From the first note played by the Rutgers University Marching Band to the final career conversations between alumni and students, the 2026 COMMchella Music Festival, which took place on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at The Yard on the Rutgers-New Brunswick College Avenue campus, was a resounding success.
This year's celebration marked the fifth year the SC&I Department of Communication has hosted COMMchella, a signature event of the #BeCOMM campaign, which was originally launched in 2022.
Setting a record high number of attendees, nearly 3,000 students, alumni, and faculty attended this year. More than 30 alumni participated in interactive career conversations hosted by the SC&I office of career services. These "Career Conversations," which took place between alumni and current Communication majors, enable students to gain job interview skills, resume-writing tips, and other career assistance. A LinkedIn photographer offered students free professional headshots to help enhance their online presence.
Among the alumni who attended COMMchella included Nyree Wright COM’99, a leading public relations practitioner and principal of NW Consulting. In a LinkedIn post following the event, Wright commented, "Events like COMMchella remind us why investing in the next generation matters and why Rutgers continues to produce communicators who are ready to make their mark."
Members of more than 35 Rutgers student organizations focused on the communication major, related skills, and professions, tabled at the event and engaged with attendees. These included RU Sure, Scarlet PR, PRSSA, Rutgers Public Speaking Organization, Rutgers Riot Squad, and SC&I’s Master of Communication and Media (MCM) Graduate Student Association.
Kaleb Cohen headlined the COMMchella music lineup. Cohen is a rising artist known for his raw storytelling and soulful vocals. A gifted pianist and songwriter, his growing profile has led to a partnership with Starbucks and a feature in "Entertainment Weekly," which highlighted his single, "East Coast Summers" as part of its Hidden Gems of 2025 Must List.
Following the marching band kick-off, the national anthem was sung by Kendal Conrad of Pennsylvania who is attempting to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" 250 times in 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Conrad was followed on stage by ShockWave, Rutgers University’s all-female student cappella group, which included Bella Rose COM’26. The band Sam Tunkle & The Long Whiles also performed. Sam studies Music Education at Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts. BLÜECRÜE, a music act that includes some Rutgers graduates as bandmates, rounded out this year's COMMchella music lineup.
The #BeCOMM campaign and the COMMchella Music Festival are managed by current SC&I communication majors who are taking the communication course Strategic Public Relations Event Planning. The students are enrolled in two sections of the course taught by Mark Beal, assistant professor of professional practice, communication.
Jelania Johnson COM’26 is one of the students in the course who managed the campaign and COMMchella. Johnson posted on LinkedIn, “I remember when I attended COMMchella my freshman year at Rutgers, I knew I wanted to be a part of the group of students that made it happen. During this semester, I was able to make that dream come true! Being a part of the Communication major was something that I took because it worked well with my Journalism and Media studies major, but it had offered me so many opportunities over the years, and I am so thankful for all of them."
Duaa Ali COM’23 was among the alumni who attended COMMchella to participate in career conversations with students. "I remember experiencing the first ever COMMchella Music Festival when I was a student at Rutgers University like it was yesterday. It's been incredible seeing the festivals' evolution, as well as the passion and dedication that is poured into this amazing event from the students, alumni, faculty, and brands and corporations that have played a role in its continuous success,” said Ali. “I've learned so much about myself, both professionally and personally, from my own experiences as a Rutgers Communication major that have allowed me to achieve success at my current role at Scholastic.”
COMMchella featured appearances by the Department of Communication faculty, Sir Henry, the Scarlet Knight mascot, a sketch artist, the pop-up shop RU Thrifty, free Krispy Pizza, and free #BeCOMM-branded merchandise, including sweatshirts, pajama pants, t-shirts, and more.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platform, HBO Max, RWJBarnabas Health, Conagra Brands, Bayer, Manasquan Bank, Gray Wolf, dblspc, ESW Beauty, Advanced Creative Media, and the American Marketing Association supported the #BeCOMM campaign and COMMchella Music Festival as corporate partners.
To stay updated on the #BeCOMM campaign and the COMMchella music festival, follow @ru_becomm on Instagram and TikTok.
