Major: Theatre (Concentration: Directing and Stage Management)

Hometown: Coventry, RI

What accomplishments and/or activities are you most proud of while at URI?

I spent the past two semesters as a TA for the Sophomore Acting Class. Coaching the students throughout the year was a humbling experience; their hard work was ceaseless and I was proud to be able to offer even a small contribution to their growth.  I’m also deeply proud of Daughters of Lavinia, a play I created and produced over the past year (that I talk about in the next section, so I won’t elaborate too much here). From puppet design and construction to playwriting, it represents some of my best work to date.  

What, if any, research projects, internships, and/or study abroad programs did you participate in at URI? How did they enhance your education? 

I received an Undergraduate Research Grant from (URI)^2 to research, write, design, build, cast, direct, manage, and produce an original play, Daughters of Lavinia. It was a puppet-filled show that featured characters from Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus in an unflinching retelling of the story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Women’s Suffrage Movement. This project allowed me to spend my senior year doing exactly the kind of work I hope to do post-graduation. This was not preparation for my future career, but rather, its beginning. 

If you were to offer advice to an incoming first year student, what would you say?

You are in charge. Is there a project you want to do? Find a way to do it. Is there a class that won’t fit on your schedule? Audit it. Say yes to people when they ask for your help, ask your professors for advice, and take responsibility for making things happen. Most importantly, find the work you love. Find the work that feeds your soul. And then do it.