Student Stars act as ambassadors of the ODI conference. They have been selected by faculty, or through an interview process with ODI members. The Stars are an integral part of promoting the event to their peers and are on-site to assist our attendees to provide optimal customer experience.
Alyssa is a senior at Pace University, majoring in Arts and Entertainment Management with a minor in Marketing. Since transferring to Pace after being a NOVA ODI student star, Alyssa has worked doing social media marketing with Marathon Digital (Hamilton, Hadestown, The Cher Show), The Legacy of You, StarQuest Dance, The Pekoe Group (Spongebob Squarepants: The New Musical, Avenue Q), AKA NYC (Once on This Island, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Prom), RPM (Moulin Rogue!, Waitress, Jagged Little Pill), and Pip's Island. Alyssa is so honored to be part of ODI for the third year and be a co-leader alongside the incredible MarissaAnn Rizzitello and Colleen McGovern.
Amal Ahmed is first generation Somali born in Madison, Wisconsin. She is a third-year student at Northern Virginia Community College. She is currently majoring in Communications and minoring in marketing. She hopes to get into the field of Public Relations while also pursuing her passion of writing. Amal has her own blog in which she speaks on various topics in society such as Mental Illness in the Somali Community, being a first generation. Pop culture and many more. She hopes to use her education to give back to her country and aid her people. Her passion for social media is exactly why she is so grateful to be taking part in One Day Immersion. She can’t wait for the chance to put her skills to the test and to gain more experience in successful leader.
Ana Maria Valeriano Cruz was born in Luvianos, Mexico and is in her her first year at Northern Virginia Community College where she is perusing a field in Medical Laboratory Technology. Ana has a strong passion for health and nutrition. She is working for in a retirement home in Baileys Crossroads, Virginia. Working alongside the elderly community has inspired her to help residents further in their journey of life ,by helping those with special necessity transfer to the healthcare unit in the building with ease. Ana Maria loves communication and is very community oriented. She is grateful to have the opportunity to attend this impactful event and would like to express gratitude to Dolly Wolf and every single team member making ODI event possible.
Arianna Juliano is currently a junior at Pace University majoring in Arts & Entertainment Management with a minor in Law and Communications. The summer after her freshman year Arianna got her first internship, that she still works with, at Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. Alongside that internship she is also working for BNDR Music and MEZZ Entertainment. At each internship she holds, she plays varying key roles. At Brooklyn Podcasting Studio she mainly tracks finances and follows up with clients. Her work at BNDR Music consists communicating via Instagram to reach the company’s marketing goals. At MEZZ Entertainment Arianna writes two weekly blog posts, updates company LinkedIn page and curates playlists. In the future Arianna hopes that all of her hard work pays off and she can become an artist and tour manager for musicians around the world.
Avery is a sophomore at Pace University studying Arts and Entertainment Management, as well as Human Resources, and is the Treasurer of the Industry Network at Pace. He has a passion for organization and event planning, and hopes to use his degree to organize events within the entertainment industry. Avery also has six years of food service, both in New York City and on the New Hampshire seacoast. He looks forward to being a part of the ODI team to enhance his leadership skills, and to work with this amazing team.
Brittany is a senior at Pace University in the Lubin School of Business. Studying Arts & Entertainment Management and Quantitative Business Analysis, she aspires to work within the digital space of the music industry. To stay active on campus, she is a third-year ODI Student Star, as well as a member of The Industry Network for Arts & Entertainment Management, The Leadership Engagement Action Program (LEAP), and The National Society of Leadership and Success (Sigma Alpha Pi). Her passion for the entertainment industry has granted her opportunities to intern for Big Beat/Atlantic Records, 300 Entertainment, and Downtown Music Publishing. As well, she has been a Digital Consultant for Warner Music Group and a member of the inaugural class of College Associates for Live Nation. Brittany is thrilled to be a part of the 2019 One Day Immersion Team!
