• Hometown: Gurnee, IL
• Class: 2026
• Major(s): Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship and Studio Art (double major)
• Minors or Certificates: General Business 
• Other Activities, Honors, and Awards:
  • Women's Club Ultimate Frisbee
  • Students Demand Action
  • AMAE Marketing
  • Peer Career Coach
  • Presidential Fellow
  • Honors College Student
• Instagram Handle: avasuaz

Out of all the universities you looked at, what made you ultimately choose Miami?

I ultimately chose Miami because of the time and care the faculty gives to each of their students. At Make it Miami, I met my future professors and peers, gaining valuable insight and behind-the-scenes experience. While other schools' recruitment initiatives sometimes felt rushed or impersonal, I could tell Miami wanted to get to know me personally and help its students succeed. This intentionality was clearly genuine, contributing to the sense of belonging I now feel as a fourth-year student.

How did you choose your major(s)?

I chose my studio art major during the application process since I wanted to gain technical skills in my artistic discipline and establish a holistic studio art practice. I also wanted a major that would make me a well-rounded graduate and give me professional experience, which is why I added an Arts Management & Entrepreneurship major after talking to Todd Stuart at Make it Miami. Later on, after participating in the Farmer School of Business's Miami PRIME program to fulfill my AMAE business credit requirement, I added a General Business Minor, as well.

Tell us about any special experiential learning opportunities that have influenced you in a positive way.

Study abroad was a must for me when choosing a university to attend! Miami led me to study abroad in Florence, Italy, for a semester, where I continued my studio art and business coursework at Florence University of the Arts. I even participated in an internship at the university's art gallery, which gave me invaluable professional experience. This was a life-changing experience, and Miami’s Study Abroad Office was a huge help in preparing me to spend a whole semester abroad.

As a Miami student, what are some of your awards and accomplishments? Are you a student leader? Tell us about that and what roles you have played in the Miami community.

As a player on the Miami Women's Club Ultimate Frisbee team, I had the opportunity to previously serve as treasurer and now serve as events manager, which has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I also work with Hayley Beardsley and Todd Stuart as a marketing specialist for the Arts Management & Entrepreneurship program. Additionally, I have had the honor of being a Presidential Fellow during my four years at Miami, which introduced me to a community of talented and well-rounded Miami students and helped make my world feel a little bit smaller.

What are your plans after you graduate from Miami? What is your dream job?

After graduation, I aim to pursue a career where I can utilize my creativity to give back to the arts, either in museums and galleries or in the performing arts. I am also excited to push myself outside of my comfort zone by traveling and gaining experience in new cities!

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your Miami experience that we didn't cover?

I am immensely grateful for Miami's outstanding faculty—they have individually made my Miami experience all the more fulfilling and memorable.

Todd Stuart has been an outstanding resource to have on campus. He connected me to an incredible internship and helped me plan out how to study abroad when I thought it wouldn't work with my course load. I have been fortunate to have him as a professor, advisor, manager, and mentor.

Rob Robbins and Michael Stillion from the Studio Art Department have also been invaluable resources. They go out of their way to help every student with anything they need, whether that pertains to specific artwork critiques or conversations about future career trajectories. They completely changed the way I approach my art practice and made me feel confident in creating a body of work for our upcoming Senior Capstone Exhibition.