Congratulations to the 25 Arts Administration, Education and Policy spring 2023 graduates! As we say goodbye to these students we welcome them to our alumni - a rich and vibrant group of arts practitioners, professionals and administrators paving the future of the arts in a wide range of arts education and policy related fields. We wish them the best and look forward to their future successes!
Commencement at The Ohio State University is a festive and joyous occasion at which family and guests are welcome to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating class. Spring 2023 commencement will take place Sunday, May 7th in Ohio Stadium at 12:00 PM. The university will welcome Bryan A. Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative as the spring commencement speaker. Visit Ohio State's Commencement page to learn additional information about commencement.
Megan Wanttie
Degree: PhD in Arts Administration, Education and Policy
Specialization: Museum Education and Administration
Awards and recognition:
- 2023 Manual Barkan Fellowship Award
- 2022 AAEP Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award
Who was your greatest mentor? "Working with Dr. Kletchka has shaped my degree trajectory and plans for future practice. It has been an honor to collaborate, share ideas, and grow."
What are your next plans? "My next plans look toward working alongside community members to improve my local community and the greater Columbus area. I'm excited to explore new possibilities for meaningful practice!"
Yingchong Wang
Degree: PhD in Arts Administration, Education and Policy
Specialization: Cultural Policy and Arts Management
Awards and recognition:
- 2018-2020 Barnett Fellow
- 2022 Barnett Dissertation Fellowship
Who was your greatest mentor? "Dr. Acuff and Dr. Bourgeois are unwavering supporters who don't hesitate to give compliments and encouragement. Whenever I made some progress:
Dr. Acuff: "It is well deserved. You’ve worked hard!"
Dr. Bourgeois: "I'm proud of every progress you've made. If you feel unconfident, I won't mind constantly reminding you."
What are your next plans? Continue to work in academia (plan to begin training as a postdoctoral fellow).
Travis Deal
Degree and Program: Master of Arts (Art Education)
Specialization: Museum Education and Administration
Awards and Recognition:
- Co-presented at the 2023 National Art Education Association Conference
What is something positive you have learned about yourself? "The most positive thing I've learned is that, despite my relative inexperience, I am a capable young professional in this field whose voice matters and whose abilities can contribute toward positive change."
What are your next plans? "My plan at the moment are to re-enter the field of museum education. I'm currently pursuing new opportunities available in education departments at various institutions across the country."
Emily Hutlock
Degree and Program: Master of Arts (Arts Policy and Administration)
Awards and Recognition:
- 2021-2023 Barnett Fellow
What is something positive you have learned about yourself? "The past two years confirmed that I am pursuing the right career. I am more excited than ever to be an arts administrator. I can’t wait to apply what I’ve learned!"
What are your next plans? "I’ve accepted a position as the Advancement Associate at Near West Theatre in Cleveland! I’m so excited to get back into stage management as well-- I’ll be working on The SpongeBob Musical this summer. My amazing fiancé James and I also have a wedding to plan!"
Leigh Ziegler
Degree and Program: Master of Arts (Arts Policy and Administration)
Awards and Recognition:
- 2021-2023 Barnett Fellow
Who was your greatest mentor? "I have 2 great mentors here, Dr. Rachel Skaggs and Dr. Christine Ballengee Morris, both were so important in shaping my research and in shaping the type of person I want to be in the field!"
What are your next plans? "My next plan is pursuing opportunities in Southwest Virginia in arts administration."
Nora Ayad
Degree and Program: Bachelor of Arts (Arts Management)
Jack Erwin
Degree and Program: Bachelor of Arts (Arts Management)
Kenzie Gelo
Degree and Program: Bachelor of Arts (Arts Management)
Awards and recognition:
- Catch my feature in the Spring 2023 Chiaroscuro Newsletter!
