Meet Our Class of 2024

Leah Dawson

Emerson College

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Production Management

Host Company:
Herizon Productions, LLC

Favorite Show: 
Great News

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
All of my life, I loved to tell stories. I am inspired by audiences, and my desire to build a connection with them. Television is a unique medium because you are able to build a relationship over a series, which is part of the reason I love it."

Lucy Durben

Loyola Marymount University

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Development (Scripted)

Host Company:
The Walt Disney Company/FX

Favorite Show: 
Adventure Time

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
As a kid, I'd often write up my own adventures based on children's TV shows, which led to a lifelong habit of daydreaming up stories at school. Alongside storytelling, bonding over TV led me to some of my best friends, and even helped me come out (thanks Schitt's Creek!). What most inspires me are shows that make people feel seen and can change minds, all while also making them laugh. Television's impact on me made it clear that it was the career path I wanted to pursue, to pay forward all it's done for me.

Brittany Evans

California Institute of the Arts

Graduation Year: 2026

Category:
Agency

Host Company:
Authentic Talent and Literary Management

Favorite Show:
A Different World

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I was inspired to seek a career in television by a representative I met during a career fair at CalArts. When I shared my dreams and goals of working in television, she encouraged me to explore the possibilities behind the camera and the importance of connecting artists with the right opportunities. This sparked my passion for helping others pursue their careers in television and sharing my love for the industry."

Meera Patel

Boston University

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Interactive Media

Host Company:
Getty Images

Favorite Show: 
Friends

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
During my first year of college, I took a Mass Communications elective where we dissected TV shows and films while relating their meanings to the real world. I always knew I wanted to pursue something in the communications realm after this and I was drawn to TV for its plethora of story arcs and plot points. Films are great, but they have a finite ending. I'm a fan of the intricate details, evolution of characters, and mind-blowing cliffhangers that hook you to a TV show until the end, and I want to be one of those inspirations that creates such a feat."

Yegor Polakoff

Chapman University

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Editing

Host Company:
Geiger Post

Favorite Show:
How To with John Wilson

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My first glimpse into the industry was actually when I was in 5th grade when I was picked to go on The Ellen DeGeneres Show as a Kid Inventor. I was deeply fascinated by the interworkings of what it took to create an episode of television. My passion for a career in the film and television industry only grew from there!"

Joyzel Acevedo

University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Directing

Host Company:
Lopez vs Lopez, The Rookie, Happy's Place

Favorite Show:
The Leftovers

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Growing up, I was entranced by shows like Mad Men, The Sopranos, and The Leftovers, which transported me to places and circumstances I had and will never specifically experience, but explored the very real human condition of people navigating their struggles with themselves and the world, grounding these powerful stories in quiet and personal conflicts: Whether in fantastical or mundane settings, there is something universal about watching broken people strive to repair themselves, fail, and try again. I was also further inspired to seek a career in television by creators such as Ava DuVernay and Linda Yvette Chávez, whose works both focus on authentic and multifaceted portrayals of communities not used to seeing themselves on the screen, and also elevate the very medium they use. Seeing them succeed in telling these narratives motivates me to continue further in my career. 

Genevieve Agar

America Film Institute Conservatory

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Cinematography

Host Company:
The Rookie, Happy's Place, For All Mankind

Favorite Show:
Insecure

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Growing up, my family and I moved to a new place nearly every summer, meaning I was always the new kid at school. Television helped me feel a little less lonely and more connected to the world.

Ryan Agnello

Quinnipiac

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Production Management

Host Company:
Reverie Content

Favorite Show:
Community

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I always wanted to work in an industry that is built on creativity. When I was younger I had a strong passion for filmmaking, and my parents supported me as my interest evolved into a career goal. Television has always been a significant way my family bonded, making it easy to decide that it was the career path I wanted to pursue.

Ciara Bess

New York University

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Sound

Host Company:
Smart Post West

Favorite Show:
Game of Thrones

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I never noticed the impact until recently, but as a child, I was always deeply moved by the music in movies. Whether it was Rocky's theme or the music from the "Incredibles," I paid a lot of attention to the sounds and music of a film. This interest has led me to pursue a career path in sound mixing, editing, and design.

Zoey Boyd

University of Southern California

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Production: Live Television

Host Company:
Bob Bain Productions

Favorite Show:
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I was inspired to seek a career in television by my passion for making people laugh and bringing them together. Icons like Carol Burnett and Mr. Rogers have profoundly influenced me. I strive to spread joy and create meaningful connections through my work.

