“I got to ask an alumna about the graduate program she attended. She gave me valuable insights and advice,” enthused communications major Yifan Wang ’22, describing her experiences at last October’s Career Night for the Arts and Entertainment. Some 115 BC undergraduates attended the BC Arts Council event at the McMullen Museum, providing an opportunity to meet and network with 16 alumni—professional writers, graphic artists, performers, arts administrators, and photographers—in informal conversation. “I was impressed by the number of people at BC looking to work in the arts and by the number of people who were trying to assist them do just that,” observed math and economics major Alex Eichler ’20. Below, meet several of the alumni who participated.
Tim Lemire ’89
Writer, Fidelity Investments
Major: English
How did college at BC prepare you for your career?
If anything in my undergraduate experience helped my career, it was the freedom to try new things and activities. That gave me confidence that I could do the same in the working world.
Advice for someone considering a career in the arts or entertainment?
Creativity is something you can bring to virtually any job. If you are rigid in your idea of what a career in the “arts” looks like, you only limit yourself and make your job search harder. Don’t get hung up on job titles or even industries: Think about what interests you, what you enjoy doing, what skills you possess, what you'd like to learn, and let those answers lead you to opportunities in unexpected places.
Mark A. Pearson ’03
Executive and Artistic Director, College Light Opera Company
Majors: Theatre and Philosophy
How did college at BC prepare you for your career?
BC gave me the broad knowledge and perspective I needed to shift and evolve as my career grew and changed. BC also helped prepare me for a career in nonprofit.
Advice for someone considering a career in the arts or entertainment?
Take advantage of all the resources you have at your disposal. If you don’t see an opportunity to advance your art, then create it. You will never again have the support structure that you have now.
Molly Phelps ’14
Academic Programs Manager, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Major: Art History
How did college at BC prepare you for your career?
My incredible professors and mentors encouraged me to follow my passion for art history and to pursue a career in the field. They also helped me build networks and guided me in the networking process during and after school.
Advice for someone considering a career in the arts or entertainment?
Have as many informational interviews with people working in your desired field as you can!
Kristina Rex ’15
Reporter, WBZ
Majors: Communication, Minor: American Studies with concentration in Journalism
How did college at BC prepare you for your career?
The three biggest skills I learned at BC that I use in my work are time management, critical thinking, and research. Every day, I do quick research, learning as much as I can about my story in order to then boil it down to a digestible 1:30 piece for the evening news.
Advice for someone considering a career in the arts or entertainment?
Passion is key. You have to know what you want and fully go after it because careers in the arts and entertainment are not easy to get. It takes drive, passion, and a lot of networking.
Chris Russo ’19
Public Relations Coordinator, Nickerson People Relations
Major: Marketing and Communication
How did your undergraduate experience prepare you for your career?
I learned how to become a networker. Right after graduation I created the Boston College Media Alumni Network, a group of now 500 BC alumni with careers in media and communications. I used my networking skills to link into prominent BC alumni and am now hosting events across the country!
Advice for someone considering a career in the arts or entertainment?
Focus on your business sense just as much as your creative skills. The two come hand-in-hand and you will need both!