Princeton’s Venue Services hosts local intern through career-building program
Demara White, Office of Communications
Sept. 19, 2025
Recent Mercer County Community College graduate Jacob Rodriguez spent the summer at Princeton supporting campus events and operations, refining the skills related to his career ambitions in music and production.
When Jacob Rodriguez steps into a performance space, he sees more than just the stage. His sights span the lighting, sound, the cables underfoot and those working steadily in the wings to bring an artist’s vision to life. As a musician and performer, Rodriguez knows all about standing in the spotlight, but this summer, his educational background and interest in music technology sparked his curiosity to learn more about the logistics behind the scenes.
“Thinking about my career five to 10 years from now, I see myself being the kind of artist who does it all,” said Rodriguez. “If something goes wrong offstage, instead of relying on others to fix it, I want to be able to jump in and be a helping hand to ensure everything runs smoothly.”
Rodriguez’s drive to be multifaceted made him a natural fit for an internship with Princeton’s Venue Services team. Housed in the Frist Campus Center, Venue Services provides building operational and event support in various academic and University administrative buildings, managing over 200 events annually across Princeton’s campus. The department handles everything from space reservations and equipment setup to day-of event logistics.
Rodriguez’s hands-on opportunity was secured through a partnership between Princeton’s Office of Community and Regional Affairs and HigherUp, a nonprofit organization based in Hightstown, New Jersey, that connects students and recent graduates from the town with career opportunities.
Each summer, Community and Regional Affairs partners with local nonprofits to place local youth in intern roles across campus. The programs aim to help young people, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, develop professional skills, explore career interests and gain real-world experience.
Over the course of his internship, Rodriguez has learned the ins and outs of campus events and operations. He’s taken the lead on several projects, including an overhaul of the Frist Center’s virtual lost and found system, where he created a new website and streamlined its form submission process, making it easier for students to submit, search for and claim lost items.
Additionally, Rodriguez has led First Welcome Desk operations, assisted with event setup and troubleshooting alongside Princeton’s AV Services staff, and supported preparation for new and returning student move-in activities — all experiences that have given him a robust and fast-paced view of how the team functions.
Rosalie Jule, operations and student team manager in Venue Services, said Rodriguez brought a level of maturity, creativity and professionalism that elevated the team’s summer efforts. “We’ve had temporary summer hires before, but Jacob has displayed next-level dedication. He is dependable, inventive and brings a unique perspective, considering his performance background and experiences,” said Jule. “He not only cares deeply about the work, but he has actively contributed to improving our systems.”
Jule and Marguerite Vera, senior associate director of Venue Services, worked as Rodriguez’s internship coordinators and mentors over the summer. This was the first time the two had supervised a student through the HigherUp program, and both describe the experience as overwhelmingly positive.
“Jacob has exceeded our expectations,” said Vera. “He came in bringing a fresh perspective and eagerness to learn, and will leave making an impact, not just on the projects he has completed, but on the people he’s worked with.”
His time with Venue Services follows an internship with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s Princeton Festival in June, where he worked as a production assistant. Alongside his budding music career, he also serves as a student liaison with HigherUp, where he helps fellow participants access career resources and develop resumes, and co-facilitates training sessions and workshops for the organization.
Rodriguez says that his role at Princeton has helped “expand his experience as a production assistant in a different setting,” one that requires attention to detail, effective communication with multiple units and the ability to adapt quickly to unexpected challenges.
As he looks ahead, with his internship wrapping up this month, Rodriguez said his experience has given him a clearer sense of his strengths while providing lasting skills.
“Though my ultimate goal is to be a full-time recording artist, this experience has helped me connect the technical and logical aspects of events to my work as a musician and confirmed that I enjoy being involved in all aspects of event production, not just performing,” he said.