While attending Connecticut College, I explored various internships in the creative sector, including museum administration, curatorial work, and nonprofit arts management. During this time I grew increasingly fascinated by the world of community-based arts. With this newfound direction, I enrolled in the School of the Art Institute’s Masters of Arts in Arts Education. Here, I was afforded the opportunity to intern with The Art Institute of Chicago, Arts Alliance Illinois, and Hyde Park Art Center. In these roles I devoted myself to understanding the obstacles teachers face when integrating the arts in their classrooms. I observed Chicago’s cultural institutions from an external vantage, while simultaneously experiencing them from within.
Today, I’ve found my voice as an advocate. As an arts administrator I remain dedicated to a practice of inclusivity and collaboration. I maintain a strong presence in the community, serving on various leadership committees as well as informally serving as a mentor to emerging artists. In these roles, and through my work at the Alliance, I am committed to improving access to arts education.