Current Students

Cayley Plotkin ’19 has been tapped into the entertainment industry for years. Originally, she had her eye on pursuing musical theater in college, but that changed as she got older. “When it came time to actually audition, I evaluated what I actually wanted to do and what my strengths and weaknesses were, [and] I realized that I may not like being directed as much as directing others,” she explained. That led her to consider a degree in management, but she still wanted to integrate her performing background.

Pace, and the arts and entertainment management major, seemed like a natural fit. “It was the only school I visited that felt like home with a community of students [who] were supportive and inspiring one another, and that has definitely held true since being here,” she told us.

As the President of the Industry Network and UNV 101 peer leader, Plotkin has dedicated much of her time to mentoring other Pace students. That’s because, as a first-year student, she was too shy to connect with the resources available to her. She doesn’t want that to happen with the younger generation. “Now I want to be an upperclassman that actively looks for students who need help, just like I did,” she said.

In addition to her mentorship work, Plotkin also recruited interns for her position at KPA, a multi-ethnic talent management company, where she exclusively reviewed applications from Pace students. “I’ve formed so many lasting relationships,” she told us about the experience. “I’m also much more extroverted now than I was when I came into Pace. I just love talking to people—especially other students.”

At KPA, Plotkin got the chance to provide a number of opportunities to relatively unknown actors, most recently for a small role in NBC’s New Amsterdam, which then turned into a recurring role. She also interned at Disney Theatrical Group, where she got to develop a business plan and creative concept for a stage production of Inside Out. (Educational purposes only! It won’t actually be coming to Broadway.) “I got to create a plan for the show to tour and present it to all the VPs, SVPs, and even the President,” she enthused. “It was so incredible to be able to show them my work and even answer their questions after.”

Currently, Plotkin is looking to continue her work in family entertainment, a part of the industry that means a great deal to her after working as a camp counselor for many years. “Kids have such incredible loyalty to their favorite characters and entertainment content; it’s really interesting,” she said. “Seeing the look on a child’s face when they experience a live show or movie makes me so happy, and [it] makes me think of my love for show business.”

As Plotkin heads off to make her debut at Radio City Music Hall for graduation this year, we wish her all the best!

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