For Claire McMenamin ’25, a cinema major, a passion for film and storytelling, along with hands-on experiences, led to an exciting career opportunity with ESPN.
Claire credits the UHart community with encouraging her to explore new interests and pursue opportunities. “Everyone was always willing to help me try a new path,” she says. “Experimenting was highly encouraged, and it helped me figure out what I ultimately wanted to pursue.”
As a student, Claire took advantage of faculty mentorship, campus involvement, and experiential learning opportunities. Through coursework and collaborative projects, she developed the organizational, communication, and professional skills needed to succeed in the fast-paced world of film and television production.
“Film and television production is a very social space,” Claire says. “Being able to make films with my classmates, with the guidance of my professors, made for great collaboration. To this day, I’m still talking to former classmates about what I’m working on and what they’re working on.”
Claire McMenamin ’25, College of Arts and Sciences Cinema Program AlumThe Student Television Network holds a huge place in my heart. The knowledge I gained from writing, directing, filming, producing, managing, and anchoring is truly what helped set me up for the career I’m pursuing today.
One of the most impactful experiences of Claire’s college career was her involvement with the Student Television Network (STN2). She served as its general manager during the 2023–24 and 2024–25 academic years, leading fellow students while gaining valuable experience.
“The Student Television Network holds a huge place in my heart,” Claire says. “The knowledge I gained from writing, directing, filming, producing, managing, and anchoring is truly what helped set me up for the career I’m pursuing today.”
Today, Claire is working as a media operator at ESPN, where she contributes to the production and delivery of sports content for audiences nationwide. She sees a direct connection between her classroom experiences, leadership roles, and current position “I attribute my communication and organizational skills from the Student Television Network and my joy of working on a common goal from my time as a film student,” she says. “Both roles also prepared me to be in film and television production spaces.” Claire hopes to continue her academic journey by pursuing a master’s degree in the years ahead.
Beyond academics, Claire fondly remembers the vibrant campus community and the friendships she built throughout her college experience. “My favorite memories are some of the ‘in-between’ moments,” she says. “Everyone is finally able to spend some time outside in the quads and library lawn. It was always my favorite thing running into so many people hanging out and enjoying the sunshine.”
For current students, Claire offers simple but valuable advice: “Join clubs! Try new things! You’ll never know who you’ll meet.”