Dan Brown

Loyola Marymount University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Getting Real: Unscripted (Post Production)

Host Company:
World of Wonder

Favorite Show:
The Boys

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
As an adolescent, I made tons of YouTube skits with my friends. I believe that's what sparked my desire to pursue a career in television. It also helped that I watched an unhealthy amount of cartoons when I was a kid.

Alexandra Cardona

University of Southern California

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Agency

Host Company:
ATB Talent

Favorite Show:
Severance

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My father inspired me to seek a career in television, he learned English through American television and we would spend most of our time together watching it, discussing it, and enjoying every element of it. My dream of working in television comes hand in hand with my father's love for it, he taught me to work hard since he has always worked hard to support me and my sister. When I found out about the Emmy program, he was the first one I told because I owe my dream to him.

Caroline Chiaramonte

Vanderbilt University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Development - Children's

Host Company:
Cloudco Entertainment

Favorite Show:
Pysch

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My career in television was inspired by my students. As someone who taught elementary education, my students inspired me to bring education and entertainment to a larger platform. I aspire to create quality educational and entertaining media.

Kaitlyn Davis

Boston University

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Casting

Host Company:
Kim Coleman Casting

Favorite Show:
Entourage

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I was more of a film girl when it came to what I wanted to do with my life; I always wanted to make movies, while TV was something I could do, but movies were my true passion. I had respect for TV and loved watching it, but it just didn't give me the same feeling as making a movie. Recently, I had a professor for my TV pilot and drama writing class who worked on many TV shows, some of which I watched growing up, and he instilled in me a real love for creating TV. His influence shifted my mindset from film to TV, and his impact has really stuck with me.

Jaden Dickson

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Production: Scripted Series

Host Company:
STARZ

Favorite Show:
Grey's Anatomy

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I have always loved storytelling and grew up playing pretend, writing, and making little movies with my friends and brother. I have also always loved TV, and when I realized that people could have careers in television, I knew that I wanted to play some role in bringing those stories to life. They say in film and television "you never work the same day twice" and the prospect of working in an industry that is constantly evolving and full of passionate people excites me every day as I look toward my future career.

Benjamine Duran

Pasadena City College

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Foster Youth

Host Company:
Shondaland

Favorite Show:
Breaking Bad

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My father inspired me to seek a career in television, he learned English through American television and we would spend most of our time together watching it, discussing it, and enjoying every element of it. My dream of working in television comes hand in hand with my father's love for it, he taught me to work hard since he has always worked hard to support me and my sister. When I found out about the Emmy program, he was the first one I told because I owe my dream to him.

Catarina Flores

University of Texas at Austin

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Writing: Drama

Host Company:
Two Drifters, Inc.

Favorite Show:
Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone 

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I discovered just how much television had influenced me when I wrote my first prose story, and it read more like a pilot episode than a novel. Since then, I have really leaned into the longform medium of television- there is such a special connection the audience can develop with characters over long periods of time. Growing up, I was specifically influenced by British television shows like Sherlock, Doctor Who, and Merlin. These shows and settings in the UK still influence my writing today. 

Carson Foster

Loyola Marymount University

Graduation Year: 2026

Category:
SVFX

Host Company:
Barnstorm VFX

Favorite Show:
Breaking Bad

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I've always been fascinated by visual storytelling and I love watching TV shows and movies. I was first introduced to video production at a summer camp when I was in elementary school and I have been making short film projects ever since. Because of this, I knew working in the film/TV industry would be an exciting career to get into.

Selina Haroon

Loyola Marymount California

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Getting Real: Unscripted (Development)

Host Company:
Lighthearted Entertainment

Favorite Show:
Normal People

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I watched a lot of different types of television growing up and have always been interested in working within television. The first television show that I remember really having an impact on me was Parks & Rec.

Riley Hodgson

California State University Northridge

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Getting Real: Unscripted (Development)

Host Company:
44 Blue Productions

Favorite Show:
Bob's Burgers

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My interest in a career in television sparked from a deep love for visual storytelling which I pursued in college by majoring in film and specializing in documentary. I believe that unscripted series offer a unique and authentic perspective into our world, capturing real emotions. This passion for showcasing these unfiltered aspects of life drives my ambition to create impactful television that resonates with and inspires audiences.

