Updated April 25, 2023. Watch COMMchella Music Festival live stream. 

Today, the Department of Communication in the School of Communication and Information (SC&I), Rutgers University–New Brunswick, will launch its second annual #BeCOMM communications and social media campaign to celebrate and promote the communication major at Rutgers and inform undeclared majors, transfer students, and prospective Rutgers students about majoring in communication at SC&I.

One of the highlights of the #BeCOMM campaign will be the COMMchella Music Festival which will take place on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at The Yard on the Rutgers College Avenue campus from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event will showcase five popular music acts including several that feature current Rutgers communication majors. COMMchella is free for all attendees, including Rutgers University students, faculty, and staff.

“We are so proud of the BeCOMM campaign and COMMchella,” said Communication Department Chair and Professor Marya Doerfel. “It not only celebrates what we’re doing as a program, but it literally showcases how our students turn theories about communication into interactive, engaging, informative, and fun events for our community.”

The COMMchella music lineup will be headlined by the Ocean Avenue Stompers, a popular band based in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and the band, Loveseat Pete, which includes Matt Keenan, COM’23. Performing solo at COMMchella will be Jake Thistle, ’26, who is planning to major in communication. Thistle was recently awarded Indie Boulevard’s “Best Americana Song Of 2022” for his song, Ghosted Road. Two other music acts scheduled to perform, Kyra Camille & The Chameleons and Ophiocoma, also include Rutgers students as bandmates.    

One of the highlights of the #BeCOMM campaign will be the COMMchella Music Festival which will take place on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at The Yard on the Rutgers College Avenue campus from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

In addition to the music, COMMchella will offer a variety of other free activities to support the academic and professional growth of Rutgers communication majors. The SC&I office of career services will host interactive career conversations, resume writing clinics and a LinkedIn photographer offering students free professional headshots to help enhance their online presence. Members of Rutgers student organizations focused on the communication major, related skills and professions will also attend the event and engage with attendees. These include RU Sure, Scarlet PR, PRSSA, Rutgers Public Speaking Organization, Rutgers Debate Union, Rutgers Riot Squad, SC&I’s Master of Communication and Media (MCM) and Master of Health Communication and Information (MCHI) Graduate Student Associations, and Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association’s honor society.

The COMMchella music lineup will be headlined by the Ocean Avenue Stompers, a popular band based in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and the band, Loveseat Pete, which includes Matt Keenan, COM’23.

Several recent SC&I graduates who majored in communication are expected to attend COMMchella and participate in the interactive career conversations. One alumnus whose attendance is confirmed is David Pangilinan, COM’16, Manager of Insights and Cultural Intelligence at Paramount.

“I credit the communication major at Rutgers University towards successfully setting me on a career path that has led me to where I am today working in an innovative research, insights and trend’s role at one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies, Paramount,” said Pangilinan. “The communication major community at Rutgers including the courses that are extremely hands-on, professors who are eager to help, and fellow classmates who challenged my thinking not only provided a strong foundation for my professional and career development, but they continue to remain an invaluable resource today. That’s testament to the power of being a communication major at Rutgers University. It extends well beyond your days as a student and throughout your career.”

COMMchella will also feature appearances by the Department of Communication faculty; the Scarlet Knight mascot; a DJ; 360-degree video booth; sketch artist; two pop-up shops, RU Thrifty and Space Cadet Clothing; free Krispy Pizza and free #BeCOMM branded merchandise including t-shirts, baseball caps, socks, iPhone wallets and laptop stickers, all while supplies last.

The SC&I office of career services will host interactive career conversations, resume writing clinics and a LinkedIn photographer offering students free professional headshots to help enhance their online presence.

Students in the Strategic Public Relations Event Planning course taught by Mark Beal, assistant professor of professional practice, communication, are spearheading the #BeCOMM campaign and managing the COMMchella Music Festival.

To promote the campaign, the students will produce and distribute content throughout March and April via earned and social media to highlight the five communication major specializations: Health and Wellness Communication; Leadership in Organizations and Community; Relationships and Family Communication; Strategic Public Communication; Communication and Technology; and Public Relations.

Members of Rutgers student organizations focused on the communication major, related skills and professions will also attend the event and engage with attendees.

Support for the #BeCOMM campaign is being provided by RWJBarnabas Health, the official health care provider of Rutgers Athletics and a proud supporter of Rutgers University.

To stay updated on the #BeCOMM campaign and the COMMchella music festival, follow @ru_becomm on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

Learn more about the Communication Major at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information (SC&I) on the school’s website.