Graduating in May 2019, not long before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Almier McCoy JMS’19 knew back then he wanted to pursue a career combining his interests in journalism and fashion.

As a Rutgers undergraduate, McCoy had gained professional experience as a videographer assistant intern through the Rutgers Athletics Club; by working for The Daily Targum as a fashion correspondent; and at Rutgers Today as a social media intern. Post-graduation, McCoy worked as a coordinator in brand marketing for Tommy Hilfiger, and that led him to his current position.

Today, as a Creative Producer at Tory Burch, McCoy said the path leading to his current role wasn’t simple or easy. “I won’t lie, it was hard in the beginning, especially since my path was non-conventional, meaning I did not attend fashion school nor did I land a coveted fashion internship ­– a crucial step toward a front door entryway. When I graduated in May 2019, since I didn’t have a job lined up, I had to work in overdrive to stand out just to get a foot through the backdoor to achieve my first fashion job at Tommy Hilfiger – two years post-graduate.

“People don’t get to see what you go through, the trials and tribulations to get to where you are. They only get the front-facing title and accomplishments you post on Instagram and LinkedIn. They don’t ever get to see what you’re going through behind the scenes to get there, all that hard work and all those struggles.”

SC&I spoke with McCoy to discover what led him to this career path, how he spent his time as an undergraduate, how he’s faced and overcome the challenges he’s encountered, and his advice for current and incoming students.

Tell us about yourself. What did you study at SC&I?
AM: I was at SC&I for roughly two years but at Rutgers for three. My first year, I spent taking courses toward becoming a biology major, as I was a transfer student. Since my first-year studies focused on biology with an ultimate goal to go to medical school, when I finally decided to switch to Journalism and Media Studies, I placed unnecessary pressure on myself to work harder to make up for the time missed while simultaneously attempting to make the most of my overall college experience. Ultimately, since there was no exact guide to help me navigate this unfounded territory, this meant figuring it all out as I went along.

How did your time at SC&I prepare you for your current position at Tory Burch?
AM: In my time at SC&I, I always knew that I had an interest in fashion, and how it has transcended elements of fashion and shaped pop culture and media through to what we know it as today. Taking JMS courses – Consumer Media Culture under Professor Jack Bratich; News, Entertainment, and Politics taught by Professor Lauren Feldman; and Media and Popular Culture during my undergraduate studies further piqued my interest in the impact psychological advertising and branding consumption have on shaping consumer behavior and decision making.

Another pivotal class I took was Intro to Media with Professor Steve Miller. Throughout each course, I gradually developed more and more of a fascination with learning about media intersectionality and knew once I graduated that I wanted to shift toward a direction career-wise that intertwined media and fashion.

SC&I provided me with necessary resources and tools that nurtured creative thought to envision and map out exactly how my ideal fashion career, encompassing marketing and branding, could look like. This led me into exploring different avenues across storytelling in fashion - branding, art direction, eventually leading my career toward creative producing for Tory Burch.

My time at SC&I gave me an outstanding work ethic and unforgettable memories that nurtured who I would eventually become today. This has been the reward for me: seeing the fruits of my labor in my current position at Tory Burch. Going from being in my younger 20s and admiring these different designers and fashion houses, to now working with them – these things are so surreal. It’s that go-getter mentality and striving toward that goal that has propelled me here, and it’s something that I’m just really grateful for.

What advice would you give to any current SC&I student looking to pursue a career in creative fields in the fashion industry following their time at Rutgers?
AM: Stay true to who you are. As you chase your dreams, it’s very easy to be consumed in hustle culture, especially in New York, and lose sight of who you are. Never feel that you have to compromise your integrity and who you are as an individual.

In the creative space especially, it can be intense. Know that regardless of what happens, if you stay true to who you are, no one can take that away from you at all.

Learn more about the Journalism and Media Studies major at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.

Photos: Courtesy of Almier McCoy'19