Communication, Film, and Theatre professionals create and shape the stories we tell. They influence the way people share, receive and process information — an invaluable role that will always be in demand in our modern mediated global society. Employment opportunities are growing in the media, business, education, politics, and arts industries.
Why Study Communication, Film, and Theatre at Eastern?
Eastern's Communication, Film, and Theatre major provides hands-on learning in state-of-the-art facilities like the Fine Arts Instructional Center and newly renovated Communication Building. Students gain practical experience through hands-on media and performance projects and professional internships. The major prepares students for careers in filmmaking, multimedia journalism, performance, and more, with concentrations in Design, Technology, and Performance Media; Film and Video Production; Multimedia Journalism: News and Sports; and Performance: Acting, Choreography, and Playwriting. The collaborative, interactive learning environment fosters creativity as faculty use professional examples to teach classes.
Concentrations
The Design, Technology, and Performance Media concentration offers courses in traditional costume, scenic, lighting, and sound design, as well as projection media and design for immersive entertainment, preparing students for careers in design and technology for stage and screen. Students learn with industry-standard media servers, lighting and audio systems, scene shop and costume shop equipment, and specialty technologies such as motion capture.
The Film and Video Production concentration offers courses that build students' skills in directing, producing, camera work, and editing for film, television, and digital content, preparing students for careers in the entertainment industry. Students engage in hands-on work with cameras and other recording equipment, editing software, and screenwriting programs to create original content.
The Multimedia Journalism: News and Sports concentration offers courses in television, radio, and digital production techniques for news and sports, preparing students for careers in multimedia journalism. Students utilize industry-standard media equipment to produce news and sports segments and long-form reporting and complete internships in the field.
The Performance: Acting, Choreography, and Playwriting concentration offers training in acting for stage and screen, choreography and dance, and playwriting, preparing students for careers in the entertainment industry. Students have the opportunity to perform and create work for main stage and student-produced live performance, as well as film and television.
All Communication students complete at least one internship as undergraduates, gaining valuable workplace skills and developing their professional networks in the process.
On-campus Experiences
Communication majors construct advertising campaigns for local businesses, host their own radio shows, and produce live television sports and news programs. Applied experiences are found at the Campus Lantern student newspaper, ETV, ETV Sports and WECS 90.1 FM.
Honor Society
Eastern is a member of the Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society, with members demonstrating exemplary academic and co-curricula accomplishments.
Student Organizations
Students build a sense of community through co-curricular groups that host social events, volunteer in the community, and participate in regional and national conferences and competitions. They include the American Advertising Federation, and the Public Relations Student Society of America.
Undergraduate Research
Communication students work with faculty mentors to conduct independent research or create media content. They have presented at regional and national conferences, and won awards for producing documentaries, writing plays, and creating public service announcements.
Global Field Courses
Communication students have visited advertising and public relations companies in London and Paris, shot films in Mexico and China, and learned about the media industry of Eastern Europe.
John Murphy, lecturer of communication at Eastern Connecticut State University, recently received a grant from the Center for Community News (CCN) at the University of Vermont (UVM) as part of the CCN’s Faculty Champions program.
More than 20 academic programs and departments at Eastern Connecticut State University recognized student achievements this spring 2024 semester during honor society inductions and award ceremonies.
On a campus where students can blend in effortlessly, one senior at Eastern Connecticut State University will soon race around a local competitive track wearing a helmet signed by his classmates.
Ryan is a content associate at ESPN producing video and graphic elements for the ACC Network. He makes montages, highlights and graphics that tell many different stories of athletes, teams and games. “I enjoy every minute that I’m a part of ESPN as this has always been my passion ever since I was a little kid. Eastern prepared me for fast-paced environments and most importantly, sports storytelling.”
Communication
Melissa Starkel ’20
“I work at a nonprofit educational organization as a communications manager in Washington, D.C. My education from Eastern has equipped me with the necessary skills and experience to thrive in the ever-evolving world of communications. Through my coursework, internships and extracurricular activities, I was able to refine my written and interpersonal communication skills, hone my problem-solving abilities, and strengthen my leadership capabilities.”
Communication
Lauren (Zenzie) Rovella ’15
After stints as a lifestyle host, news reporter and anchor at TV station NBC-22 in Springfield, MA, and TV station Fox 61 in Hartford, CT, Lauren is now a digital producer for Avelo Airlines. “My communication classes allowed me to hone my broadcasting skills, putting me in perfect position to advance my career after graduation.”
Communication
T.J. Snopkowski ’12
T.J. is president of TJS Consulting Services. “A day in the life of a social media marketing consultant can be lots of fun! I oversee all promotional efforts, including broadcast, print and digital, corporate partnerships and brand activations. At one event, I worked with dozens of leading world thinkers, including the former President of Mexico Vicente Fox and former Deputy Prime Minister of Poland Grzegorz Kolodko.”
Theatre
Elizabeth Heaney ’19
Elizabeth is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting at Purdue University. “Eastern’s Theatre Program is expanding and improving every year. Each professor has an innovative and unique perspective, and the collaboration that goes on is beautiful. Opportunity is plentiful, technology is state of the art and resources are always available.”
Theatre
Hilary Osborn ’12
Theatre major Hilary Osborn earned a master’s degree in sustainability management from Columbia University in 2018 and now works with Willdan Group, Inc., an engineering consulting firm in Manhattan. “My theatre degree gave me poise and confidence to work in a corporate environment, and the extensive writing in all my Eastern classes gave me the communication skills I need to succeed in my profession.”
