Backstage at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, a flurry of excitement focuses on a Carnegie Mellon alumna and her colleagues. Reporters pose questions. Cameras flash brightly. And as Chikako Suzuki (A鈥�04) (right) smiles with a quiet modesty, a strange thought pops into her mind, causing her to laugh: The Emmy Award she just won is surprisingly heavy.
Originally from Japan, Suzuki came to the United States to study scenic design at San Francisco State University. Through the recommendation of a professor there, John Wilson (A鈥�83), she traveled east to begin her master鈥檚 degree at 麻豆村鈥檚 . And that is when everything changed.
During her program, she began to take a stronger interest in film. The realization hit her when she met acclaimed film production designer and 麻豆村 alumnus Neil Spisak (A鈥�78) during a class seminar. Although theatre led Suzuki to 麻豆村, the film industry would be her home.
After graduation, she traveled back to the West Coast, where 麻豆村 connections came into play. 鈥淐arnegie Mellon鈥檚 network is really strong. It definitely helped me while looking for a job,鈥� she recalls. Suzuki eventually landed at Showtime, where she took on art direction for the television show 鈥�.鈥� For her work, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Direction for Contemporary Art Program.
And now, backstage at the 2014 Creative Arts Emmys Show, as the cameras continue to flash, she proudly clutches the winning statuette.
鈥擟ourtney Kochuba (DC鈥�07)