Colleen is currently a junior at Pace University, majoring in Arts & Entertainment Management with a minor in Marketing. For the past two years, she has become very involved at Pace by raising funds for the school at the call center and also serving as the vice president of The Industry Network for Arts & Entertainment Management. Colleen interned at Jay Z’s Roc Nation this past spring, doing data & analytics for the digital marketing team, while also working as a junior manager at KPA Talent Management and Production. She is also signed to EMG Model Management and Take 3 Talent Agency, and spends most of her free time auditioning and performing around the city. Colleen is very excited to join the One Day Immersion team and help co-lead the student stars alongside MarissaAnn Rizzitello and Alyssa Denton.
Emily Pagano is currently a junior at Pace University in the Lubin School of Business, where she is pursuing a major in Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications, as well as carrying a minor in Arts and Entertainment Management. She is a member of the street team for the IN Network and will be hosting a segment on Pace’s radio station, WPUB, this upcoming year. Emily's passion for the arts stems from her many years of company dance experience and performing. Recently, Emily interned with SPR Media on their film, A Nice Girl Like You, (which featured talent Lucy Hale and Jackie Cruz). This is where her passion for film/media began to thrive! Through her networking, she has since scored multiple production assistant positions with Pudding Boy Productions, the Tribeca Film Festival, and Broderville Films. Emily is currently working as an art production assistant for Passionflix, a female-led streaming service that focuses on bringing romance novels to the small screen. She is honored to be a part of the ODI Team and is looking forward to learning more about marketing and entertainment as well as connecting with other people that share the same passions and goals!
Faith Dabrio is a first generation college student. She is a second year student at Northern Virginia Community College. She is currently a teaching major, special education. She hopes to teach at her old elementary school. Faith has a youtube channel, where she post vlogs about her competitive cheerleading team as well as lifestyle and beauty videos. She hopes to use her education and youtube platform in the future to open people's eyes about children with disabilities. She is beyond grateful and excited to take part in One Day Immersion, to connect with other students that have similar interests. She can't wait to gain more experience as a leader from this opportunity.
Henry Nalker is currently a freshman at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, VA. He is planning on transferring to Shenandoah University next fall to study music therapy. Henry developed a passion for music through his dad, who is a professional musician. Henry plays piano, percussion, guitar and also sings. He wants to go into music therapy because he has a disability himself, and he has a love for helping others with disabilities. His disability is a syndrome called Joubert Syndrome. Joubert Syndrome affects his muscle movement. For example, he can’t talk as clear as other people and he can’t complete some tasks that involve small objects. Despite his differences, Henry has persevered and overcome lots of obstacles in his life. Other activities Henry likes to do is go hiking with his parents, watching baseball games, and going to concerts. He thinks he will learn a lot from ODI, from networking with people to learn how to set up an event like this. Henry is very grateful for the opportunity to get to do this because he knows only a limited number of students get to be Student Stars.
I am a Jennifer Sorina, a human caterpillar, in the process of transitioning into a butterfly. I was born in Toledo, Ohio but journeyed throughout the world as a military child. My goal in life is to help make the world a better place starting with my community and expanding globally. I was wrapped in a cocoon of mediocrity, setbacks and failures. I woke up one day and decided it was time to be great! My moniker is “aspire to inspire”. I am currently pursuing my degree in Liberal Arts with a specialization in International Studies. I have hopes of transferring to a four-year institution to obtain a bachelor’s degree in International Studies with a minor in Public Relations. I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to be amongst great educators and creators from around the globe and look forward to learning new things and meeting new people. This is an experience I hope to gain memorable lessons and use as a tool for my next step in my life journey.
Julianne Kovacs is a senior at Pace University in the Lubin School of Business. She is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Arts and Entertainment Management with a minor in Special Events Marketing. Originally from New Jersey, Julianne has grown up with a passion for the arts and world of entertainment and would to love to work in the theatre industry after college, either in company management, special events or marketing. Previously, she has worked with Ensemble Studio Theatre as their Development & Special Events intern and is currently interning for the summer at American Stage Theatre in their Audience Engagement & Advancement departments. She is an active member of several organizations on campus, such as the American Marketing Association and Programming and Campus Entertainment Board, and a sister of Kappa Delta Sorority. Julianne is very excited to be a part of the One Day Immersion team and grateful that she gets the chance to work with others who share her passion!