Communication
Michele Lodigiani ’13
Michele earned her communication degree before receiving her B.S.N. at the University of Connecticut. Today she works at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London. “My liberal arts background ensured I had the critical thinking skills required for a nursing career. I was also able to participate in clubs and activities, which allowed me to serve the community and fostered my interest in a career assisting others.”
Communication
Emily Hailu ’22
Emily interned as a video producer for Eastern’s Office of Alumni Affairs, where she created video content for the Office’s alumni audience. “Think outside of the box and don’t stick to what you know is safe. What is safe may be overused and being creative and doing what has never been done before may actually lead you to bigger and better outcomes.”
Television Academy
Paulina Palomo ’21
Theatre major Paulina Palomo ’21 was one of 50 participants nationwide selected for a Television Academy Foundation Internship, where she worked with Hollywood-based production company Endemol Shine North America. She is now a production coordinator for Arkansas PBS. “Film and television have always been so interesting to me, which is why I decided to pursue it professionally.”
Account Executive, NBC
Chris Weedon ’15
“I am grateful to be an alumnus of Eastern Connecticut State University. The professional career that I have developed as a sales executive within NBCUniversal over the past eight years is a direct result of the education that I received at Eastern, the connections and the relationships that I have developed and the ‘hands-on’ resources available to me at Eastern.”
CT Humane Society
Kayleigh Shettleworth ’20
Communication major Kayleigh Shettleworth works as a development manager at the Connecticut Humane Society (CHS). She works with the Together Forever Capital Campaign, “which centers around building the new CHS Animal Resource Center in Wilton, with a low-fee veterinarian clinic, pet food pantry and adoption center.”
TV Reporter
Carmen Chau ’10
Carmen earned her master’s degree at Quinnipiac University and is a TV reporter at WTIC-Fox in Hartford. “Eastern helped me to step out of my comfort zone and chase my dream of being a TV reporter. Thanks to the guidance of experienced professors, I can proudly say that I’m there. I encourage aspiring journalists to take advantage of Eastern’s TV news club. That’s where I started.”
ESPN
Damon Gray ’16
Communication major Damon Gray is a content associate at ESPN. “Eastern gave me hands-on experience in video editing and live sports broadcasting. With the help of the staff and fellow students, the Eastern TV sports crew was the perfect starting point for a career at ESPN.”
Multimedia Journalist
LaToya Smith ’06
The CEO of New York City-based Brass City Media, LaToya was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Small Business Administration. “Eastern gave me the experience and training I needed to adapt to this rapidly changing industry. I received a truly multimedia education and participated in several media-related clubs. These experiences gave me an edge going to graduate school and beyond.”
Photo Director
David Wurtzel ’13
Communication major David Wurtzel is director of photography at Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network (CPBN). “Eastern taught me how to be a professional. I transformed from someone who had a creative interest into someone who could use that creativity to shape a career.”
Communication
Jack Petrucci ’20
Jack works with ESPN’s clients to create sponsored ad integrations across the SportsCenter, College Basketball and College Football properties. “Eastern was without a doubt the main reason I am at ESPN. I was fortunate enough to direct our sports broadcasting department, host my own radio show and anchor the sports segment for ETV News. These opportunities gave me real-world experience that truly helped shape my career.”
Communication
Samantha Honeywell ’21
“The campus-based ETV News gave me the hands-on experience of what to expect in the future! Eastern changed my life for the better. With the small school atmosphere, education, clubs and events, I certainly made the right choice. Taking liberal arts classes will introduce you to tons of different fields, which helps spike interest in what you want to do. Not to mention the clubs and activities that help as well!”
Communication
Cami Makula '22
Cami is the partnership and field marketing coordinator for National Grid, an international electric utility. Previously she worked as an account executive for the New York Islanders, where she interned while at Eastern. She was also the manager of Eastern’s field hockey team. “Cami is capable of doing anything with her organizational skills, positive attitude and ‘go get it done’ approach,” said field hockey coach Christine Hutchison.
TheaterWorks
Rebecca Ristow '23
Rebecca interned with TheaterWorks. One of her most notable experiences was her role as assistant director for the production of “Queen of Basel.” “I was lucky to be able to experience the entire rehearsal process at a regional theater company, seeing the project come to life from its first stages. This was invaluable to me as a theatre student who wants to pursue directing as a career path.”
News Reporter
Tyler Madden ’21
Communication major Tyler Madden ’21 is a reporter with WKRC in Cincinnati, OH. “I will always cherish my four years at Eastern. As the producer for our on-campus ETV news show, I was able to take everything I learned from my classes and apply it to producing content outside of the classroom. The hands-on experience you get from working on industry level equipment like I did at Eastern taught me skills I use every day."
New York City
Anthony Piccione ’16
Theatre major Anthony Piccione is a NYC-based playwright. Since graduating from Eastern, his plays have shown at theatres and festivals such as Midtown International Theatre Festival, NY Winterfest and Manhattan Repertory Theatre. “The range of classes and creative opportunities I experienced at Eastern helped me to mature and become well rounded as an artist and as a person.”
Tia Russell Dance
Sinque Tavares ’17
Theatre major Sinque Tavares is a dance instructor at The Lab-Creative Space for the Arts. At Eastern, he concentrated in acting, directing and dance, and starred in several theatre productions. “My eyes have been opened to other dance forms — hip hop, jazz, modern, tap. Now I like to choreograph from different perspectives and incorporate different genres into the same dance.”
Actress
Alexis Kurtz ’16
Theatre major Alexis Kurtz has performed in professional productions such as “The Hunch Back of Notre Dame” and “Earth Day, Every Day.” She is associated with the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport. “My Main Stage experiences as an undergraduate were critically important for my career. I can thank Eastern for fostering the performance proficiency I now enjoy.”
