Jake Croman is currently a graduate student at New York University. He recently graduated from the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor, where he was an American Culture major in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. Jake enjoyed the interdisciplinary nature of Michigan’s American Culture program, a department which is held in high regard throughout academia as a premier center for American studies and scholarship. The program has provided Jake with an opportunity to explore his intellectual interest in music within the larger context of American culture. He also enjoys that his coursework is helping him develop a framework through which he can understand social identities and our contemporary media landscape.

As a high school student, Jake Croman’s love of music and entrepreneurial bent motivated him to get involved in the music business when he was still a teenager. After recognizing there was a market in New York City to connect mid-range artists with talent bookers at local music venues, Jake took the initiative to fill this niche, working as an independent agent on commission. By taking his passion for music to the next level, Jake gained exposure to the business underlying New York City’s music and entertainment scene. Through this work, Jake has developed valuable negotiation skills and strategic networking experience; though, ultimately, being able to help talented artists gain exposure is what made jake’s work in music rewarding for him.

Jake Croman’s networking experience and logistical know-how extends to his work fundraising on behalf of charitable organizations. As a member of the Upsilon Chapter of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity at Michigan, Jake helped spearhead Tau Kappa Epsilon’s efforts to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, a campaign for which the fraternity was recognized as one of the most charitable fraternities in the midwest.