrepreneurship project/ work as Research Assistant for A Qualitative Research on Chinese young urbanite’s usage of Online Pop Psychology Platform KnowYourself (KY)
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Build my brand on TikTok to help bring street dance culture

Yuhan Liu
B.A., Economics, University of International Business and Economics
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,Visual Arts,Photography,Video/Digital Media,Arts/Music Festivals,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing,Gaming
Experience: Academic: finalist award for the Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling; Extracurricular: Director of six pieces of micro-movies
Ideal Job 10 Years: A producer for film studios or a manager for an entertainment company

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

Katharina Lu
B.A., Psychology, Media & Film Minor, Dance Minor, Skidmore College
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,Visual Arts,Performing Arts,Theatre,Dance,Photography,Video/Digital Media,Arts/Music Festivals,PR/Marketing
Experience: I have good experience with theatrical, musical, and commercial productions, and I’ve also had some marketing experience as an intern with marketing and PR giant Ogilvy.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: My dream is to work in the creative department of an advertising agency that provides services to clients in the theater and musical productions space. Those are the creative organizations that I’m most passionate about. To me, if I am able to merge my personal passions for creative pursuits with my actual occupation, that would be a dream come true.

Allen Mao
B.S., Sports Management, University of Miami
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,Video/Digital Media,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing
Experience: Worked for Shanghai Juss sports Event Company/ Be a practice player of University of Miami basketball team.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Sports Event Operator

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

Xinger Qin
B.A., Radio and Television, Communication University of China
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,Visual Arts,Dance,Photography,Video/Digital Media,Arts/Music Festivals,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing,Gaming
Experiences: Director of Marketing
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Internship at ByteDance and Nestle. Assistant director at China Media Group

Sally Rubin
B.S., Radio, TV, Film/English & Textual Studies, Syracuse University

Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music Festivals
Experience: Short film “Pinky String” showing at Edinburgh Festival Fringe; Web Series “The Anti-Bullying Defense League” premiering at The Chinese Theatre in LA
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Showrunner and producer of my own children’s cartoon

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

Yefeng Shan
B.A., Digital Enterprise Management, University of Toronto
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Photography, Video/Digital Media, Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing
Experience: My work experience at the bank involved UI/UX and marketing projects
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Entrepreneur

Santino Palazzolo
BA in Broadcast and Journalism, Central Michigan University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/film, Visual arts, Fine arts, Performing arts, Theatre, Dance, Photography, Video/digital media, Arts/music festivals, Nonprofit work, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing, Production, Performance, Touring
Experience: I worked multiple internships in Los Angeles doing red carpet, publishing content, and representing global industries.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Producer

Zining Shi
B.S., Strategic Communication, Business Minor, The Ohio State University
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music Festivals, PR/Marketing, Gaming
Experience: My first internship was in the advertising industry where I had dreamed of working. But after this internship, it completely changed my perspective and my future career plans, so it was a very important experience for me.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Creative director/strategic planner in marketing department

Morgan Thiel
B.S., Advertising, Marquette University
Area(s) of Interest: Photography, Video/Digital Media, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing
Experience: My most significant work experience thus far has been my year long internship that I had for an NBA team working on their creative team.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: My ideal role in 10 years would be holding a leadership position at a top ad agency.

Ella Walker
B.A., Theatre Performance, English Minor, Carthage College
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Entrepreneurship, Nonprofit work, PR/Marketing
Experience: Director of Marketing for BoHo Theatre in Chicago, Freelance teaching
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Artistic or Creative Director in the Performing Arts

Rebecca Walker
B.A., Theatre, B.S., Psychology, Loyola University Chicago
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,Performing Arts, Theatre, Video/Digital Media,Arts/Music Festivals,Gaming
Experience: Working at About Face and Goodman Theatre
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Production Manager

Tiffany Wang
B.A., Art History, UCLA
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Theatre, Video/Digital Media, Nonprofit Work, PR/Marketing,Gaming
Experience: Worked as development coordinator for a year at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: A leadership position in a production company.

