UM-FLINT’S ARTS ADMINISTRATION PROFESSIONALS
List of Graduates of the Master of Arts in Arts Administration Program
Agabigum, Oya S
Balazovich, Jessica M
Bingham, Samantha L
Boardman, Rachel
Buck, Allison (2013)
Contact information: [email protected], Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonlbuck/
Update: Allison is now the Marketing Director at The Guild of Artists and Artisans. As such she is responsible for the annual sponsorship program for all Guild events and serves as the Sponsorship Director for the Ann Arbor Art Fair Sponsorship partnership. She also manages other development opportunities for The Guild such as grantwriting and reporting and donations.
Buck became the Marketing Director of The Guild of Artists and Artisans in January 2018. With a passion for raising awareness and support for the arts, Buck heads up the sponsorship and marketing for all six of the art fairs produced by The Guild, including the award-winning Ann Arbor Art Fair. Buck anticipates seeking out public and private funding to help increase the Guild’s overall revenue in order to support programs aimed at increasing awareness of The Guild, diversifying its membership, and to help grow its newest art fairs in Royal Oak into vibrant, well-known annual events. Prior to joining The Guild, Buck was the Operations Manager at the Ann Arbor Film Festival (AAFF) for just over a year and the Program Manager at Artrain & The Arts Alliance for nearly four years. As Operations Manager at the AAFF she managed the screening process, implemented a new ticketing system and donor database, and worked with community partners and sponsors to make arrangements for the various events and parties taking place the week of the festival. As Program Manager at The Arts Alliance, Buck managed the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs Region 9 minigrant program, oversaw several public art projects, managed the annual membership campaign, and m aintained donor tracking and recognition.Buck demonstrates her passion for leadership within the arts through her involvement as co-chair for the New Leaders Arts Council and as Vice-Chair of the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission. In 2017, The Arts Alliance awarded her the 2017 Tamara Real Emerging Leadership Award for her successful work supporting the arts, sciences and humanities throug hout Washtenaw County.Buck holds a Master’s Degree in Art Administration with an emphasis in Museum and Visual Arts from the University of Michigan, Flint, a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree in Photography from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Michigan.
Allison’s favorite thing about the program: ‘I most enjoyed my internship as this opportunity ultimately led to my first job in the field.’
Clawson, Karen J
Dake, Jason D (2011) Our first official graduate!
Contact information: [email protected]
Update: Jason is currently the Curator of Education at the Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, MI. His primary responsibilities involve planning and implementing educational and public programming, training docent volunteers for tours, and developing programming with faculty and students at NMC. Since Dennos has a limited full-time staff, he also aids in the installation of exhibitions, writing of labels, hosting and MC duties, and other tasks involved in programs at the Museum and off-site. Jason is also on the Michigan Museums Association board and Traverse City Arts Commission.
Jason’s favorite thing about the program: ‘ I enjoyed the cross-disciplinary aspects of the program, particularly since I now work at an art museum that presents musical and performing arts program in its auditorium. In addition, the program benefited from a mix of theoretical discussion and practical management skills.’
Daniels, Ethan T
Dollinger, Karrie R
Falls, Jessica E
Gardner, Adam J
Holmes, Philip J
Kehoe, Maria L
Kelly, Meghan C
Contact information:
About: Meghan is currently teaching at a Michigan primary school. She has served as Director of Flint’s Buckham Gallery and is a Board Member of the Friends of Modern Art affiliated with the Flint Institute of Arts.
Kincaid, Courtney R
Krizanich, Kathryn
Leaym-Fernandez, Melissa J
LeCorn, Christine J
Lodico, Joannah
Lossing, Suzanne C
Lu, Xuanrong
McCartan, Thomas
Moore, Heather R
Neal, Allison L
Pesci-Smith, Renee M
Rop, Ashley N
Skalnek, Celeste C
Skampi, Ira
Smith, Cheryl A
Snyder, Monica R
Starnes, Kevin A
Kevin’s favorite thing about the program: The Arts Administration faculty nurtures quality professionals that are ready to step right into their careers. All of my professors have given me detailed feedback to improve assignments, in order to ensure that I have the tools I need to succeed. I hope to eventually start my own opera company (or help to build one at a university). There is absolutely no way to build a program of the scope I envision without the skills I am building in fundraising and grant writing. I can’t say enough about the small class sizes helping me to get individual attention from professors. There is no confusion when trying to learn a new concept or skill because they have the time to devote to each student.
Thompson, Deyhana I
Thompson, Elizabeth
Waddell, Erin
Whitlock, Angela R
Whitney, Barb L
Workman, Heather L