In the spirit of Women’s History Month, we recognize and celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women throughout history. This month, we’re putting the spotlight on some of our very own faculty who are making a difference on our campuses in a variety of ways.
We recently connected with Alisha Patterson, Director of Career Services at SAE Institute Chicago, who brings an extensive background in higher education to our campus and provides valuable support to our students as they plan their careers. Follow along to learn more about her, her role, and the advice she has for current students looking to get the most out of their SAE Institute experience.
Tell us a little about yourself and your background
I’ve been in higher education since 2007 when I began working as an Adjunct Instructor at Columbia College Chicago while getting my Master’s degree in Visual Arts Management. From there I started working in Career Services for several design schools and then moved on to EdTech career coaching roles. I have always loved the arts and working with creatives and one of my greatest loves is music.
As Director of Career Services at the Chicago campus, how do you work with our students and/or alumni?
While a student is in class, I can help them with finding jobs to help them while they are in school and then as they get closer to graduation, we start game-planning their career path so they can make moves towards networking and finding shadow sessions to build their skills and resume. Once they graduate, we work together to get them interviews with local studios, corporate AV, media, and live event companies.
What’s been the most rewarding part of working with SAE Institute so far?
I love music and being able to help students and alumni go on to work in my favorite venues or help produce music for my favorite artists is extremely rewarding!
What advice do you have for students who want to make the most out of their SAE Institute experience?
Network, network, network! You should be networking with your classmates and your instructors every day. During your free time outside of class, start going to venues and events, find meetup groups, start talking to everyone who has anything to do with working in sound, entertainment business, music, movies, film, etc. The people you meet and connect with now, will likely be the people that hire you in the future.
What artists or musicians are currently on your playlist?
ero808, Two Feet, Emmit Fenn, Mindchatter, The Glitch Mob, Black Pumas, Greta Van Fleet, Ari Abdul, The Neighborhood, The Blue Stones, Run the Jewels.
For more information about Career Services for future grads and alumni, visit our Career Services Resources page on our website or get in touch with a representative on your campus. To learn more about SAE Institute Chicago, visit us online or by phone at 312-300-5685.