Moeller has made a name for herself as a five-time Emmy-nominated senior producer at E! Entertainment Television, who now works as a producer at Entertainment Tonight.

“Back in high school, I used to watch all the red carpets and read all the entertainment magazines,” she explained. “I knew I wanted to work in entertainment television, and I knew �þ��� had one of the best schools for communications in the country.”

Recognizing that Elon was the perfect fit for her academic and personal aspirations, it became clear that she had to attend. Upon arriving at the school, Moeller dove right into her classes and even picked up a minor she had never considered.

“I majored in broadcast communications and minored in theater arts because I was told the Theatre Arts minor would be helpful with an on-camera presence,” she said. “My junior year in 2007, I studied abroad in London, and I now credit an entire career in entertainment news, due to Elon helping me acquire an internship abroad.”

Moeller remembers Elon asking her to choose her top three companies she would want to work for in London, and E! Entertainment was her first pick. With Elon’s help, she secured exactly what she’d hoped for.

The initial internship with E! during her London study abroad changed her trajectory for the better.

“I kept in touch with the London office, so when I did Elon’s inaugural ‘Elon in LA’ program in the summer of 2008, I was able to land my second internship at E!,” she explained. “One week after graduation in 2009, I moved back to LA without a job. I hustled and kept in touch with the E! team, getting my first paying gig with them in 2010, working in the international department, all thanks to my first internship in London.”

Moeller made the switch from the international department to the domestic department at E! News and then rose through the ranks, from intern to senior producer. Over her 15 years at E! News, she was nominated for five Emmy Awards,�����Ի���interviewed people like Steve Carell, Charlize Theron and 50 Cent. She also had the privilege of working on the red carpet at the Oscars and Golden Globes.

“I think one thing that’s gotten me far in this business is realizing celebrities are just normal people too, and they want to be treated that way,” she explained.  “When working with and writing scripts for celebs and hosts, I’ve always had success connecting with them on a personal level and not treating them like royalty.  They will always feel more comfortable around people who treat them normally�����Ի���give them honest feedback, good or bad.”

Moeller credits her continued success to strong relationships with her coworkers, interviewees, and former hosts, always keeping in contact with them even after some of their shows had ended.

When reflecting on her favorite experiences so far in her career, she recalls being able to work on one of the biggest pop culture stages as a top moment.

“I recently worked the Golden Globes red carpet this year with our host Keltie Knight, and it was my first time doing a major awards show red carpet; we were positioned right at the limo drop where we saw all the celebs exiting their cars, like George and Amal Clooney, Julia Roberts,�����Ի���Leslie Mann, to name a few.”

This unforgettable experience solidified for her that she was in the right career.
Another memorable project was producing live coverage for Kobe Bryant’s memorial service in 2020, outside of the Staples Center.

“It was just me, my host Will Marfuggi, and a cameraman. We were reporting live from downtown LA, getting footage and statements of the fans showing up to mourn his death.  It was a surreal experience to be in the presence of that historic moment,” she said.

Moeller’s journey at E! News was marked by steady growth in leadership, as she took on a variety of roles throughout her time at the company. When E! News was cancelled in September 2025, she unexpectedly lost her job. However, the strong professional relationships she had built over the years quickly became a source of support and opportunity.

“One meaningful connection I made along the way was with Jerry O’Connell, who at the time was hosting ‘The Talk.’ After our interview, he followed me on Instagram and has been a huge supporter of my career ever since. When E! News was cancelled in September, we went out to lunch to talk through opportunities and strategies. He even reposted my Instagram announcement when I shared that I had landed a new job at Entertainment Tonight,” said Moeller.

Building on her professional network, she transitioned from a freelance role at Entertainment Tonight in October to a full-time position in January of this year. She credits this milestone to her connections and a pivotal, “game-changing” internship in London.

Elon’s top-notch curriculum and amazing professors helped her feel prepared for the real world, knowing she could succeed outside the classroom. Elon’s study abroad center helped many students, including Moeller, afford transformative international experiences. Opening doors to life-changing internships and meaningful global connections while abroad.

Moeller has come a long way through courage and perseverance, and now she works for a nine-time Emmy Award-winning nationwide show.

“This business, especially out in LA, is 100% about who you know, but it’s how good you do that is what keeps you there,” she explained.

