Carrie Cliggett

Director of Special Events and Hospitality

Name: Carrie Cliggett
Department:Communications and Marketing
Campus: Old Westbury

Why did you decide to join NYIT?
Coming from both a corporate and not-for-profit background, I was excited about working for an organization where I could utilize both sets of skills. I saw the diverse events being held here and knew I would get the best of both worlds.

What do you do at NYIT?
I help students, staff, and faculty celebrate their successes. I do this by planning institution-wide events such as commencement and convocation as well as smaller high-end events for the Office of the President.

Why do you like working here?
I love that every day I’m working with a variety of people on diverse projects. One day I’m planning a medical college hooding ceremony and the next a student ribbon cutting or an engineering conference. I’ll never get bored here.

What has been your favorite experience at NYIT so far?
Commencement is my favorite event. That’s show day. The best was in 2006 when we used a live broadcast to present an honorary degree to Chicago White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper while he was standing on the mound in the stadium. I love that we were able to use technology to make the presentation—it exemplifies what we are all about.

What is your favorite perk/benefit about working at NYIT?
The pension plan with company contribution is great, but my favorite perk is the diversity of working at such completely different campuses. Some days I work in Manhattan and can soak up the vibrant urban atmosphere, and other days I’m in Old Westbury and can take a break walking through the trees.

What’s been the biggest surprise about working at NYIT?
During my career, I’ve worked at a lot of organizations where plans are created but never carried out. So when NYIT announced a strategic plan in 2006, I didn’t know what to expect. But I can already see changes, such as the new enrollment services center. It’s exciting to be part of it.