Alumni from Johnson & Wales University who obtained their degree in Sports, Entertainment, Event — Management (SEEM) are making arenas and other spaces in Rhode Island their “playground.”  

More commonly known as SEEM to students studying at JWU, the bachelor’s program focuses on how to plan, manage and market large-scale operations in sports, tourism, music and entertainment. 

The program celebrated 25 years in 2026, and many SEEM alumni have gone on to successful careers. Food & Beverage Manager Michael McDuffie ’08, Senior Director of Fan and Community Engagement David Campopiano ’07, Senior Event Producer Alexandra DaRosa ’08 and Operations Manager Victoria Patriarca ’21, ’22 M.S. are just a few JWU alums who are making an impact on the event industry. 

Crafting Unforgettable Moments for Every Guest

Michael McDuffie ’08, food & beverage manager at Amica Mutual Pavilion in downtown Providence, credits his JWU education and early work experience with preparing him for a career in hospitality.

“My time at JWU gave me a good foundation in the core of what hospitality is, and the end result prepped me for that wholesome experience, from the second the guest walks into the building until the second they leave,” shared McDuffie.

While at JWU, McDuffie completed an internship and externship at the arena, working in ticketing, ushering and venue operations. He also worked as a dishwasher while completing his coursework, learning from department heads and gaining insight into the work behind successful events.

One of his favorite JWU memories was a final SEEM project in which students planned and produced a concert, which still happens at JWU, but goes by a different name pertaining to the theme each spring semester. Students helped assemble the stage, set up equipment, organize tents and coordinate food and beverages, gaining real-world experience while earning credits.

The experience helped McDuffie realize that event management was the right career for him: “This doesn’t feel like work. This feels like fun.”

He credits Associate Professor Elizabeth Covino and Associate Professor Lee Esckilsen with helping him understand the industry and develop professional skills. His education also strengthened his communication and teamwork abilities.

Today, McDuffie oversees the premium areas at Amica Mutual Pavilion, including Providence Bruins team meals, Providence College Legends Club catering, the Donors Club and 20 luxury suites. He works to ensure guests have memorable experiences at games, concerts and other events.

McDuffie remains connected to JWU by teaching courses and taking students on tours of the arena. His advice to students is to take advantage of opportunities and gain experience early.

Making the Game About More Than the Game 

David “Dave” Campopiano ’07 is the senior director of fan and community engagement at New England Revolution, Boston’s professional soccer club. He credits JWU with teaching him skills he continues to use in his career, including accounting, negotiation and contract review.

“The coursework involves learning different aspects of sports entertainment and events, and the different functions of all those spaces,” he notes. “There isn’t a time that goes by during the week where I’m not tasked with something that requires a skill that I learned at JWU, whether it’s accounting, negotiating or reviewing a contract — it’s all stuff that I learned through coursework.”

While at JWU, Campopiano completed three internships at Providence College Athletics, Gillette Stadium and Sports Radio WEEI. His internship at Gillette Stadium helped him get his foot in the door with the organization, while his experience at WEEI led to his first full-time job after graduation.

Campopiano also remembers Wildcat Wahoo as an opportunity to learn about large-scale event production. His coursework taught him how to evaluate events through SWOT analysis, which considers strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Group projects also helped him develop communication and collaboration skills.

Today, Campopiano oversees fan engagement, grassroots marketing, community initiatives and game-day experiences for the Revolution. He also supports charitable giving, foundation efforts and multicultural initiatives throughout the region.

When he began working with the organization in 2011, the Revolution did not have a community engagement department. Over time, he incorporated community initiatives into his work, turning them into one of his biggest passions.

His accomplishments include contributing to the Revolution’s community relations department, receiving the league’s Department of the Year award in 2022 and being involved with a World Cup match at Gillette Stadium.

Campopiano encourages students to seek opportunities rather than wait for them to appear: “Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you.”

He also emphasizes the importance of building professional connections and finding ways to stand out before entering the workforce.

A Career Built Around Bringing People Together 

Alexandra DaRosa ’08 is a senior event producer at Rafanelli Events, where she plans high-end social, corporate and nonprofit events worldwide.

DaRosa credits JWU with giving her a broad understanding of the event industry and the practical skills needed to succeed. During college, she interned with Everything Events, assisting with weddings and corporate events. The experience helped her discover the type of creative involvement she wanted in her career.

“When I initially did my internship, I disliked weddings. Now I plan weddings and they’re my favorite part of my job! I think it was more the approach that company took; they were more hands-off, whereas now I plan everything. I recommend every vendor and we design the wedding for them.”

At Rafanelli Events, DaRosa shapes events from beginning to end, developing designs and experiences around each client’s vision.

She also gained experience by planning events for her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau, and by working in Providence’s nightlife industry. These opportunities allowed her to develop her skills while promoting organizations and engaging with the public.

JWU’s hands-on coursework included ticketing, wedding planning and trade shows. Students planned events on a smaller scale, gaining practical experience they could apply to their careers.

DaRosa encourages students to explore different opportunities, even when they are unsure whether they will enjoy them.

“Experience as much as you can. If you don’t know if you like it or not, just keep giving it a try.”

For DaRosa, events are about storytelling and bringing people together. Although the work can be exhausting, she finds it rewarding to help individuals, families and organizations celebrate and connect.

“I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years, and I’ve been with this company for 11 years. It can be exhausting, but it’s very rewarding. Who gets to say they plan parties every day of their lives? You’re bringing people together to celebrate and to connect them, and it’s an honor and a privilege to get to do those things for these people.”

Showcasing Leadership to Create Something Special  

Victoria Patriarca earned her bachelor’s degree in SEEM in 2021 and her master’s degree in Sports Leadership in 2022. She now works as operations manager at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

“JWU prepared me for my post grad career by teaching me about all of the different types of events there are in our industry as well as how important connections are,” she shares.

Patriarca completed internships at Alpine Country Club and the Worcester Railers, a professional ice hockey minor league team. At Alpine Country Club, she assisted with pro shop operations, member services and golf tournaments. With the Worcester Railers, she worked as a community relations intern, promoting the team at events throughout Massachusetts and encouraging people to attend games.

These experiences helped her develop communication skills and understand the importance of promoting an organization. At JWU, she also played on the women’s soccer team and helped win two Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) championships.

At the Rhode Island Convention Center, Patriarca oversees labor operations to ensure staff meet event requirements. She prepares daily reports for three work shifts, coordinates tasks across departments, creates weekly labor schedules and submits payroll information to the finance department.

Patriarca encourages students to embrace opportunities of all sizes and gain experience in hospitality establishments to strengthen their communication and problem-solving skills.

Her own experience working in guest services at Amica Mutual Pavilion while attending JWU helped lead to her full-time event management position at the convention center in 2022, which she began while completing her master’s degree.

Author Ava Zajczenko ’27 is a Nonprofit Management major with a focus on food insecurity and works as a student assistant at JWU, contributing to JWU News.