“My main advice is to take the internships, do the study abroad, make the connections, and always keep in contact with people and never burn bridges,” she said. “You never know who’s going to end up where and who can help you down the line. And when you’re on top, know that it can always change in an instant, so always be kind to the people below you, as one day you may be working for them.”

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online.

The gathering, held at The Belmont in West Hollywood, brought together an enthusiastic group of alumni, many of whom had participated in the Elon LA semester experience during their Elon academic journeys.

Current students shared internship and academic class experiences with their new Elon connections. Many took advantage of the opportunity to request meetings later this semester with individual alumni as a part of the Elon Los Angeles “Coffee with an Alumnus” program.

The immersive Study USA Los Angeles semester and summer experiences offer students opportunities for alumni engagement, community service, unique academic classes with industry professionals, and site-based experiential learning.  for Spring 2027 open April 1.

In accordance with the terms of their grants, alumna Bex Evans ’16, Julie Boyd ’15 and Mirai ’07 have each created opportunities for spring students to participate in and/or observe both their pre-production process and on-set work.

Pre-production of all three short films is slated to begin this week, with production to start shortly thereafter. Production of all three films will be completed by the end of the Los Angeles spring semester in April. The three short films will have their world premiere this July at the first �þ��� Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival.

Through Study USA�����Ի���National �þ��� Programs, �þ��� Los Angeles offers an immersive spring and summer semester of academic classes, experiential learning, professional development and community service opportunities for students with a variety of majors. For information about the Los Angeles experience and 2027 opportunities, please visit the �����Ի���National �þ��� Programs���ɱ�������ٱ��.

The 2025-26 Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant competition was open to all Los Angeles-based Elon alumni to submit proposals this past fall for consideration for production funding. A selection committee comprised of both industry professionals and Elon alumni was assembled to read, review and rank all proposals received. From those rankings, the top three highest-ranked projects were selected to receive grants. Grant funding was made possible, in part, by the financial support from members of the Elon Los Angeles alumni community and others.

The three grant recipients are Julia Boyd ’15, for her short film “The Life and Times of …”, Mirai ’07, for her short film “#StopAsianKate” and Bex Evans ’16, for their short film “Shadow Dusk.”

Production of these funded projects will commence in early 2026. As a component of the grant requirements, filmmakers will make opportunities available to �þ��� Los Angeles Spring 2026 students to participate in their projects through direct set experience and/or production observation. Elon Los Angeles program assistant and alumna Macy Mills ’23 and alumnus Jordan Roman ’15 were co-chairs of this year’s grant competition.

The selection committee members included Emmy Award-winning writer, producer and showrunner (“Lost,” House,” “The Good Wife”) Elon parent Leonard Dick P’20 (father of Julie Dick ’20), Emmy Award-winning producer Marsha Posner Williams (“The Golden Girls”), actor Eric Rollins, and LA-based alumni Frankie Campisano ’16, Mia Ginae Watkins ’16, Lauren Duncan ’18 and Alyssa Needham ’19.

The three short films funded will have their world premieres at the first �þ��� Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival in late July 2026.

“Something about seeing those editing rooms was just really intriguing,” she says. “By the time I arrived at Elon, I knew I wanted to be a cinema major. Specifically, within that, I had become interested in becoming an editor.”

That curiosity has since guided Engel through the cutting rooms of major studio projects, from “Extraction” on Netflix to “Joker: Folie à Deux” with Warner Bros. Today, she lives in Los Angeles, cutting out her place in Hollywood’s fast-moving post-production world, one frame at a time.

Growing up in Connecticut, Engel didn’t initially know that cinema and television could be a field of study. But after visiting Elon, she was drawn to the university’s approach.

“I’m a very hands-on person, other schools I visited talked about doing theory for the first few years,” she said. “At Elon, they encouraged filmmaking from day one.

That approach gave Engel a creative outlet and community. She joined Cinelon Productions, the student-run film organization, where she eventually served as a writing executive.

“Editing is part technical and part storytelling,” she says, “Knowing how to tell a story, and being able to teach that, is integral to what I do. You need a big-picture understanding so you’re not just putting shots together.”

By the time she graduated, her professors knew exactly where her passion was. “If we were doing a project, they knew I wanted to be the editor,” Engel says. “They let me tailor my time at Elon toward that focus.”

Engel credits several Elon faculty members for helping her build that focus. Cinema & Television Arts faculty Nicole Triche and Youssef Osman, she says, helped refine her technical skills and explore new editing software. Director of Student Engagement and Special Projects and Assistant Professor of Journalism Colin Donohue, who served as her academic advisor, provided constant encouragement.

