Alessa Adhikari
Now in its twentieth year, the Building Bridges: Career Fair and Networking Mixer has become one of the most anticipated events for Advertising and Public Relations (Ad/PR) students at City College. Hosted by the Department of Media and Communication Arts, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), and City College’s chapter of American Advertising Federation (AAF), the event took place this year on November 6 in Shepard Hall. The evening opened with remarks from our President, Dr. Vincent Boudreau, and the Humanities and Arts Dean Renata K. Miller, who spoke about the importance of diversity and community. Their speeches set a professional and warm tone, something reflected in our Ad/PR community itself.
As a sophomore majoring in Advertising and Public Relations, I attended Building Bridges to learn more about the professional world I am stepping into. I recently switched from Computer Science, drawn by my interests in design, marketing, and art direction. Events like this make the transition feel right and worthwhile. Although the crowd initially triggered the same nerves as a LinkedIn posting that says “100+ clicked apply,” talking to recruiters and peers helped me see how open and supportive the industry can be, especially for those willing to take initiative and ask questions.
The event was spread across two main rooms. In the first, students sat down with recruiters for pre-scheduled one-on-one interviews at neatly arranged tables. Everyone came prepared with resumes and practiced elevator pitches, and as a walk-in student, I had the chance to interview later in the evening. Down the hall, I found the atmosphere in the networking lounge to be more casual. Students, alumni, and company representatives mingled over refreshments. There was plenty of conversation, laughter, and a lot of shared advice. Over time, I found it less and less intimidating to approach people and start conversations.
Among the attendees were notable alumni who helped shape Building Bridges into what it is today. Stacy-Ann (Edwards) Eff, who started the tradition of Building Bridges, reflected on the event’s growth and achievements over the years. “This event affords so much access for students to people who are recruiting,” she said. “You’re not just a number when you attend.” Stephen J. Colantonio II, another alum who helped create the event's format, shared a similar sentiment. “The students have now made it bigger than I ever imagined,” he said, explaining his pride when he sees how Building Bridges has evolved into such a cornerstone of the culture at our Media and Communication Arts Department.
Hearing about the origins of Building Bridges made me curious about the work that goes into running the event today. Our student leaders and volunteers organize, oversee, and make the event a success each year, and their perspectives are invaluable to understand what is happening behind the scenes. Madison Francis, President of the PRSSA, and one of the main student organizers, described the effort that went into preparing the event. “During the fair, my role was to ensure the interviews were on time and ran smoothly. Prior to the fair, I was in charge of setting up the RSVP portal for the networking and interview portions of Building Bridges,” she said. Madison emphasized that this event stands out from other career fairs on campus: “Dozens of recruiters come to Building Bridges to meet and possibly recruit students. By repeatedly attending this event, pitching themselves, and just being curious, students can build rapport with amazing recruiters eager to help. Even for first-semester Ad/PR students, showing up or volunteering shows dedication, and helps them get a jump start on their careers.”
Shefa Giash, President of City College’s chapter of the AAF, also played a key role in coordinating the event. “My role during the fair was event setup, cleanup, and creating and executing the program for the networking room,” she explained. “The AAF team and I worked on catering, creating the slideshows, and outreach for speakers. We also collaborated with PRSSA on social media posts to spread awareness of Building Bridges.” When I asked, her advice for new students was simple but insightful: “Don’t put too much pressure on the outcome of the career fair. Taking the proactive step of attending is already a great feat! Just enjoy the new experience.”
To further understand how Building Bridges fits into the larger goals of the Ad/PR program at CCNY, I spoke with Professor Lynne Scott Jackson, a distinguished lecturer with a background in integrated communications and a dedication to student mentorship. She underscored that the Ad/PR curriculum places a strong emphasis on real-world experience and relationship-building, especially as we are led into the age of AI, where personal connections matter more than ever. “Careers are built one connection at a time,” she said, noting that the event jump-starts that process by linking students with recruiters, alumni, faculty, advisors, mentors, and even classmates. A communications degree, she added, equips students with transferable skills that range from project management to visual communication, which are skills that strengthen a student’s social capital whether they pursue agency roles, media positions, or entrepreneurial paths. According to her, events like this help students transition from the classroom to the professional world by encouraging the confidence and clarity needed to pitch themselves as valuable contributors to agencies, media organizations, and social impact groups.
At the end of the evening, I left with a sense of direction and belonging. Building Bridges reminded me that networking isn’t just about landing a job. We also need to think about building relationships and learning from others. The event showed how strong the Ad/PR community is at City College, and how much effort students and faculty put into helping one another grow and excel. It reinforced that professional growth is a collaborative process and that taking the initiative to connect with others can open doors for us in unexpected ways. At its core, Building Bridges is a career fair, but for many – including me, it often becomes the start of many meaningful, lasting connections.