Alumni Council

Jasmine Yook (BS 2014), Council Chair, is a East Coast based web2/web3 brand marketer and strategist with a background in tech and retail. She is currently the VP of Marketing at Hashflow, a top 10 crypto decentralized exchange, overseeing marketing strategies, growth and content marketing. Previously she's built and grown the brand and social presence for various companies like Amazon, Nike and Victoria's Secret and more.

Favorite MCC Memory
Hosting an event as the president of Comm Club with featured guest Eva Chen (now head of IG Fashion Partnerships).

Ryan Aguirre (BS 2011) is Director of Publicity at Searchlight Pictures. His decade-long career in PR started as an assistant at 20th Century Fox Television, and he has since worked in PR and Awards roles at Disney, AMC TV, CBS Television Studios, and STARZ. 

Favorite MCC Memory
Being the alternate student speaker at Steinhardt graduation. I got to sit front and center on stage at the ceremony without having to do anything!

Waahid Azizuddin (BS 2013) is a business development manager at Spotify. He works on strategy & partnerships to grow Spotify's advertising business into new channels like social and gaming, with a day-to-day focus on contract negotiation and partnership management. He has previously worked in sales, BD, and account management roles for various ad tech companies. He grew up in LA and is currently on a second stint living in Brooklyn.

Favorite MCC Memory
Taking MCC classes on Eastern Europe while studying abroad in Prague.

Sarah Dawson (MA 2017) is currently the Director of TV & Digital Sales at Lionsgate. With diverse experience in content distribution, marketing, sales, acquisitions, and programming, she has also worked at STARZ, Giant Pictures, and the Tribeca Film Festival. Her career has always been guided by the belief that stories change people, and people change the world.

Favorite MCC Memory
Presenting my Professional Writing essay with my mom in the audience, followed by her coming out to celebrate with my cohort after! I was very proud of my work and still treasure the fact that my mom was there to hear about it first hand. 

Natan Edelsburg (BS 2010) is the Chief Partnerships Officer at Muck Rack, a Public Relations Management platform that enables thousands of organizations including Google, International Rescue Committee, Pfizer, Golin, Zapier and Duolingo to build trust and tell their stories through earned media. Natan is on the Board of Trustees for the PRSA Foundation. He is a frequent speaker on social media, PR, journalism and the future of TV. He’s been honored as one of PR News’ Rising Stars and one of PRSA’s 15 Under 35.

Favorite MCC Memory
When Jon Stewart randomly showed up to Ted Magder's Intro to Media Studies Class in the prime of his time at The Daily Show. The lecture was at 9 AM so students often slept in, but not this student! It was hilarious, informative and inspired my passion for TV even more.

Elli Garcia (MA 2021) is the analytical and creative force shaping brand stories with human truths as a consumer researcher and strategist. From the vibrant energy of Los Angeles to the relentless streets of New York City, Elli specializes in decoding cultural trends and formulating thought-leadership grounded in ethnographic observation and media analysis.

Favorite MCC Memory 
Working alongside three MCC fellows at Weber Shandwick as part of the NYU @ Weber Shandwick Residency Program. 

Yvette Pacheco (BS 2006) is Vice President of Communications at BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC, where she leads the communications team for North America & Latin America. She's previously held roles at leading agencies and brands, including Univision and NASCAR. Yvette was named to PRWeek's 40 Under 40 in 2019 and Cynopsis Top Women in Media in 2020.

Favorite MCC Memory
Not one specific thing, but the way it opened my mind and fundamentally changed how I experienced the world.

Lindsey Solomon (BS 2013) works as a fashion publicist. In 2020, Solomon started Lindsey Media, which has become one of New York's preeminent indie fashion PR firms. Solomon's specialty is working with growing small brands from inception to showing at fashion week. Some of the brands Solomon has worked with include Collina Strada, Sandy Liang, Wiederhoeft, and Susan Alexandra.

Favorite MCC Memory
Meeting John Stewart during my Intro to Media Studies lecture freshman year. It was such a surprise; plus being on Oprah wasn't bad either.

Lindsay Strouse (BS 2014) is Head of Partnerships, Digital Skills and Inclusion at the Tony Blair Institute. In nearly a decade of global technology experience helping purpose-driven businesses and products grow, she has launched products such as Google Assistant, Nest and Pixel, built programs to facilitate digital transformation, and advised on early-stage innovations. Passionate about inclusive technology and social impact, Lindsay received her MBA at the University of Oxford and hosts a decision science podcast titled "Figuring It Out."

Favorite MCC Memory
It's a difficult toss-up between meeting Jon Stewart during my Intro to Media Studies lecture, and engaging live with the Occupy Wall Street protests.

Travis Tan (BS 2014) is Director, Global Marketing at the World Surf League where he leads programs that are growing the sport of competitive surfing and raising the profiles of the world's best athletes. He's spent his career at some of the world's largest media companies (including Conde Nast, Nielsen, Facebook and Instagram) gaining breadth and depth of experiences across marketing roles and functions.

Favorite MCC Memory
Taking a global media class on Italian media while studying abroad in Florence.

Arantxa Valderrama (BS 2018) is a Digital Marketing Supervisor at Rolex, with previous experience in the Luxury, Entertainment and Media landscapes. She leads content marketing, actualizing high-level strategy to increase visibility across digital channels in the US Market. Most recently, Arantxa launched Rolex's entry into e-commerce with the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned Program. She also support's Rolex's Corporate Media Partnerships with ongoing digital marketing campaigns. Arantxa currently lives in Astoria, NY and continues to pursue her passion of travel photography.

Favorite MCC Memory
Studying abroad at NYU Madrid, plus the inspirational, talented MCC faculty and student body. Being around such creative minds with diverse backgrounds was a formative experience.

Holly Washington (MA 2003) is the Chief Marketing Officer at S&P Global Market Intelligence. She has also led marketing and branding efforts for both technology and financial services firms including SS&C Technologies, J.P. Morgan, Thomson Reuters and Lehman Brothers. Holly lives in Brooklyn with her husband and three teens.

Favorite MCC Memory
Hosting one of the first networking events for the MCC Alumni Weber Shandwick Scholars Advisory Council.

Roché Yadegar (BS 2017) works as the Director of Business Development at Vox Media where she leads content licensing deals with emerging platforms. Previously she worked at Condé Nast where she managed a range of video syndication partnerships.

Favorite MCC Memory
Presenting my final capstone for Normal Media as an art exhibit for the class.