The CPCA Student Success Center provides programming and support to develop current students and alumni into citizen artists and difference makers who engage in meaningful and impactful careers.
We're here to help students navigate the career search process by identifying opportunities through Temple University, Philadelphia and national databases and websites.
We support students in creating their professional development materials including résumés, cover letters, portfolios and more. Students can practice their interview skills for internships and jobs. Students will learn how they can better connect with university and departmental resources translating their Temple University degree into a career in the arts.
1:1 Concierge Career Services Meetings
Students may schedule 1:1 Concierge Career Services meetings with CPCA’s Career Development Coordinator George Hemcher at any point during their time at Temple. We encourage students to engage with the center from the beginning of their first year at Temple University.
Resource Hub via CPCA Student Success Center Canvas Page
The CPCA Student Success Center created an exclusive resource hub for students. The resource hub, found via Canvas, has announcements about freelance opportunities, internships, events, jobs and more. The resource hub links students to career development resources and opportunities in and beyond Temple University.
Avenues in the Arts: Professionals and their Pathways Series
This guest speaker series invites professionals in the arts from film, theater, music and dance to the Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts community to speak about their careers. Students will learn about different pathways in the performing and cinematics arts through discussions about branding, self-promotion, freelancing, networking and much more while learning what’s required to be a professional post-graduation.
Past guest speakers include:
- Lex Simakas, BYR '22, music editor for NFL Films
- Carolyn Hupalowsky, manager of artistic administration for The Philadelphia Orchestra
- Enya-Kalia Jordan, BYR '20, choreographer, scholar and DEI innovator
- Margaret 'Peggy' Kim, Peabody Award-winning executive producer
- Raehann Bryce-Davis, international award-winning opera singer
Wellness Programming
CPCA recognizes that the well-rounded artist in Film, Theater, Music and Dance must also practice wellness for the mind and body. The CPCA Student Success Center provides programming throughout the year for students outside of their normal academic careers to celebrate holistic growth-mindset approaches. Sometimes these events promote togetherness and sometimes they are to learn new self-care strategies.
Sample Events Include:
- Field Trip to Linvilla Orchards
- Halloween Monster Bash
- Arbor Day Event, encouraging transdisciplinary collaborations in producing a day-long event that promotes self-care, community care and planetary wellness.
Job Shadowing Program
The Job Shadowing Program is an opportunity for students to follow and observe a professional in their work environment for a day to gain more knowledge about their field of work. A student will observe the Host’s day-to-day responsibilities asking questions about the skills, knowledge and requirements for the job. Students will leave with a better idea of what professionals do in a specific career path reflecting on whether or not they can see themselves doing that specific job.
A day shadowing has a multitude of benefits. A behind-the-scenes look into what is required to work in specific career paths in the arts provides a lot of insight into how a student might want to shape their career goals when they graduate from Temple University.
Employer Spotlights
In partnership with the Temple University Career Center, the CPCA Student Success Center invites employers to campus to talk about internship and employment opportunities for students. Students have the opportunity to network, ask questions and gain invaluable insight from professionals in the field about what it takes to create a career in the performing and cinematic arts.
Workshops
Throughout the year, the CPCA Student Success Center hosts workshops for students to help jumpstart their career readiness plan. Workshops include résumé and cover letter building as the foundation for any student beginning their professional career.