Name: Jesse Colaizzi
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Now living in: Also, Pittsburgh (I'm a "good yinzer")
Job title: Producer & Editor
Employer: Hot Snakes Media, for Discovery +
Degree earned:  BA in Photography, Television, Advertising at Penn State University,
MA in Broadcast Journalism & Production at Point Park University
MFA in Film at Chatham University 
Campus activities, awards, and alumni involvement: Graduate Assistant for Broadcast Journalism
Describe Point Park in one word: Connected

Truly Involved

“You can't trip and not fall on some kind of extracurricular activity at Point Park.”

As a Point Park graduate student, Jesse was able to fall into many fun and exciting activities at Point Park that enabled him to advance his career goals and truly get involved in his education. While working for the graduate assistantship program in the School of Communication, Jesse found the opportunity to truly engage with the curriculum and be involved in every aspect of his education. The program allowed him to work with undergraduate students, professors who were still working in their respected fields, and make connections with real-world professionals.

“I was able to be an assistant to the undergraduate professors and have access to those classes. It was excellent networking. They were not all full-time professors, a lot of them were working professionals. That was really attractive about it from the get-go, it was just super connected.”

When Jesse Colaizzi heard about the graduate assistantship program at Point Park, he knew this was an opportunity that he knew would help him in his career. Once accepted, Jesse was ready to begin his own unique Point Park journey.

Throughout his time in the graduate assistantship program, Jesse got involved in a variety of extracurricular activities, developed his skills, and furthered his career goals.

“I was involved in every aspect of the operation. What the assistantship allowed me to do was insane.”

One Connection, Endless Opportunities

Jesse recognizes that the graduate program offered him a unique experience, in which he was able to make professional connections just by engaging with his professors, who offered him a gateway into the career world.

“You know, I can't say that there was one connection then that linked me to today[‘s career]. But there was one connection, then that leads me to something that then leads me to something that directly leads me to this. I could feel that it was in the direction I wanted to go.”

Jesse’s classes enabled a hands-on learning environment that still connects to his current career. He reflects that many of the lessons he learned from his classes, he applies directly to his work whenever the situation calls for it.

“Every day, there's something that comes up that ties back into things that you know. Like Bob [O’Gara] was saying, ‘you have to talk about it, get out in front of the message and control the message’. And that's true for good news and bad news. That's true between yourself and other colleagues and co-workers. And it's also very true when it comes to forming whatever message you're putting there. Those are basic things that affect every decision that you make.”

While Jesse believes that his education at Point Park was tailored excellently to his strengths, he also recalls that he was challenged in a way that allowed him to excel.

“It's just a superficial personal thing, but I never really liked writing papers. And I'm super glad that they were assigned because it's part of the academic process. Sure, I hate writing papers, but I appreciated it, I gained a lot from it. It’s the things you need to do outside your comfort zone.”

Discovery and Exploration

After leaving Point Park, Jesse used his newfound experiences and connections to pursue a career he was passionate about. Currently, Jesse is a television editor and producer that works on a variety of projects for different networks. Most notably, this includes working for the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week Program.

“Obviously, I love sharks. I'm a huge animal fan. It's cool to be able to go out in the field and run these experiments searching to capture evidence of an animal that hasn't been seen or might be extinct. As a producer and editor, I look at all the science happening and figure out how to portray it in a way that's enjoyable to an audience, because I'm "audience member zero" as an editor. It was nice to escape into this underwater world for five months.”

Jesse recognizes that life after graduation isn’t easy, especially when finishing your undergraduate program. Making the decision to attend graduate school at Point Park helped Jesse decide where he wanted to go in his career, but he understands that there are many complicated choices students must make when finishing their programs. And while his time at Point Park prepared him for challenges in his field, Jesse knows that in order to keep up with the competitive demands of the career world, you must constantly strive to hone and improve your skills. 


Let Yourself Wander

Jesse’s career has taken him across continents and connected him to a passionate and explorative field. He recognizes that his days at Point Park helped him connect with these opportunities and that he wouldn’t change a thing.

“If I can have these results, anyone can.”

For all current and prospective students, Jesse knows that uncertainty is a reality when it comes to transitioning from college to the career world. But his advice to all Point Park students is to embrace it.

“Don’t have a plan, have a compass. Don’t lock yourself into a plan, allow change to happen.”

More About: alumni, School of Communication