“He was always championing me toward my goals and helping me figure out where to position myself,” she said.

Donohue recalls her as “one of the finest students I’ve had in 18 years.”

“Lillian exhibited tremendous leadership and empathy. She was thoughtful, creative and curious — the kind of student who inspired everyone around her to be better,” he said.

That drive carried her beyond campus. Engel interned in both New York and Los Angeles, gaining early exposure to production and post-production environments. She also studied abroad in Paris through Elon’s French program, an experience that deepened her love of global storytelling.

In 2018, she nearly missed the deadline for the American Cinema Editors’ (ACE) Student Editing Competition, but managed to submit her entry just in time. A few months later, she received an email that changed her path — she was named a finalist and invited to the ACE Eddie Awards in Beverly Hills. “It was surreal,” she says. “I was meeting people whose names I’d only ever seen in movie credits.”

The event became her first glimpse into the professional editing world and her first encounter with Elon’s vast alumni network.

“There was another Elon alumnus there, and he later referred me for what became my first job. Elon pulled through and got me my start in Hollywood,” she explained.

After graduating, Engel moved to Los Angeles without a job or apartment.

“I was couch-hopping and networking, but within weeks, two Elon connections reached out at the same time with opportunities,” she said.

One of those connections led her to her first project: Netflix’s “Extraction,” where she joined the team as an office assistant.

“It was a really good take-off point, I was learning the back end of how a professional post-production office runs,” said Engel.

She has since worked on high-profile projects, including “Vacation Friends” for Hulu, “Peter Pan & Wendy” for Disney+, and “Joker: Folie à Deux” for Warner Bros. As an assistant editor on “Joker: Folie à Deux,” she helped manage footage organization, sound and music coordination and communication between departments.

“I was in charge of liaising with the music department, sending and receiving cuts, and integrating the composers’ work,” she explained. “It was a good way for me to learn the process without being totally overwhelmed.”

Despite the differences between genres, Engel says the essence of editing remains the same. “The process doesn’t necessarily change, you still screen, cut, and refine scene by scene with the director. What changes is the scale, but the collaboration and creativity stay constant.”

Now an editor for an independent feature film, she reflects on the challenges of working in an industry that thrives on connections.

“There are no job boards in editing; everything is word of mouth. You can’t force the network, it happens organically,” she said.

She’s also quick to note that setbacks are part of the process: “Mistakes happen, and the key is staying calm and finding a solution. If I’m confident I can fix it — the world isn’t ending. It reflects better to take responsibility, communicate, and move forward.”

Her mentors and collaborators have continued to inspire her growth, including “Joker” editor Jeff Groth.

“Jeff would have us assistants come in and ask our opinions,” she said. “He made the cutting room collaborative. That taught me a lot about leadership and trust.”

Engel remains connected to Elon’s film community, seeking to mentor students who want to enter post-production.

“When I first moved to LA, I didn’t know anyone except some other Elon connections; that network has been everything,” she said. “I always want to be a resource for students interested in editing; it’s not as shiny as directing, but it’s vital to storytelling.”

Her advice for students: practice constantly, “Editing is like a muscle; the more you do it, the stronger your eye and timing get. Get involved with projects, apply for competitions, and reach out to professionals. It’s all about staying curious and connecting with people.”

As for her own future, Engel hopes to keep exploring new genres. “I’d love to edit a musical one day, or maybe a period piece, something with a lot of emotion and texture. Right now, success means working on stories I care about and being part of great teams,” she explained.

For those who knew her at Elon, Engel’s story comes as no surprise. Donohue remembers presenting her “Outstanding Senior in Cinema and Television Arts’” award at the end-of-year ceremony.

“We didn’t need prepared remarks to celebrate Lillian,” he said, “She inspired people around her to be better. She left an imprint on this place.”

From the editing suites that first caught her eye to the cutting rooms of Hollywood, Engel’s path reflects the importance of curiosity and perseverance; the same values that continue to shape Elon storytellers today.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share those stories online.

Emmy Award-winning writer, producer and showrunner (“Lost,” House,” “The Good Wife”) and Elon parent Leonard Dick P’20 (father of Julie Dick ’20), Emmy Award-winning producer Marsha Posner Williams (“The Golden Girls”) and actor Eric Rollins will join with Elon LA-based alumni filmmakers award- Frankie Campisano ’16, Mia Ginae Watkins ’16, Lauren Duncan ’18 and Alyssa Needham ’19 to read, rank and judge the 2025-26 competition submissions received. The submission window for project proposals closed on Oct. 1.

