Behind the Beat

The sound of applause and the energy of the crowd—there’s nothing like the rush of live music. But what does it take behind the scenes to make those magical moments happen? Since 2013, the BankNH Pavilion experiential learning project has pulled back the curtain and given Southern New Hampshire University students an all-access pass to the music industry with the world’s top entertainment company.

Solid career outcomes, unmatched portfolio pieces, and a newly established nationwide hiring program are all part of this amazing partnership that has encompassed the following majors and program areas: communications, graphic design, music, business, construction management, sustainability, videography, and culinary arts.

Since day one, the BankNH Pavilion project has been “for the students” and “by the students.” Every SNHU banner ad, 20-foot upright design, or video shown on the giant screens at the award-winning Gilford, NH-based live music venue has been created by students in an effort to provide them with portfolio pieces that can be shown to prospective employers upon graduation. Similarly, students have taken part in day-long sessions with construction CEOs and project managers who’ve shared their insights about multi-million dollar Live Nation projects, guest speakers who came to business classes to learn from Live Nation human resource and accounting professionals about business transactions with world-renowned management teams, and interviews with musical artists ranging from keyboardist Mikel Paris of million-record-selling artist O.A.R. to vocalist Shaun Morgan of MTV Best Alternative Artist band Seether.

Kylie Jackson ’24 is one of 58 SNHU alumni who currently work for Live Nation. Jackson was a Communications Lab student assigned to the project as a sophomore before becoming a project lead intern as a senior. As a project lead, she mentored graphic design students, sharing her experiences and performing her project oversight duties at such a high level that she fulfilled her goal of securing employment in the music industry as a Live Nation Brand Manager for Contracting Services upon graduation.

“In the last semester of my senior year, it was amazing to end my undergraduate degree in a full-circle moment,” she said. “I learned and grew so much throughout my internship as a student, a leader, and someone who is pursuing a career in the music and entertainment industry. The internship changed my life in the span of four months, and I cannot express enough my gratitude for this exposure to my dream career.”

Communications and Media Arts Department Chair and Associate Professor Tracy Dow has seen the positive impacts of this partnership on SNHU students. “The Pavilion really treats our students well, and they gain so much from the experience,” she added. “We find it important to stress that we view this collaboration as a continual partnership. We see this as a way to engage students throughout their time spent at SNHU and hope that these experiences help students see how they can apply skills learned in the classroom to real-world situations and environments.”

This year’s “Rock the Intern” student showcase will be held on May 25 as part of the Kane Brown concert at the BankNH Pavilion.

The old adage that there’s no substitute for experience is never more true than at Southern New Hampshire University, where “learning by doing is a vital part of the institution’s DNA.

The Career & Professional Development Center works hand-in-hand with Institutional Advancement, The Chandler Center, the project-based learning manager, professors, and staff members to develop opportunities for students to receive hands-on experience at a number of companies and nonprofit organizations.

“Providing students with opportunities to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings equips them with the skills and confidence needed to make meaningful contributions to the workforce after graduation,” said JoAnna Luiso, director of the Career & Professional Development Center. “We’re grateful to collaborate with outstanding business partners who understand the importance of shaping the next generation of leaders and innovators.”

UKG, Medicus Healthcare Solutions, and ALKU are corporate sponsors of SNHU’s Professional Sales Program and engage with students through an internal sales competition where participants network with employers and role-play through simulated sales scenarios. This provides students with practical, hands-on learning experiences in meeting the needs of today’s customers while also giving numerous opportunities to hone communication skills. In addition, Google representatives have held an on-campus interviewing workshop with students pursuing degrees in computer science, game programming, math, and other STEM-related areas.

“Partnering with SNHU has allowed Medicus to invest in the workforce of tomorrow,” said Jillian Granucci-Anderson, manager, Medicus Employee Experience and Communications. “By offering experiential learning opportunities—such as the sales competition that is hosted at Medicus headquarters—we can help bridge the gap between what is taught in the classroom and what happens in the real world. This is an opportunity for companies to mentor emerging talent and help shape the careers of these generations to come. This means that students enter the workforce as well-prepared, dynamic individuals who are ready to make an immediate impact.”

Businesses interested in providing experiential learning opportunities to students are encouraged to contact Institutional Advancement at 603.645.9799 or alumni@snhu.edu.