Ashley Caldarone earned an Art BFA in 2015. She is now an Associate Product Manager with National Marker Company, a position she says is mainly marketing with a core in Digital Analytics and Data Management

Q. How did your URI degree best prepare you for your career path?

A. Self reliance and time management. My time at URI really helped me develop the skills I would need to be able to work independently and learn quickly on the job. Time spent during my BFA was time I had to learn to manage, and projects were something I needed to be able to have the confidence in my own ability to complete, even if that meant having to learn something new at any point of the piece’s development.

In your opinion, what is the value of the arts both academically and in the community?

Art is a common factor that is able to connect people of all walks of life. Whether you are an artist forming a professional career and creating personal work — or even professional designs — there is always a need and love for what people are able to make. If anything, the hard times we all experienced during the COVID-19 crisis has shown the world the importance of the arts, from TV shows to online courses, even to funny social media trends or just the visually appealing educational material keeping everyone informed. The world relies and functions with the arts in the supporting role even when you don’t think about it.

What advice would you give to current students or to young people thinking of pursuing a Fine Arts degree?

Don’t think of a degree in Fine Arts as a sole purpose or path. The education you receive, the skills you learn, and the personal growth you will experience are able to translate to all sorts of post-graduate work. Be confident, learn how you best develop, and remember to network with your peers to move towards your future goals with support.