East Ventura News

From sourcing music for films to coordinating A-list interviews, three California Lutheran University alumni are making significant strides in Hollywood. They credit the values they learned as undergraduates with helping them navigate the entertainment industry's fast pace and intense competition.

Katie Romanovich, a 2020 graduate, has pursued her passion for film music as an associate music supervisor at Format Entertainment. Working under Julia Michels, known for "Pitch Perfect," "A Star is Born," and "Trolls," Romanovich handles music breakdowns and collaborates with labels and artists to secure songs for films. Reflecting on her time at Cal Lutheran, she said, “I love finding songs that can make an impact in a scene,” adding that her leadership roles in CLU TV and Cinema Club were crucial in shaping her career.

Cameron Mendez graduated in 2021 and found her calling during a marketing class at Cal Lutheran. Now a global publicity assistant at Sony Pictures Entertainment, she manages press materials and talent schedules while crafting promotional strategies. “I learned how to approach real-world PR strategies at Cal Lutheran,” Mendez stated. She emphasized the importance of integrity taught by the university: “In PR, your reputation is everything.”

Nikki Snook from the class of 2017 has achieved notable success as a five-time Emmy Award-winning producer for Entertainment Tonight. Her multimedia studies laid the groundwork for her career, where she coordinates celebrity interviews and prepares video shoots. “Seeing everything that goes into making a show... gave me the knowledge I needed for a career in television,” Snook explained.

As they advance their careers, Romanovich hopes to work on projects that push creative boundaries; Mendez aims to expand her expertise across new platforms; Snook seeks more leadership roles within production teams. Their achievements reflect Cal Lutheran's commitment to nurturing both skills and values such as kindness, integrity, and community spirit.