College students attend graduate school all over the United States after graduation. But one soon-to-be graduate is going all the way to another country.
Savannah Michalek, arts management senior, was accepted to University College Dublin for a master’s degree in cultural policy and arts management.
Michalek said her grad school application was simple.
“It wasn’t too time-consuming, it was just a quick essay and an interview with the dean of the program,” Michalek said. “I found out right after Thanksgiving that I got in.”
Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment requires seniors to complete a capstone that is a hypothetical project where students gather logistics for a possible business pitch.
Michalek is working to tie her senior capstone to her future graduate program.
“Basically, we’re producing a performance and we have to work with artists, a facility and a nonprofit,” she said. “Since my master’s will be in cultural policy, I asked an alumna of the school about what I could do now that would reflect on what I’m going to be doing in grad school. I’m thinking about cultural dancing and stuff like that.”
Michalek still wants to dance, as well as work at a nonprofit after completing graduate school.
“I’ve been a dancer since I was really young, so I still want to do that. My master’s program is only a year, and eventually I’d love to work for nonprofits or in fundraising an arts organization. That’s what I’m really passionate about.”
Michalek said one of her role models is Lauren Levitt.
“She’s a principle ballet dancer at the New York City ballet, and I think that she’s very open to new possibilities and inclusion,” Michalek said. “She wants to create art that’s reflective of what’s going on now by exploring new movement and going past the normal boundaries of ballet.”
Rachel Suggs, professor of arts management; Susan Cosby, assistant professor of arts management, and John Bedford, dean of Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment, have all made an impact on Michalek, she said.
“I’d love to thank professor Suggs and professor Cosby. They’ve been really supportive of my journey and helping me believe that I can do the arts,” she said. “Dean Bedford has also been really helpful. I got to be his sound operator assistant for choreography show.”
Michalek said students who aren’t decided on their futures are not alone.
“I think we’re all on the same page that we don’t quite know what we’re doing yet, and that’s okay,” she said.
Suggs said she is proud of Michalek’s work.
“Savannah is a focused, dedicated and excellent student of arts management,” she said. “She is one of the university’s and Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment’s future stars.” B
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