Alumni Spotlight: Connor Hackett

“Taking the skills I learned at Brookdale and sharing them with others to do what I love makes me feel accomplished,” said Connor Hackett, Brookdale Community College alumnus. A music technology major, Hackett is currently employed as an audio engineer at A Shared Universe Podcast Studio, owned by Ming Chen and Mike Zapcic of the hit AMC show Comic Book Men.

After graduating high school, Hackett knew he wanted to pursue a degree in music technology, but he was not sure where that path would lead him. “Like many people my age, I didn’t know what my future looked like when I graduated high school,” he said. Because Brookdale was close to home, offered an Associate of Applied Science in Music Technology, had a robust campus life, and was affordable, Hackett decided to enroll. “The thought of committing myself to a four-year program at a faraway school seemed daunting, and I didn’t want to take on an overwhelming amount of debt,” he said.  “Brookdale was a perfect fit for me.”

At Brookdale, Hackett found hands-on courses taught by passionate and knowledgeable professors. “The professors made learning enjoyable and truly motivated me to do my absolute best,” he explained. He noted adjunct instructors Jeffrey Mahajan, Ryan Tomski, Douglas Clarke, Craig Pincus, as well as professors William Keith Heimann and Chad Anderson, and studio assistant Michael Conklin as crucial to his success at Brookdale and in his career. “I was able to learn valuable skills that would benefit me as a young professional in the audio industry, and I was able to explore my creative, musical side.”

In addition to excellent professors, Hackett said the Career, Leadership, and Transfer Pathways Office helped him get an internship at Lakehouse Music Academy where he earned college credits. “During my time there I was able to gain invaluable hands-on experience in my field of study and make connections. It even led to an employment opportunity there,” he said of his internship. “Going from learning about audio engineering at Brookdale to actually applying what I was taught in a real-world recording studio was an experience that I will never forget!”

Hackett graduated with a 3.95 GPA from Brookdale in the spring of 2022. In addition to his position as an audio engineer at A Shared Universe Podcast Studio, Hackett is also the audio-visual director at the Atlantic Highlands Navesink United Methodist Church. “Brookdale provided me with the necessary knowledge I needed in order to find employment in my field of study,” Hackett said.

To learn more about Brookdale’s degree in music technology, visit brookdalecc.edu/music.