CCNY and Young & Rubicam celebrate Diversity Partnership.

The City College of New York (CCNY) celebrated its long and productive partnership with Young & Rubicam (Y&R) by honoring the global marketing communications company at a reception. The event, Tuesday, April 12, at City College, recognizes Y&R’s outstanding commitment to CCNY’s talented communications studies students.

Young & Rubicam began working with CCNY six years ago to help advertising/public relations majors gain the skills gain internships year-round. It has since evolved into a “model” for industry/university cooperation that has resulted in more than 100 CCNY students benefitting from Y&R internships, professional development workshops and creative portfolio seminars. In addition, 15 CCNY graduates have accepted full-time positions at Y&R.

“No other agency has matched Y&R’s level of commitment to helping CCNY students bridge the gap between their classroom education and the professional world through internships, portfolio and professional development and, most importantly, by hiring many of our graduates,” said Lynn Appelbaum, Professor and Director of CCNY’s advertising/public relations program.

At the event, three senior Y&R executives will be recognized and thanked for their outstanding commitment to cultivating talented students in the program:

– Dot Giannone, Executive Vice President and Director, Account Management

– Jennifer Novak, Global Creative Talent Scout

– Belle Frank, Executive Vice President, Director, Strategy & Applied Research

“Y&R is committed to help CCNY’s students to discover their true potential,” said Ms. Novak “We are so proud that we have been able to help start the careers of so many talented CCNY students and provide them with the opportunities they need to flourish in the industry.”

“I could never have dreamed of having an opportunity to work at a top advertising agency,” said CCNY alumnus Sal Lombardo, now a Y&R art director. “I am so grateful that my internship through CCNY led me to work with such talented and smart individuals who are helping me learn the skills I need to be innovative and successful.”

“We are especially appreciative of Young and Rubicam’s commitment to our program because of the diverse student body we serve, many of whom would not have had this kind of professional opportunity without Y&R’s stellar involvement,” Professor Appelbaum added.