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Alumni Spotlight: Meet Monica Nowik

Posted By Alfred University

Feb 20, 2026 | Alumni General Blogs Liberal Arts & Sciences

After graduating from Alfred University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and minors in film studies and philosophy, Monica Nowik carried with her a love for storytelling, a strong network of mentors, and the confidence to pursue a career in entertainment.

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Where They Are Now

Monica Nowik Monica now lives in New York City, where she works on the workplace services team at United Talent Agency (UTA) and continues to develop her own independent film projects.

In her role at UTA, Monica manages incoming calls for agents, monitors client data across film, television, music, and social media, assists with reception, and helps support client events. While her job keeps her close to the industry, she’s also building her creative portfolio—writing, directing, and producing films inspired by the passion she discovered at Alfred.

Mentorship Made a Difference

Looking back, Monica says the people at Alfred played a huge role in shaping her path.

“So many people contributed to who I am today,” she says. “Definitely my mentors, especially Nick Schlegel, my film studies advisor, who encouraged my love for film and told me it wasn’t stupid to pursue filmmaking or work in entertainment. He helped me cultivate that passion, and that’s what I’m doing now, working in entertainment and closer to where I want to be.”

One of her most meaningful moments at Alfred came when she won the 2023 Wit & Wisdom Student Award and presented her work at the Bergren Forum.

“My fondest memory was winning the Wit and Wisdom Student Award and giving the Bergren Forum. It reflected all the skills I had developed: the research, the writing, the revising, and the presenting,” she says. “Seeing so many people I knew come to support me was incredible. It felt like proof that I had built a community of people who genuinely wanted to see me succeed.”

That encouragement and sense of community gave Monica the confidence to pursue a field that can feel uncertain, especially for students just starting out.

Bodily Autonomy and Gender Bias in Rosemary's Baby with Monica Nowik

Creating Independent Films

Monica Nowik in a group photo with the Survival Traits production crew.

Outside of work, Monica is focused on filmmaking. Over the past year, she wrote, directed, and produced her first independent short film, a drama-comedy titled Survival Traits. The film has completed post-production and has already been accepted into the Brightside Film Festival in Jersey City, NJ, and is being submitted to additional festivals.

“I worked with two producers from a small indie production company called Retro Dream Films, built a crew, and did a lot of crowdfunding to cover the costs,” she says.

Although the shoot lasted just two days, the project took nearly a year from pre-production through post-production, including editing and music. The team even hosted a special screening at the filming location.

“Now the film is complete and being submitted to festivals, and I’m already hoping to start my next project soon,” she says. Monica is currently planning another short film and wants to eventually direct a feature-length film.

Advice for Graduates

Monica Nowik working on a film set — Monica Nowik working on the set of Survival Traits.

Monica’s advice to new grads: take every chance that comes your way, even if it wasn’t part of the plan. 

“Remember that you already have the skills and capabilities you need. When I first graduated, I worked as an admin assistant—not my long-term goal—but that experience helped me get to where I am now. Don’t turn away opportunities just because they’re not exactly what you want; say yes when you can, because they can lead somewhere else and let you apply your skills in new ways.” 

From Alfred classrooms and film screenings to New York City’s entertainment industry, Monica Nowik’s journey reflects the power of mentorship, community, and creative risk-taking. As she continues to tell stories, both behind the scenes and behind the camera, she carries with her the foundation she built at Alfred and the community that encouraged her to pursue her passion.

Living Intersections | Monica Nowik

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Student Reflection

Monica Nowik talked about how the Alfred University experience inspired her onto new life and career paths and intersections in this exclusive video interview during her senior year at Alfred University.

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