Empowering HBCU Career Service Professionals
Join EICOP CareerCon 2026
Connect with industry leaders and enhance your career services strategies at this groundbreaking virtual event.
About EICOP CareerCon
EICOP CareerCon is a pioneering virtual conference tailored for HBCU Career Services Professionals. It aims to foster collaboration between academia and the entertainment industry, providing a platform for sharing insights, exploring career pathways, and building strong partnerships to support students pursuing creative careers.
CareerCon is not a recruitment event. It is a collaborative learning and exchange space where career services leaders and industry partners come together to share insight, align on student needs, and explore resources that support students pursuing careers in entertainment and media.
Our goal is simple:
To strengthen the work already happening within HBCU career centers by exchanging knowledge, tools, and industry perspective while continuing to build authentic, long‑term collaboration with EICOP and our industry partners.
Key Highlights
Why Attend CareerCon
Insightful Discussions
Engage in thought-provoking conversations with industry leaders and career services professionals.
Networking Opportunities
Connect with peers and industry experts to expand your professional network.
Expert Panels
Gain valuable insights from panels featuring top recruiters and industry specialists.
Interactive Workshops
Participate in hands-on sessions designed to enhance your career services strategies.
Resource Sharing
Access a wealth of resources to support student career development in creative fields.
Collaborative Environment
Foster partnerships between academia and the entertainment industry to benefit students.
What You’ll Gain
Industry Insights
Understand the latest trends and developments in the entertainment industry.
Recruitment Strategies
Discover effective strategies to prepare students for careers in media and entertainment.
Career Pathways
Identify how academic programs align with industry career opportunities.
Transforming Career Pathways Together
hear directly from the experts
Meet the Industry Panelists
Roy Ramirez
People & Culture Specialist
Roy Graduated from UCLA in 2017 with a degree in English Literature. With a passion for film, TV and documentary storytelling, he knew he always wanted to build a career in the entertainment industry, but didn’t know in what capacity.
He began his career at FIFTH SEASON as a Receptionist and General Assistant, supporting multiple departments including Business Affairs & Legal, TV Creative, Marketing, Finance & Accounting and Business Operations.
Through these experiences, Roy discovered his passion for People & Culture. In his current role, he oversee’s recruitment for early-career positions such as internships and assistant roles, as well as Vice President and Executive-level searches.
His professional passions center on creating pathways for emerging early talent in the entertainment industry and identifying executive-level talent to drive long-term organizational
growth and success.
Candice Johnson
Early Career Recruiter
Candice Johnson is an Early Career Recruiter at NBCUniversal, where she supports talent strategy across Ad Sales, NBC Sports, Media Group Functions, Platform Distributions & Partnerships.
Before joining NBCUniversal, Candice worked at Deloitte as a Campus Recruiter, leading university recruiting strategy across multiple target schools and serving as a DEI partner.
Her career foundation began in higher education and athletics, where she spent four years as an Athletic Academic Counselor at institutions including UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington, and Vanderbilt, supporting student-athletes in achieving academic and career success.
Candice is a former Division I softball student-athlete from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication. She later received her MBA from Concordia University Chicago.
Dereck Lau
Senior Recruiter
Dereck’s career spans from various industries (healthcare, education, non-profit, and now entertainment) but one constant is his curiosity in people’s interests, passions, and strengths, and matchmaking them with a roles that leverage their greatest abilities.
He describes himself as a “talent acquisitionist,” advocating for talent across all levels and providing support as they navigate their career transition and strategizing on their interviews.
Dereck is now a Senior Recruiter at WME, supporting early-careers recruitment while simultaneously building out HR systems to improve recruiting workflow and reporting.
Our Mission and Vision
The Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program (EICOP) is committed to bridging the gap between academia and the entertainment industry. Our mission is to provide students from HBCUs and other institutions with unparalleled access to industry leaders, mentorship opportunities, and career pathways that lead to lasting success. Through strategic partnerships and innovative programs, EICOP empowers students to pursue their dreams in media, entertainment, and creative fields, ensuring they have the tools and support needed to thrive.
