Over 250 students connected with alumni during the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Industry Day on Friday, Oct. 25.
Hosted by VPA’s Office of Academic and Career Advising in partnership with Syracuse University Career Services, Industry Day brings together alumni from various areas of study across the college for a networking opportunity. Students could attend panel discussions, a networking lunch, and one-on-one sessions.
Over the course of the day, 160 one-on-one sessions occurred between students and alumni. Kevin Canaday, a senior computer art and animation major in the Department of Film and Media Arts, met with Mary Cotter ’69, former president of Time Warner Cable’s Central New York division.
“The opportunities provided by Industry Day are mind-boggling to me,” Canaday says. “I just had a conversation with the former president of Time Warner Cable. I don’t think anyone will be able to have that similar of an experience without coming to one of these.”
Canaday also took advantage of the panels, attending a discussion on how to deal with career challenges. He found it helpful to learn how alumni maintained their professionalism in the face of disappointment.
A total of 23 VPA alumni attended Industry Day, including Cotter, Matt Britten ’07, Kevin Chernett ’91, Andrew Colaprete ’14, Whitney Crowder ’14, Steve Curran ’87, Peter DePasquale ’12, Adore Ellis ’23, Quinton Fletchall ’13, Courtnee Futch ’15, G’16, Sujean Gahng ’22, Michael Hession ’05, Karissa Horsford ’19, Evan Hutker ’12, Allison Kirsch ’15, Julie Kubacki ’00, Jill Leary ’91, Suzanne Lefebvre ’97, Paul Leibowitz ’84, Kathryn Morse ’09, Devon Vander Voort G’23, Forrest Vreeland ’17, and Jason Zong ’23.
The strong presence of young alumni impressed Danica Ryan, a career development specialist at West Virginia University’s College of Creative Arts and Media.
Ryan visited Syracuse during Industry Day hoping to gain insights from VPA Career Services and how it serves the unique needs of arts students. Her college is moving toward a career services model similar to Syracuse University’s.
“What a student-focused center in VPA, with their thumb on the needs of their students!” Ryan says. “I’m glad I got to see the best-attended Industry Day to date and think it will only continue to grow!”