Brianna Holmes

University of California, Los Angeles

Graduation Year: 2026

Category:
Interactive Media (New, Media, Social)

Host Company:
Warner Bros. Television Group

Favorite Show:
Bridgerton

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Television has been a safe space for me to escape the stress if the real world and travel to a place where stories have been expertly crafted to immerse me in their universe. I'm also an actress myself so being involved in the industry from different angles is very exciting to me.

Maiya Jannah

Brown University

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Production: Scripted Series

Host Company:
The Walt Disney Company

Favorite Show:
Big Little Lies

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I have been an avid television-watcher since I was a kid. Before streaming took off, I would spend my time watching clips of my favorite TV shows on YouTube, piecing together the storylines as I went. In the absence of easily accessible full episodes and seasons, I got to create as I watched; these characters became active in my mind, and I learned how to craft a story between expansive narrative gaps. Television has always been a part of my life, but it took me learning more about myself and paying attention to the ways in which I interacted with this medium to realize that my passion, creativity, and drive belong in television.

Bailey Johnson

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Production: Documentary/ Nonfiction/ Unscripted

Host Company:
Marwar Junction

Favorite Show:
New Girl

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I have always been drawn to art in all forms. When I found film and television production, I fell in love with the ability to create a world that others can step into using the power of creative storytelling, and that is what inspired me to pursue it as a career.

Lindsey (Ashton) Julian

Alfred University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Development - Scripted Series

Host Company:
National Lampoon

Favorite Show:
Seinfeld

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I've always known I was a writer, but it wasn't until I took a screenwriting class that I started to take the possibility of a future in the entertainment industry seriously. While working on student film and theater projects, I got to know so many incredible, passionate people that encourage me to keep creating. The collaborative nature of television is what inspires me because it allows me to not only connect with people in my own life, but also with people all around the world.

Dominique Kalunga

University of Miami

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Music

Host Company:
Music Box Studios

Favorite Show:
Star Trek: The Next Generation

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Artistically, John Williams. Its not a very unique assertion but he's the gold standard of film scoring in my eyes and has always been an incredible inspiration. His music has made me feel like no other has and I aspire to do the same. On a personal level, my father has been a great inspiration. He's been super supportive of my crazy dreams from day one and his faith is unwavering. I can't say how much I appreciate that.

Avery King

California State University Northridge

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Getting Real: Unscripted (Development)

Host Company:
Bunim-Murray Productions

Favorite Show:
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I grew up doing musical theater and got to work with some amazing professional adults. They all took a chance and chose the artistic career path. This inspired me to dream big and do the same. My family’s escape has always been television and I can’t wait to make the same entertainment for families like mine.

Aiko Lozar

Chapman University

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Casting

Host Company:
Paramount

Favorite Show:
Queen's Gambit

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Growing up, my family bonded with each other by watching a "family show" every night after dinner; television shows, and the characters we so related to, were our great unifier. Because of this, my older brother auditioned for these TV shows, and I helped him with his self-tapes. Though this sparked my interest in casting, I really became passionate about it after taking Russell Boast's "Art of Casting" class at Chapman University. Now, I am inspired to seek a career in casting television.

Chloe Markie

Loyola Marymount University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Editing

Host Company:
Geiger Post

Favorite Show:
I Love Lucy

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Growing up, classic sitcoms like I Love Lucy and The Jeffersons were always playing on our TV. Even though these shows were made decades before I was born, I was inspired to start editing because of them. My parents are just as obsessed with these shows and there is nothing we love more than watching them together. This universal connection we all have to television is incredible and something I strive to recreate in every project I edit.

Paige McGowan

Columbia College Chicago

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Editing

Host Company:
Ping Pong Productions

Favorite Show:
One Piece!

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My parents have always supported my evolving interests, from video game design, visuals effects, to editing. My interest in technology originates from my dad, who bought me my first computer. Over the years, this would eventually lead to me discovering my love for editing and post production. This, paired with our late nights discussing whatever our show for that week was, ultimately guided me to where I am now.

Le'Anne Norfleet

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
PR/Publicity

Host Company:
Warner Bros. Television Group

Favorite Show:
Doctor Who

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
What inspired me to seek a career in television was a course in Film and TV, that I took during my Freshman year at UCLA. In this course, I learned about different aspects of the television industry and was introduced to various careers in the industry. This course allowed me to see how exciting and interesting it is to work in television.

