Our Wildwood, Volume 53

GIVING VOICE A conversation between community members

Phil McFarland, Community Programs Director & Jacob Magnin ‘14

Since Wildwood first expanded to include middle and upper school, internships have been a defining element of the student experience. In this conversation, Phil McFarland, who has led Wildwood’s internship program since 2003, sits down with Jacob Magnin ‘14—now a technical director at a national live events company—to reflect on the power of stepping outside the classroom and into the world of work.

OWW: Jacob, can you start by telling us what you’ve been up to since graduating from Wildwood?

JACOB: Sure! After Wildwood, I went to USC, where I studied both theater and business. That combination really set me up for the work I do now at Empire Entertainment, which is where I work today. We’re a live events production company, and I’m a technical director—meaning I assemble and lead our tech teams, manage equipment specs, and make sure everything runs smoothly for events of all sizes.

OWW: Phil, what do you remember about Jacob’s internship when he was a student?

PHIL: I vividly remember visiting him at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. At the time, it was still being built, and Jacob was interning in the technical offices. It was one of those unforgettable visits where you see a student in their element. At school, Jacob had been reflective and focused—but there, he was animated and articulate, walking me through technical plans and explaining how the space was being built. He was clearly excited about the work, and I thought, “This is exactly what we want students to experience through internships.”

(Left to right) Community Programs Director Phil McFarland and Jacob Magnin ‘14

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