Kara Kinsella is currently a sophomore at Pace University in the Lubin School of Business, majoring in Arts and Entertainment Management. During her first year at Pace Kara became a member of the Industry Network for Art and Entertainment Management, excited to explore her new future. Ever since she was little she has loved film and theatre hoping one day she’d be apart of it all. Kara hopes to one day pursue a career in the film industry and is excited to be apart of her first One Day Immersion.
Karolina Straznikiewicz is currently a freshman at Northern Virginia Community College, majoring in Psychology and Nursing. She is planning to transfer to a four-year university to complete her degree. Karolina was born and raised in Poland and moved to United States five years ago. In her current job she works with children, or as she says it, she is raising the next generation of extraordinary kindness. Karolina is thrilled to be the part of the One Day Immersion Team. She is looking forward to improving her leadership skills and being inspired by this amazing community. She would like to thank Dolly Wolf and Pace University for creating this unique opportunity.
Kate De Santis is a junior at Pace University, majoring in Arts and Entertainment Management with a minor in Film and Screen Studies. She aspires to one day work as a tour manager for bands or work as a production assistant on a late night talk show. Since entering college, she has interned at KPA Talent Management and Production,EMPKT PR, ATC Management, and Weller Media’s Agency. She wants to continue exploring different fields in the music and film industry through internships. Kate also spent last semester studying abroad in London. Visiting over 10 other countries, she made the most of her experience by gaining a global perspective on the entertainment industry in Europe. She is very excited to be a part of the One Day Immersion team for her first time.
MarissaAnn is a senior at Pace University studying Arts and Entertainment Management with a minor in marketing. Despite being a transfer student, MarissaAnn has become super involved throughout the Pace community as the President of the Industry Network for Arts and Entertainment Management and the Student Coordinator for the AEM Faculty Chair. Alongside school and working in the marketing field, she is an artist who has been seen on NBC’s The Voice, Good Day New York, Madison Square Garden Network, and more. Currently, MarissaAnn is interning with Group M’s MediaCom where she works on campaigns for companies such as Hilton, Citizens Bank, and more. She is very excited to be a part of the One Day Immersion team for her second time and co-leading the student stars with Alyssa Denton and Colleen McGovern.
Mary Shannon Donnelly is currently a sophomore at Pace University. She is majoring in Arts and Entertainment Management with minors in both Special Events Marketing and Law. She aspires to go into artist management or casting and is looking into working specifically with children to help them pursue their dreams of having professional careers in the entertainment industry. This desire has enabled her to get an internship with Artistic Dance Exchange working with marketing and recruitment for the dance competition and convention, and much more recently, her current internship with Teri B Talent and Model Management. Mary Shannon is very grateful to have worked with Teri and her team throughout the summer as well as this fall semester. She is also very involved on campus, being an active member of Kappa Delta sorority, a tour guide at the Welcome Center, and a signed dancer for Pace Music Group. Mary Shannon is very excited to be apart of the ODI team for the first time this year!
Mazin is a sophomore majoring in accounting at Northern Virginia Community College. He is studying to transfer and graduate from VCU and become a stockbroker. Born to immigrant parents from Sudan, he was born in Maryland, by parents who work in D.C, and raised in Virginia. He has a strong and long-standing interest in media, particularly music. He enjoys primarily hip-hop, pop, and rock music, be it contemporary, experimental or older acts. This art inspired him to create his own art via writings. He is excited and lucky to join the One Day Immersion event as it gives opportunity to talk with media executives who are both responsible for the success of his favorite artists and the industry leaders with strong business backgrounds. He hopes to gain information that will help him advance the industry as they have before him.
Mercy Davies is a first-year student at Northern Virginia Community College. She is currently aiming for an associate of social science degree focusing on Sociology. Mercy has always been her most passionate when learning about and meeting people, so she is so excited to meet everyone and learn from them. Currently looking for what she may like to do in the future, she is incredibly appreciative of this opportunity to explore so many fields and ideas. She is so thankful to Dolly Wolf, Pace University, and NOVA for giving her the opportunity to grow her self-confidence, discover new careers, and learn about the world of media, entertainment, and technology.