Roxanne Gabrielle Pasiliao

University of California, Los Angeles

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Development - Scripted Series

Host Company:
Valhalla Entertainment

Favorite Show:
Succession

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I was inspired to seek a career in television after watching interviews of the creator of the series "Succession", Jesse Armstrong. Before that, I was merely a consumer of stories, but after hearing about how he meticulously crafted the narrative of the show, I was compelled to find a way to be someone who made stories. Television is my favorite medium of storytelling because the audience can spend time with the characters for a longer period of time and it gives space to flesh out a whole story.

Riya Patchava

Michigan State University

Graduation Year: 2026

Category:
Production: Commercials

Host Company:
Radical Media, et al

Favorite Show:
Fleabag

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
The first movie I really fell in love with was The Sound of Music, something clicked in my head when I saw it for the first time. There was such intentionality with every costuming choice, every line of dialogue, and every note sung. As I grew older and started using my creativity in more complex ways I always seemed to wander back to films and television series to get inspiration. As I started to get more of a sense of what it was like behind the scenes, I was so inspired by what a labor of love the television industry is and wanted to do anything to be a part of it.

Freddie Patrick

University of Southern California

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Design - Costume

Host Company:
Terry Gordon

Favorite Show:
The Sandman

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Television is something that has always brought the people in my life together. My parents and I bonded over watching Star Trek every night and some of my best friends have been made by bonding over the same favorite TV shows. After seeing how much I loved talking about my favorite shows in college, some of my mentors encouraged me to look into costuming for television and film.

Dasha Pimenov

USC School of Cinematic Arts (MFA), Middlebury College (BA)

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Getting Real: Unscripted (Development)

Host Company:
Endemol Shine North America

Favorite Show:
I Love Lucy

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My family, PBS Kids, and history books (strangely enough) have cultivated and nurtured my love for television. My family’s enthralling, multi-generational chronicles have instilled in me a deep appreciation for the power of storytelling at a young age; the layered plot points and overarching themes of their passed-down stories have even influenced me to view time through seasons — like literal TV seasons. Character-driven narratives and educational content like Arthur, Maya & Miguel, and WordGirl helped me make sense of the world around me growing up. I continued to indulge in never-ending stories with my ardent love for history by reading, writing, and daydreaming about the travels and epics of the human race.

Tess Rechtweg

New York University

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Development - Scripted Series

Host Company:
Shondaland

Favorite Show:
Scrubs

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
One of my television professors, Andrew Goldman, inspired me to seek a career in television. I took his class, TV Programming & Concepts, thinking that I would learn more about television history, and the changes in the world that sparked the development of certain series. I came out with a new appreciation for the form, and a want to pursue a television career. From his lectures to his guest speakers, the magic of television development and programming was instilled in me after every lecture. After I accepted this internship, he was the first person I told.

Michelle Roldan

University of La Verne

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
News: Broadcast

Host Company:
Univision

Favorite Show:
Dateline

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I am inspired by the news itself. There are many stories that air and all of them are covered in different ways to connect with their audiences. It's inspiring to see how dedicated stations are to informing their viewers in an effective and informative way.

Nanda Saboia

Brooklyn College

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Development - Scripted Series

Host Company:
Bristol Circle Entertainment

Favorite Show:
30 Rock

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Growing up in Brazil, TV was a window to world larger than my own. It motivated me to dream bigger. Once I was established professionally in a different field, I realized I uninspired and leading an apathetic life. I decided to follow my gut, quit a lucrative and start from scratch doing what I love: TV

Taylor Shults

University of Georgia

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Physical Production/ Business Management

Host Company:
NZK Productions/ Warner Horizon

Favorite Show:
Below Deck

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My parents were a major influence on my career aspirations. Growing up my father always pointed out how much people loved television and the feeling of community that comes from it. Combine this with my mother's continuous encouragement to do something that excites me, and I had a clear goal to facilitate the creation of engaging and enthralling television.

Daija Smith

West Los Angeles College

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Foster Youth

Host Company:
Shondaland

Favorite Show:
Grey's Anatomy

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I would say that Shonda Rhimes definitely inspired me to see a career in television. Her shows like Grey’s Anatomy and How To Get Away with Murder and Scandal have definitely saved me in many ways that I can’t even explain.

Kerri Stephenson

Emerson College

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Writing: Comedy

Host Company:
Phony Content

Favorite Show:
Bojack Horseman

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Visionaries like Shonda Rhimes and Issa Rae taught me that through television, Black women could be anything. Whether in front of the camera or behind, I learned that television creatives can impact hundreds of thousands of people, just like I was growing up. I continue to be inspired by the Black women who shape not just this industry- but also the world.