Lenka Wang
B.A., Psychology, New York University
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,Photography,Arts/Music Festivals

 

 

Jie Yu Wei
B.F.A., Photography, School of The Art Institute Chicago
Area(s) of Interest: Fine Arts, Photography, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing
Experience: Art content intern at Apollo art
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Start my own design business

 

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

Laura Westpfahl
B.F.A., Graphic Design, Illinois Wesleyan University
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film,Visual Arts,Fine Arts,Video/Digital Media,Nonprofit Work,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing,Gaming
Experience: Graphic Designer at Illinois Art Station and Video Editor at Kosmos Post
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Art Direction, preferably in entertainment

Lishan Xiang
B.S., Marketing, SUNY-Binghamton
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Performing Arts, Video/Digital Media, Arts/Music Festivals, PR/Marketing
Experience: Internships with Alibaba, Netease
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Starting my own marketing company

 

Emma Yang
B.A., Graphic Design, ArtCenter College of Design
Area(s) of Interest: Visual Arts,Video/Digital Media,PR/Marketing
Experience: Work at in Disney Brand Experience as a visual designer,  Work at Pearpop as an UIUX design
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Art Director/ Producer

Yan Yang
B.A., Arts and Playable Media, UCSC
Area(s) of Interest: Music, Visual Arts, Video/Digital Media, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing
Experience: Interning with Net Base and Thematic
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Continuing the work I did at Net Base

Freya Ye
B.A., Media Arts Production, Marketing Communication Minor, Emerson College
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film,Photography,Video/Digital Media,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing
Experience:  Working as a film publicity/marketing intern at Enlight Media
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Marketing Director/Film Producer

Sheryl Yi
B.A., Broadcasting and TV, Sichuan Normal University
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film,Performing Arts,Arts/Music Festivals,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing
Experience: I interned as a PR and Marketing coordinator in Ruder Finn and Galeries Lafayette, and assisted a Gold Rooster Award winning director.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: I hope to plan several media campaigns which can have strong impact on the public.

James Young
B.F.A., Musical Theatre, University of Michigan
Area(s) of Interest: Theatre, Video/Digital Media,Entrepreneurship
Experience: I was recently in the popular off-broadway show Titanique.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: CEO of a Theatre Company

 

Kexin Yu
B.A., Public Relations, Boston University
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,Performing Arts, Theatre, Arts/Music Festivals,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing
Experience: Playing the leading role in the theatre club
Ideal Job in 10 Years: A managerial role in a creative company

Rita Yuan
B.A., Communication, University of California – San Diego
Area(s) of Interest: Music,Video/Digital Media,Arts/Music Festivals,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing,Gaming
Experience: During my time at Qingantang Creative Culture Communication Co. Ltd, I held the role of Marketing Specialist. 
Ideal Job in 10 Years:
Advertising & Integrated Marketing

Alex Zhang
B.A., Film Production, UC Riverside
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film,Video/Digital Media
Experience: Working as an assistant director
Ideal Job in 10 Years: A film producer

 

Chuanqi Zhang
B.A., Communication Studies, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Area(s) of Interest: Music, Gaming
Experience: Working as a music producer and singing.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Working at a communication based company or as a cultural promoter or professional musician.

Hengxi Zhang
B.A., Communication, Wenzhou-Kean University
Area(s) of Interest: Music,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing,Gaming
Experience: Interning in P&G and Bytedance
Ideal Job in 10 Years: I want to start my own business in toy making or game design

 

James Zhang
B.F.A., Photography, Film, Video and New Media, School of The Art Institute of Chicago
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,Visual Arts,Fine Arts,Photography,Video/Digital Media,Arts/Music Festivals,Entrepreneurship,PR/Marketing,Gaming
Experience: Working as an Account Executive at Shunya International, and interning at Ruder Finn Asia
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Not sure yet but I hope to master effective communication with clients, strategies to share creativity, and an outlook sensitivity to future trends. In the long run, I will strive to make an impact in the media world

Jingwen Zhang
B.S., Actuarial Science, London School of Economics 
Area(s) of Interest: TV/Film, Performing Arts, Photography
Experience: Participating in a Chinese culture workshop in London. Guzheng performances.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Producing a TV program related with the Chinese traditions

Claudia Zhao
B.S., Marketing/Digital Communication, Media and Information, Rutgers University
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,Dance,Photography,Video/Digital Media,Arts/Music Festivals,PR/Marketing
Experience: Working at XiaoGuo Media Entertainment Co. and Farfetch
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Working in entertainment media

Lingyi Zhao
B.A., Communication, Dance, George Washington University
Area(s) of Interest: Music,TV/Film,Visual Arts,Performing Arts,Theatre,Dance,Arts/Music Festivals
Experience: Student representative of a CCTV interview program “My Art List”.
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Event planner

Nuolin Zheng
B.A., Media & Information, Michigan State University
Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/Film, Performing Arts, Dance, Photography, Entrepreneurship
Experience: Planned a international students romance variety show
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Career in entertainment and variety television

Tony Zhu
B.A., Arts Management, Columbia College Chicago
Area(s) of Interest:Music,Arts/Music Festivals,Nonprofit Work,PR/Marketing,Gaming
Experience: SXSW 2023 student band management team
Ideal Job in 10 Years: Manager in a major label