• Hometown: Bolingbrook, Illinois
• Class: 2026
• Major(s): Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship
• Minors or Certificates: Interior Design and Architecture Studies, Digital Marketing
• Other Activities, Honors, and Awards:
  • Phi Mu Fraternity
  • UP Magazine
  • President's List (3 times)
  • Dean's List (4 times)

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

Once I visited Miami, every other school was compared to it. Beyond the beautiful campus, my visit made me feel like a student with real goals that could be achieved here, not just another number being added to the school.

How did you choose your major(s)? Were you decided from the beginning, or did you discover your interests here along the way?

Majoring in Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship fell into my lap in an unexpected, but natural way. To be quite honest, I do not think I really knew what I was getting into when I enrolled into this major. I was looking for a route that would allow me to still pursue Interior Design as a creative discipline without majoring in it. This is exactly what AMAE did for me, and so much more. Along the way, I discovered passions and strengths within myself that once felt far too intimidating to embrace. I always had a wide range of interests in the arts, from music, film, and live performance to art history. Without Arts Management, I would never have realized how many meaningful roles exist on those sidelines, or how naturally I fit there. I feel most whole when I am engaging with the arts and the community, whether I’m in a museum or gallery, attending a symphony, watching live theatre or dance, or even just going to the movies. Arts Management has taught me that your work should align with your passions, and when it does, that’s when you feel fulfilled and truly capable of creating something meaningful.

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

In January 2025, I had the opportunity to participate in a Miami-sponsored AIFS study abroad program focused on art history. Over the course of three weeks, I traveled to three countries and seven cities. It was one of the most immersive learning experiences of my life, made even more impactful by my incredible professor, accomplished art historian Linda Bolton. She didn’t just teach us about art, she showed us how to feel it, how to live it. I was able to immerse myself completely in something I love, and those memories will forever be some of the most defining moments of my life.

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.

Throughout my four years at Miami, I have been actively involved in several areas of campus life that have shaped my leadership and professional growth. I’ve worked in operations at Goggin Ice Center all four years, helping run game days and being part of the energy behind Miami athletics. I also spent three years with UP Magazine, a student-run lifestyle and fashion publication, where I contributed to five issues that represent a mosaic of student creativity on campus. My senior year, I stepped into the role of Business Development Co-Director, leading a team focused on building partnerships and connecting with local Oxford businesses. The role that’s been most meaningful to me is serving as the Student Marketing Manager for the Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship program alongside Ava Suarez. It’s allowed me to be really involved in the arts community at Miami and collaborate with so many creative and driven people within the College of Creative Arts.

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

After graduation, I am eager to explore a wide range of careers and cities, giving back to the arts and cultural sector! AMAE gave me the tools to turn my love for the arts into a meaningful career path, and the experiences I’ve gained, inside classrooms, studios, and the community, have prepared me to step into the next chapter with clarity and excitement. No matter where I go, I know that I’ll carry forward the creativity, discipline, and purpose this major has instilled in me.

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

As my time at Miami comes to a close, I find myself more grateful every day for the faculty here. I truly cherish the relationships I’ve built with them and can confidently say there is a strong culture of mutual respect and understanding within the College of Creative Arts. The professors genuinely take the time to get to know their students’ goals and interests, and they care deeply about your success. I’ve always felt comfortable leaning on them for guidance, advice, and connections.

In particular, Todd Stuart, Director of the Institute for Innovation in Arts & Design, has been an incredible mentor to me. From day one, he instilled a sense of trust and accountability, while always bringing a sense of humor to everything I took on.

The College of Creative Arts and the Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship program is such a special community. It’s bittersweet to be leaving, but I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of it over the past four years.