Miykael Stith

The University of Alabama

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
News: Entertainment

Host Company:
EXTRA

Favorite Show:
Living Single

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Tamron Hall, Arsenio Hall, and the opportunity to create and tell meaningful stories that leave an imprint on a consumer’s mind have inspired me to seek a career in television. It's been a passion of mine since I was a child. Along with my influences, early exposure to the world of television sparked my interest in television as well.

Dominyk Sutton

Biola University

Graduation Year: 2026

Category:
Agency

Host Company:
United Talent Agency

Favorite Show:
I Love Lucy

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
At the age of 7 or 8, I had to do a project on Lucille Ball. I learned what a trailblazer she was. She was not limited to just being an actor, she was a producer, writer, and director as well. She inspired me by knowing that you do not have to put limits on what you do in television.

Ashley Trail

Otis College of Art and Design

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Production: Animation - Hand drawn

Host Company:
Titmouse, Inc.

Favorite Show:
The Great British Bake-off

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My storyboarding instructor / mentor, Chris Robertson, worked as a storyboard artist in television before he started teaching. I was really inspired by his professional accomplishments, and of course he encouraged me to apply to this opportunity. I'm also incredibly lucky to have an amazing group of friends that study animation, and are constantly introducing me to new shows!

Shokie Tseumah

The Theatre School at DePaul University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Design - Art Direction/ Set Decoration

Host Company:
Adam Rowe (CBS Paramount - Matlock)

Favorite Show:
New Girl

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I grew up with a love for tv shows and the way it can bring people together through the shared act of watching the same thing at the same time. I love the ways you can be immersed in a story that can take you to another world, and the ways you can be changed emotionally by fictional events. I want to be someone who can tell the kind of stories that resonate and stay with the audience long after they've turned off the tv and make a small impact with every rerun.

Yinuo (Norman) Wei

University of Southern California - School of Cinematic Arts

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Production: Animation - CG

Host Company:
Lex and Otis

Favorite Show:
The Daily Show on Comedy Central

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I watch a lot of TV talk shows. As an immigrant, I relied on those for entertainment and a source to help me assimilate into American society. I since realized the importance of television to the American culture, which ultimately inspired me to pursue a career in the industry.

Jennifer Chan

Emerson College

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Production Management

Host Company:
Herizon Productions, LLC

Favorite Show:
Sense 8

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My parents are my main inspiration into seeking a career in television. Growing up in a town where I wasn’t surrounded by people who looked like me, my parents always put on Cantonese-speaking television shows afterschool. My parents taught me the power of media and how I can connect with my heritage and culture through television.

Riley Go

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Graduation Year: 2026

Category:
Development - Scripted Television

Host Company:
Sandstone Artists

Favorite Show:
Beef

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
While starring in an episode of FX's Better Things with Emmy-winning director-writer-actor Pamela Adlon, I felt inspired by her leadership and versatility on set. At age 12, I watched the episode with my grandmother, who was visiting from the Philippines. Hearing her belly laughs and seeing her emotionally connect to the story highlighted the universal power of television to me and its ability to transcend borders. As a SAG-AFTRA television actress, I aspire to follow in Pamela's footsteps and develop TV shows that bridge the gap between different races, genders, and generations.

Alyson Gonzalez

Chapman University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Interactive Media

Host Company:
Getty Images

Favorite Show:
American Horror Story

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
When I was growing up, I would always be watching a television show, before school, after school, and even a few episodes before bed. As I started to understand what these shows are, I was fascinated and eager to learn about the process behind these projects. Today, there is a power of influence with audiences on social media, but I believe it all started with television. I love how television shows have the ability to engage audiences including myself and keep us engaged to it through interesting characters and storytelling.

Alexander Lopez

University of California, Riverside

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Editing

Host Company:
Geiger Post

Favorite Show:
The Sopranos

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
What inspired me to seek a career in television were my parents. More specifically, my mom. She would always tell me to pursue what I loved growing up, so I fell in love with editing when I was in high school. Now, I wish to make my parents proud by showing them that my passion for editing has brought me to an interesting world, and I have them to thank for the encouragement they have given me my whole life.

Melanie Campbell

California State University - Northridge

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
News - Entertainment

Host Company:
EXTRA

Favorite Show:
House Of The Dragon

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My dad inspired me to seek a career in this industry. Growing up he would show me all of his favorite TV shows and I instantly became hooked. He's been so supportive throughout this journey.