Graduate Story: Brian Dorfler '97
Christine and Brian Dorfler '97.
Dickinson encouraged me to try things that were new and sometimes outside my comfort zone, while also learning alongside people with very different interests and perspectives.
—Brian Dorfler '97
Brian Dorfler '97 (English) is the chief human resources officer at Versant Media, where he's led the division since its 2026 public launch. After nearly 25 years in HR at NBCUniversal, he now helps shape company culture and support a portfolio of leading media and entertainment brands.
Tell us a little about your position.
I’ve been the chief human resources officer for Versant Media since the company became public at the beginning of 2026. If you haven’t heard of Versant, you’ve likely heard of many of our businesses and brands: CNBC, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), USA Network, Golf Channel, SYFY, E!, Oxygen, Fandango, GolfNow, Rotten Tomatoes and Full Swing. I spent nearly 25 years in HR roles at NBCUniversal, and when Comcast decided to spin off these assets into a new public company, I jumped at the opportunity to lead the HR function. It has been an exciting chance to help grow well-known brands, build a new company culture from the ground up and work alongside incredibly talented leadership and HR teams.
What was your Dickinson experience like?
Dickinson gave me the freedom to explore a wide range of interests in the classroom and well beyond it. I was on an Army ROTC scholarship and spent a significant amount of time with the Blue Mountain Battalion. At the same time, I joined clubs, played intramural sports, participated in Greek life and theater and studied abroad. That range of experiences was one of the best parts of my college years. Dickinson encouraged me to try things that were new and sometimes outside my comfort zone, while also learning alongside people with very different interests and perspectives. Now that I have college-age—or soon-to-be college-age—children, I encourage them to take full advantage of those opportunities, too.
How did Dickinson prepare you for where you are today?
Dickinson prepared me by teaching me how to learn, adapt and think critically in situations where there is no obvious answer. Both the media industry and the workplace are constantly evolving, and leading HR for a new public company has meant stepping into areas where I did not always have direct experience at the outset. There is no single course of study that fully prepares someone for that kind of environment. What does help are habits like curiosity, a tenacity to find answers, clear communication, the ability to work across differences and a willingness to consider perspectives beyond your own. I saw those qualities come to life at Dickinson, and they continue to guide me every day as we make important decisions amid change and uncertainty.
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Published October 29, 2026