For Kelly Marino ’02, a child of the MTV generation, getting a chance to work for the nation’s longest-running cable entertainment network isn’t a dream.

But she did pinch herself the morning she left the West Hollywood home she shares with roommates, drove to her job as a production assistant for MTV’s L.A. studios, and heard she’d be interviewing “Saturday Night Live” star Tina Fey. Marino, who spends most of her time helping MTV’s producers research and prepare material for on-air entertainment news, was asked to interview Fey as the actress promoted her summer hit, “Mean Girls.”

Since the piece went out on the MTV airwaves and was added to its Web site, Marino’s role has stepped up a bit. She now regularly covers press junkets for upcoming movies and helps out with a number of the special events MTV hosts from Hollywood.

“I took a leap when I came out here two years ago,” Marino said. “I lived with friends and banked on the fact that I had an internship with MTV while I was in school. I just kept pestering my contacts there, and a few months later it paid off.”

Marino says she’s taking editing classes and improving her skills in hopes of some day transitioning to an on-air talent.

“I feel so blessed,” she says. “I grew up dancing and being interested in working in the entertainment field, but being able to work on the cutting edge of the industry is incredible. …  A lot of credit goes to the time I spent at TCU learning about journalism beats and what it takes to do well in the business.”