On March 28, the Television Academy Foundation held its 45th College Television Awards, where a lineup of Hollywood talent, including emmy magazine cover star Billy Magnussen, honored standout student productions from across the country — from USC and NYU to Brigham Young University and the Savannah College of Art and Design.
At the same time, Academy members — the same members who will vote for this year’s Emmy nominees and winners — reviewed thousands of applications to select finalists for the Foundation’s internship program. This summer, the program will place more than 40 interns across more than 25 disciplines, including casting, costume design, development, publicity and visual effects. If your company hasn’t yet hosted an Academy intern, I’d strongly encourage you to get involved.
Former Academy interns include Sinners producer Sev Ohanian, The Woman King director Gina Prince-Bythewood and The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin, along with more recent graduates like Danny Rivas, Mel Mendoza and Vanessa Cardona — all of whom we’ve hired at companies I’ve led, from Hyphenate Media Group to Banijay Americas. I’m especially proud that Danny and Mel came through the Getting Real: Unscripted internship, which I helped launch as Foundation chair.
The Foundation was my gateway to serving the Academy, and I carry its values into my work with the broader membership. Building a strong industry means building one that is sustainable for the generations coming up behind us. That’s why the work of the Foundation, now under the leadership of chair Tina Perry, is so important.
Passing the torch to the next generation isn’t charity — it’s responsibility. In the same way we think about the world we leave behind, we need to think about the industry we’re shaping for those who come after us. This business has given all of us a great deal. It’s on us to make sure it remains a place where the next generation can build meaningful, lasting careers — and continue telling the stories that connect us.
This chair letter originally appeared in emmy magazine, issue #5, 2026.