- Dean's List Spring 2022 and Autumn 2022
Who was your greatest mentor? "During my time at Ohio State, Dr. Rachel Skaggs was my favorite and greatest mentor! She encouraged me to push myself in so many directions, especially building entrepreneurship skills in the Columbus music scene where I produced my own music festival, Manifestavibe! She shaped me into the arts manager I am today, and I am so grateful for her mentorship!"
What’s your next plan? "After graduation, I immediately begin a full-time position as the Promotions Director for CD 92.9 FM, Columbus's only local alternative independent radio station! I am also currently planning with my team to bring the second annual Manifestavibe to life, on August 12th, 2023. After that, I have plans to move out to California or New York where I hope to expand my management career in film, theatre, and music!"
Melanie Heidotting
Degree and Program: Bachelor of Arts (Arts Management)
Yumu Huo
Degree and Program: Bachelor of Arts (Arts Management)
Cidaruh Jones
Degree and Program: Bachelor of Arts (Arts Management)
Keira Mihu
Degree and Program: Bachelor of Arts (Arts Management)
Maddie Rogers
Degree and Program: Bachelor of Arts (Arts Management)
Braydon Tomak
Degree and Program: Bachelor of Arts (Arts Management)
Minor: Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Awards and Recognition:
- Land Grant Opportunity Scholar (LGOS).
- Entrepreneurship Academy @Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship (1st place).
- Recipient of The Barbara Strutin Schwartz and Stanley Schwartz Scholarship Fund for Arts Management
Who was your greatest mentor? Barbara Harvey, Rachel Skaggs, Robert Nicholson
What are your next plans? "My next plan is to find work in Columbus, preferably in the entertainment industry (music/sports)."
Caroline Bootes
Degree: Bachelor of Art Education
Minor: Disability Studies
Awards and Recognition:
- Graduating Cum Laude
- Co-President of the Art Education Association at OSU
Who was your greatest mentor? "My biggest mentors are Dr. Patel and Tamryn McDermott for their unrelenting compassion and dedication to the future of Art education!"
What are your next plans? "I have accepted a job with Columbus Humanities, Arts, and Technology Academy as the elementary art teacher for the upcoming school year!"
Serena DeNoto
Degree: Bachelor of Art Education
Olivia Durbin
Degree: Bachelor of Art Education
Peyton Gilhart
Degree: Bachelor of Art Education
Allie Guagenti
Degree: Bachelor of Art Education
Sydney Rankin
Degree: Bachelor of Art Education
Nikki Reiss
Degree: Bachelor of Art Education
Zach Seltzer
Degree: Bachelor of Art Education
Awards and Recognition:
- Dean's List
- Graduating with honors
Who was your greatest mentor? "I would say that my greatest mentor would be Patrick Callicotte, whom I student taught with and had as a professor".
What are your next plans? "I will be working at Worthington Estates Elementary as their Art Teacher."
Anna Vigorito
Program: Bachelor of Art Education Licensure Only. Graduated with a BFA from CCAD with a major in Illustration
Who was your greatest mentor? "My greatest mentor is Ketal Patel because she really showed me how teaching is not only hard work, but also "heart work!" She also showed me that teachers who teach about teaching are some of the kindest souls in the world."
What are your next plans? "My goal is to teach digital art in a high school and continue my comics on the side! I hope to inspire students just as much as they inspire me to continue my passion projects."
Kat Wilson
Degree: Bachelor of Art Education, Associate of Arts
Awards and Recognition:
- Dean’s List award many times over
- designed and hand-painted a collaborative mural for the Mansfield branch campus
Who was your greatest mentor? "John Thrasher, the God of Art and all things clay!"
What are your next plans? "I plan to storm the world with color and vibrancy to all ages in every crevice I can find. From local town festivals, street fairs, and community projects to private homes and parties, I hope to spread my work and the joy of art to all. I hope to eventually have an art studio I can call my own and a perfect niche filled in a community that looks for an artist that thinks outside the box and seeks to connect the community via that which has done so much for myself and others already."