Jennifer Courtney is a Binghamton University alumna, an actress, a screenwriter and also, notably, the sister of Stephanie Courtney — better known as “Flo” from Progressive. On Friday, she returned to BU to provide students with advice for their own careers.
Courtney graduated from BU in 1987 with a degree in English. She has gone on to act in several TV shows, including Law & Order and Dexter, and she also starred in the film “Wolfhound” as Stella Kennedy.
Friday’s event was co-hosted by Harpur Edge’s Cool Connections/Hot Alumni and the Hinman Production Company (HPC), of which Courtney used to be a member. She was at BU this weekend for the HPC’s second annual cabaret showcase and saw the opportunity to talk with students about life, her career and fostering creative careers for students.
Speaking to around 30 students in the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development, Courtney detailed struggles she faced as a young actress and a woman in the entertainment industry. Citing long hours, working multiple jobs and a lack of available roles, she stressed the value of perseverance and flexibility in the working world.
After leaving the industry in 2002 in order to start a family with her husband Guy Stevenson, a former writer for Mad TV, Courtney returned to show business in 2013 as a screenwriter instead of an actress. Collaborating with her husband and working individually, Courtney said she is hoping to conquer the early hurdles she felt in the industry.
“In my experience, there’s not that many parts for women,” Courtney said. “It’s harder. And the parts you get are often the girlfriend or the wife. So as I came back to screen writing, that was part of my plan to be a part of the solution, by writing female driven screenplays.”
Francis Borrego, a senior assistant director in the Fleishman Center and one of the lead organizers for the Cool Connections/Hot Alumni program, said he hoped that students could use Courtney’s story as inspiration for their own lives.
“She shifted her path, with shifting careers, where she was pursuing a particular discipline, but then focusing on family,” Borrego said. “And then she picks up something new again. And I think just that experience and her determination and drive with what she loves is important for students to hear.”
Douglas Harrington, a board member of HPC and a senior majoring in business administration, helped organize the talk. He hoped that students would see Courtney’s story as an example of where their passions could lead.
“Pursuing something that you enjoyed in college can ultimately lead to something post-graduation,” Harrington said. “Seeing Jennifer succeed in something she was passionate about while in college can hopefully show people that there is hope post-graduation.”
Attendees like Kaelie Kelleher, a senior double-majoring in English and French, said they were inspired by hearing a successful alumna who was once in their position.
“She encouraged us to just make the hard phone calls and ask people we know for favors even when we don’t want to ask for help,” Kelleher said. “It’s all about connections, which is exactly what I’m amidst learning right now in my own job search.”