From On Stage to On Screen

A professionally trained opera singer, Victoria McIlvain worked in the field for years but struggled to find true passion in her work.

“I sang a bunch of lead roles in operas, and I was just not happy,” McIlvain said.

Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, McIlvain spent time reflecting and considering her career path. Ultimately, she decided to pursue a new career she was passionate about. A passion that was sparked as a child when a tornado touched down in Jamestown, NY.

“I was a young girl, and I remember watching the news and seeing the meteorologist on TV,” McIlvain said. “I saw our little area in a red polygon. I ran to my grandma in the kitchen, and said, ‘There’s a tomato coming,’ because I didn’t know how to pronounce tornado.”

When applying to colleges, McIlvain was overwhelmed by the science and math requirements necessary for a meteorology degree, which led to her earning a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Mercyhurst University and starting a career in opera.

Now, she is pursuing her dream at SUNY Brockport as a meteorology major, working part-time at News10NBC (WHEC-TV).

“From day one when I applied, the faculty were very accommodating,” McIlvain said. “I don’t think I would’ve found better faculty anywhere else. Other programs might have more resources, but you don’t get that same support.”

Returning as an adult learner was a struggle at times for McIlvain, but getting involved on campus helped her find her footing. She joined the campus radio station, the meteorology club, and serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board.

“Sometimes you’re surrounded by classmates who are ten years younger than you, but they are all very accepting,” McIlvain said. “Being an adult student has also given me some advantages, like helping me land my job at Channel 10. They said, ‘Well, you’re an adult. So why not hire you?’”

McIlvain started at Channel 10 by utilizing a Brockport connection and reaching out to Stacey Pensgen ’07, who helped her secure an internship. That role quickly evolved into a part-time, on-air position where she forecasts live on the weekends. 

“I never thought I would be on TV,” McIlvain said. “I was just a weather nerd.”

McIlvain typically starts her day at 2:30 am to analyze weather models, create forecasts, and update the station’s systems before ultimately delivering it on-air – all without a teleprompter. Something she never thought possible before taking classes at Brockport.

“There’s a lot more going on than just getting up there and talking about the weather,” McIlvain said. “In my first year, I took an Advanced Weather Lab where we’d analyze models and write detailed forecasts. If I didn’t have that experience, I wouldn’t have even known how to write reports at Channel 10.”

While McIlvain is happy to be pursuing her passion, she recognizes that her past career as an opera singer plays a key role in keeping her composure on camera.

“There are so many parallels between performing and being a meteorologist on TV,” McIlvain said. “I have to plan out what I’m saying, be animated, and watch how I’m presenting myself.”

McIlvain recently received the Karen Schuhle-Williams Exemplary Adult Student Scholarship. The award provided funding, which was critical to her success in the program.

“I was not able to take out federal loans for this last year because I’ve exhausted all of them with my previous degree,” McIlvain said. “[Earning the award] felt like I was being seen and heard because when you’re not a traditional college student, you sometimes feel like you’re in this gray area.”