Omar Hussein is a humble first- generation Somali-American who was born in Alexandria, Virginia. He is majoring in cyber security and hopes to excel in this field. Growing up, Omar was an athlete but, as much as he loved it, he had to work to help his family and with that responsibility he recognized that he would only have time to focus on school. He put all of his commitment into being a successful student and is proud to be a first- generation college student. He is very excited to be a part of and to help create a meaningful experience here at ODI! He is also excited about learning more about industries that will obviously need the skills he is hard at work to master. He feels great gratitude to NOVA, to PACE and to Dolly Wolf.
Patrick Greenwalt, native to Arlington Virginia since his birth, is a second year student who attends Northern Virginia Community College. During his four years as a highschool student enrolled at The Lab School of Washington, he participated in Model UN and traveled all three spring break trips. He holds an undecided major however he is fascinated by the art of journalism. He is appreciative to be invited to represent his school as an ambassador to One Day Immersion and is grateful to have the opportunity to stand out and find his place in the world.
Rachel Farney is a senior at Pace University in the Dyson College of Arts & Sciences and the Lubin School of Business. She is majoring in Art and triple minoring in Arts and Entertainment Management, Marketing, and Communication Studies. Rachel is in the Pforzheimer Honors College and in both Alpha Lambda Delta and Alpha Chi National Honor Societies. She is a member of the Arts and Entertainment Industry Network, Pace Music Group, Brand Marketing Team, and is the Philanthropy Chairwomen of Phi Mu Fraternity. In the past year, Rachel has interned with Townsquare Media, Aflac, and Rosé Lifestyle (Pinknic) plus worked for Vans and Founders Entertainment (Governors Ball). She is very passionate about the entertainment and music industries and hopes to pursue a career working on an in-house creative team. Rachel is over the moon excited to be a part of the One Day Immersion team!
Rebekka is currently a senior at Pace University double-majoring in Arts and Entertainment Management and Marketing with a concentration on Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications. Born and raised in Vienna, Austria she was exposed to the different art and entertainment forms from a young age. Currently she is involved with The Industry Network for Arts and Entertainment Management at Pace University, where she is responsible for managing the social media presence. Recently, she has held internship positions at Marathon Digital and Situation Interactive, both digital media agencies in NYC specializing on both Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Clients included Hamilton: An American Musical and Beetlejuice. Rebekka hopes to pursue a career in the theater industry and is both honored and very excited to be a part of the One Day Immersion team for the second time.
Shelby is currently a sophomore at Pace University, pursuing a double major in Arts & Entertainment Management and English. Over the past two years, Shelby has worked to integrate her passion of theater into her professional and academic activities. She currently holds a position as an executive producer and writer for a Manhattan-based talent management company, a position she earned after first being introduced to the company by a Pace A.E.M. alumna! On campus, she serves as the Secretary for the Industry Network and a member of the heavily volunteer-oriented Kappa Delta Sorority, the honors society Lambda Sigma, and The National Society of Leadership and Success. Shelby hopes to learn more about the Entertainment industry and its unique positions that balance creativity and business - as well as the amazing people within it!
Tonia Saba is a first generation American, grew up in Lebanon then moved back to the states to start secondary education. Tonia is the first in her family to attend college. She is currently pursuing Business degree at Northern Virginia Community College. Tonia has always taken a nontraditional route particularly because of her curiosity and ambition to learn new things. Her passion for music led her to taking a little break from university to really hone in on what it is she really wants to do with it. During that time Tonia worked in several music studios around the DMV, while also juggling a hospitality management job. Learning audio production and sound engineering skills, inspired her to put together her own independent music project (EP) which you can find on all music streaming platforms. Tonia has now gone back to school with knowledge and experience in the fields she would like to pursue. She has a passion for finding raw talent, managing, creating, and building teams. Tonia is very grateful to have been selected to attend ODI’s 2019, is gracious for her NOVA professor for believing her. She is excited for this opportunity, as she would like to find mentors and have conversations that could help guide her in the ever so changing music and entertainment industry.
