Caccavale served in various positions on Rider’s Student Entertainment Council (SEC), including vice president of special events and live music chair, was involved in the Rider Dance Ensemble and Arts Management Association, and worked as a lead tour guide in the Office of Admissions. She was also a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society and Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society.
On Sunday, February 5, 2023, Maddie Caccavale attended the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. At the time, she was a senior at Rider and an intern with GRAMMY U, the Recording Academy’s membership for aspiring professionals pursuing careers in music. Attending the ceremony served as the culmination of a once-in-a-lifetime experience working as a GRAMMY week intern, and put Caccavale in a prime position to network with industry leaders and legends. But, rewind a few years back, the seemingly confident Caccavale could not envision herself being in this space.
At the start of her collegiate career, Caccavale described herself as a quiet student who was hesitant to participate. “Coming to college was a very hard adjustment for me. In high school, I wasn’t the best student so when I came to Rider I initially didn’t feel smart enough to be there,” she says. It was not until she was encouraged to become a tour guide in the Office of Admissions that she started to put herself out there professionally and personally. This opportunity, in conjunction with guidance and mentorship from Rider staff and faculty, helped Caccavale gain the confidence to leave her comfort zone and lean into her abilities to succeed.
In a fall 2023 interview, Caccavale shared how Rider helped her find her path to success:
What are you doing now?
I currently work as an events coordinator with Rolling Stone. In this role, I support the organization and production of signature events for Rolling Stone, as well as events surrounding key consumer and industry cultural moments. Additionally, I plan, lead and organize cross-functional teams on-site, including production, artist liaisons, venue staff, and audiovisual teams in order to ensure a cohesive event experience for artists, attendees, sponsors, clients, agencies, and staff.
As a part of my day-to-day, I research new venues, emerging artists, event trends and build upon a list of valuable event vendors and contacts as resources for current and future projects.
When I came to Rider I initially didn’t feel smart enough to be here. I was hesitant to participate in class, ask questions and join clubs and organizations. It wasn’t until I was recommended to become a tour guide in the Office of Admissions that I really started to put myself out there professionally and personally, which helped me gain confidence and growth in my abilities to succeed.”
Events coordinator at Rolling Stone
What experiences did you have at Rider to help you prepare for where you are today?
I was fortunate enough to have had multiple internship experiences across several disciplines in the entertainment industry during my time at Rider. My internship experiences included working with The Recording Academy/GRAMMYs, The Rocks Management, Warner Music Group and United Talent Agency. These experiences were the cornerstone of my successes so far and helped me immensely in the full-time job search upon graduation. Several of the internships that I landed were through industry contacts that I met through my professor Linda-Lorence Critelli.
How did Rider resources positively impact your success as a student?
My professors, Linda Lorence-Critelli and Todd Dellinger, fostered my personal and professional growth within the arts and entertainment industries management program from day one. They shared their expertise, professional network, and guidance with me over the course of my college experience and played a role in all of my successes. They have both been incredibly supportive of me and all of my professional endeavors, giving me the confidence to keep going after the goals I want to achieve.
The staff at the Office of Admissions was also very supportive and accommodating of my hectic schedule while I was interning and made it possible to keep my job and leadership position in admissions while gaining professional experience within my field. Going into my senior year, Nick Barbati (assistant vice president for student affairs at Rider) encouraged me to hold a leadership position on the Student Entertainment Council, and I ended up becoming the vice president of special events for that year and played a big role in bringing the spring concert back to campus for the first time since COVID.
College was really my personal playground where I was able to explore my interests, build lifelong friendships, network with faculty, professionals, and peers, see new countries, and gain lots of valuable work experience that set me up perfectly for success upon graduating.”
Events coordinator at Rolling Stone
What is the key takeaway from your Rider experience?
My key takeaway from my Rider experience may sound cliche, but college is really what you make of it. Throughout my time at Rider, I really had to step out of my comfort zone and learn to take chances in order to accomplish my goals. I am so grateful for all the love and support the Rider community has and continues to give me as I grow.
*As of May 2024, Caccavale has accepted the role of Coordinator, National Events at iHeartMedia.
College of Arts and Sciences: School of Communication, Media and Performing Arts
Rider’s School of Communication, Media and Performing Arts is the perfect place to cultivate your artistic ability. You’ll explore your creative purpose in a connected community of emerging talent, build technical skills specific to your field of interest and develop foundational knowledge that can be applied to various areas within the evolving creative industry.