Beyond the Classroom: Alumni Unplugged Returns to Howard for Homecoming 2026
By Chad Eric Smith, Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing, Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts
When ChéLa McIntyre was a student at Howard University, a performance with the University Choir opened a door that would ultimately shape her professional career.
After appearing on Bobby Jones Gospel, McIntyre met one of the show's executive producers, a fellow Howard alumna, and seized the opportunity to ask about an internship.
"We sang on Saturday, I started my internship on Tuesday," McIntyre recalled.
That introduction helped launch what has become a 22-year career in television, demonstrating how a Howard education can create opportunities far beyond the classroom.
It's precisely the kind of experience McIntyre hopes to share when Alumni Unplugged: Things I Wish I Knew — Music & Entertainment Industry returns to Howard University on Thursday, October 15, during Homecoming 2026.
Now in its fourth consecutive year, the event brings alumni and industry professionals together with current students for candid conversations about the lessons learned at Howard, the realities of navigating professional life, and the relationships that help shape successful careers.
Co-hosted by McIntyre, a producer, manager, and designer with The Lyricmonét Company, and Mariah Meshae, a singer, songwriter, and producer with Everything Lovely, this year's gathering will also feature Jeff Tribble, president and CEO of Levine Music; Samiyah Muhammad, a manager with the Recording Academy's Washington, D.C. Chapter; and Jared "MK Zulu" Bailey, an artist, educator, and arts administrator.
Together, they represent a range of professional experiences across music, entertainment, arts leadership, and creative entrepreneurship.
Lessons That Last Beyond Graduation
According to McIntyre, Alumni Unplugged emerged from conversations about how much she and Mariah Meshae had learned since leaving Howard—and how much they wished they had understood before entering their respective industries.
The annual gathering creates space to share those insights with the next generation of artists and creative professionals.
One lesson that resurfaces each year is the importance of discipline and preparation.
"You can't skip practice," McIntyre emphasized, explaining that the work ethic developed through musical training translates directly into professional life.
Whether studying jazz, classical music, or gospel, students learn the value of adaptability, preparation, and being ready to perform when opportunities arise. Those habits can prove just as important in a television studio, corporate office, or creative enterprise as they are onstage.
Beyond technical preparation, McIntyre also encourages students to take full advantage of Howard's interdisciplinary environment.
A music student might discover a future collaborator studying film, a business partner pursuing management, or a mentor whose professional journey opens an entirely new career possibility.
Her own transition from studying music to working in television illustrates that a student's academic discipline does not necessarily define the limits of their professional future.
The Power of the Howard Network
Another central message of Alumni Unplugged is that relationships formed through Howard can continue to provide meaningful support long after graduation.
McIntyre and Mariah Meshae's friendship exemplifies that principle.
Although the two did not attend Howard at the same time, they developed a connection through the University's musical community that evolved into a lasting friendship. When Mariah Meshae relocated to Los Angeles, McIntyre helped support her transition, including providing a place to stay for several months.
Their experience reflects an important lesson they hope students will carry forward: the Howard network is more than a professional resource. It is a community built on relationships, mentorship, and a shared commitment to helping one another succeed.
That spirit also informs the event's approach to student engagement.
Recognizing that some students may hesitate to ask questions in front of an audience, organizers introduced index cards to provide another opportunity for participation. Students can submit questions and, if they include their contact information, receive responses from panelists after the event.
For McIntyre, the goal is to help students understand that alumni are not simply returning to offer advice for an afternoon. They are also extending invitations to establish relationships that can continue well beyond Homecoming.
Over the years, Alumni Unplugged has typically welcomed approximately 50 to 75 attendees, including dozens of current students. McIntyre says students frequently approach organizers throughout Homecoming weekend to express how much they gained from the conversations.
Coming Home and Giving Back
This year's Alumni Unplugged holds additional significance for its co-hosts, with McIntyre celebrating her 20th Howard reunion and Mariah Meshae marking her 15th.
Their return reflects one of Homecoming's most meaningful traditions: alumni reconnecting with the institution that helped shape them while investing in the aspirations of those who will follow.
Through candid conversations about professional preparation, relationship-building, financial awareness, and navigating unexpected career paths, Alumni Unplugged offers students an opportunity to learn from those who once occupied the same classrooms and rehearsal spaces.
"This event is a labor of love, my way of giving back to the place that made me and building a bridge so current students can step into their careers with a little more ease," said Mariah Meshae.
For McIntyre, remaining connected to Howard and supporting future generations is a commitment she continues to embrace.
"I'm always a yes for my good old alma mater," she said.
Alumni Unplugged: Things I Wish I Knew — Music & Entertainment Industry takes place Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 12:40 to 1:30 p.m. in Room 300 of Howard University's Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, 2445 Sixth Street NW, Washington, D.C. Admission is free.