Award recipients will be announced in early December 2026. Funded projects will require the alumni filmmakers to include the participation of students from the �þ��� Los Angeles spring 2026 semester experience in various production, performance and other capacities.

The three fund-supported films will have their premiere screenings in late July 2026 at the first �þ��� Los Angeles Alumni Film Festival.

Elon alumni Jordan Roman ‘15 and Macy Mills ‘23 (Mills also serves as �þ��� Los Angeles program assistant) are the short film grant project’s co-chairs.

A wide range of topics were covered in a conversation that was moderated by �þ��� Los Angeles director Brad Lemack. Attendees participated in a lively question-and-answer session covering topics that ranged from AI in the writer’s room to the state of the production industry landscape in Los Angeles.

Elon LA program assistant Macy Mills is co-producing this innovative fall initiative with Lemack.

The next event in the “Learn & Share” series is an alumni day of community service on Thursday afternoon and evening on Oct. 16, covering meal service shifts at Elon LA’s non-profit partner, The Hollywood Food Coalition. Elon LA-area alumni can get information and sign up to participate .

The event will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at The State Room. A reception including a hosted bar and hors d’oeuvres will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a program featuring remarks by President Connie Ledoux Book. Current alumni donors are invited to attend the Cheers to Elon celebration with food and extended bar service, photo booth and fun music! Make a gift of a minimum of your class year (ex: $20.21) to your choice of designation to join the alumni after party.

Evening for Elon in Boston with President Connie Ledoux Book
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
6:30 p.m. Hosted reception with hors d’oeuvres
7:30 p.m. Program with remarks by President Connie L. Book
8:00 p.m. Cheers to Elon celebration for alumni donors

The State Room
60 State Street, 33rd Floor
Boston, MA 02109

Business attire
Cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres

Register at 

On Wednesday evening, September 17, at 6:30 p.m. PT, at Elon LA’s home base at The Preserve, Elon alumna Michelle Leibel ‘14, a co-executive producer of the hit CBS-TV series, “Matlock,” starring Kathy Bates, will share the journey of her career success so far with fellow Elon alumni, in a conversation and Q&A moderated by �þ��� Los Angeles Director Brad Lemack. To register for this event, please visit .

On Thursday, October 16th, from 1:30 p.m. PT – 8:30 p.m. PT, alumni will have the opportunity to give back to the Los Angeles community by volunteering for a meal service shift at the Hollywood Food Coalition, Elon LA’s nonprofit community partner. To register to volunteer for this important initiative, please visit: .

The fall 2025 Elon LA “Learn & Share” program initiative will conclude on Thursday evening, November 13th, at 6:30 p.m. PT at The Preserve, with a conversation and Q&A with a leader from the industry financial community about money matters, strategic financial planning, and taxes for entertainment industry freelancers and others. To register for this event, please visit: .

�þ��� Los Angeles is invested in both student and alumni achievement. Elon LA has a commitment to offering an environment and fostering opportunities for all members of the Elon LA community to learn, earn and thrive.

“Learn & Share” opportunities for Elon alumni are free to attend, but registration for each event is required through the links provided. Seating at the conversation/Q&A events is limited to 25 people; participation in the alumni community service day is limited to 16 people.

To be considered a short film for this funding competition, the running time of the completed project must be 15 minutes or less. Selected projects are required to make production, performance and other opportunities available in those projects for students participating in the �þ��� Los Angeles Spring 2026 program. To qualify for funding consideration, applicants must be Los Angeles area-based alumni of �þ���; all projects submitted must be original and unproduced.

Funding award decisions will be made by a selection committee comprised of �þ��� community-associated and entertainment industry-affiliated individuals. The announcement of award recipients will be made before the end of the year.

The three projects selected for production will have their world premieres at a special festival screening event in July 2026. Funds awarded will come directly from dollars contributed by Elon LA-based alumni, alumni from other geographic areas and contributions from other sources.

Elon alumni Macy Mills ’23, program assistant at �þ��� Los Angeles, and Jordan Roman ’15 are serving are co-chairs of the 2025=26 grant project.

For submission requirements and instructions, please visit the �þ��� Los Angeles 2025/2026 Alumni Short Film Grant .