Meet Our Graduates
Madelynn Perkins
Hometown: West Chester, PA
Degree: BS, TV/Video
School: The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication
What's Next: Assistant Video Engineer at Bleacher Report
Why did you choose to attend Hofstra?
I fell in love with television production while working with my high school’s broadcasting club. When it came time to look at schools, I knew I wanted to study television, and I wanted to be in New York. Hofstra’s proximity to the city, internship opportunities, alumni network, production facilities, and experienced professors were unmatched compared to other schools. I came for a tour and knew I had found the place I wanted to be.
What activities or organizations have you been involved with during your time here?
While at Hofstra I have been involved with the HEAT Network, WRHU, and a number of Herbert School special productions, including Live from Studio A and Hofstra Votes LIVE [HVL], a student-produced, election-night broadcast.
I also served as the engineering project manager and technical manager for the senior capstone course, where groups of students develop and produce different productions. I worked with each team to understand their technical needs and help bring their visions to life. This included learning camera setup, integrating new technologies and equipment, understanding electricity, and even operating induction burners for a cooking show.
How did you get your job at Bleacher Report?
During my sophomore year, I was the technical director for the Hofstra Dodgeball Championship. I posted about this experience on LinkedIn, and an alum named Steve Pellegrino [’09] saw it and reached out. At the time, Steve was the senior director of video technical operations. He and his team offered me a summer apprenticeship in 2022, during which I was able to learn about the live sports production industry. At the end of the summer, a temporary video engineering position opened, and the engineering manager – another Hofstra alum – offered me the position. I have been employed at Bleacher Report as an assistant video engineer for just over a year.
I would not have had this opportunity if it were not for the Hofstra alumni network. Many Hofstra graduates work at Bleacher Report, including Michael Del Gatto [‘11]. It’s because the managers there are familiar with the programs at Hofstra and know how dedicated, professional, and passionate the students are.
What will you miss most about Hofstra?
Quite simply, I will miss the people. I can walk into the Herbert School any day of the week and any time of the day and see friends, professors, and staff who I care about. Hofstra also gave me some amazing mentors, specifically Professor Harry Garcia and [Chief Media Engineer] Cam Keough, who have supported me and made every day a valuable learning experience.