Tell us more about you and your life, your profession, and your successes.
I was born in Cleveland and raised in Toledo, Ohio. Although I originally went into an arts high school with aspirations to be an R&B singer, I was immediately introduced to musical theatre through a show called RENT. When my high school cast me as Joanne Jefferson, one of the leads, it shifted the trajectory of my life. I became deeply passionate and began taking acting classes at school. As it turned out, my senior year acting teacher had graduated from Wright State's theatre program. After training for four years, my very first job after graduation was playing the role of Joanne Jefferson in the 20th Anniversary National Tour of the Broadway Musical RENT. I've spent the past 2 years on the road traveling all over the country and even in Tokyo, Japan. It was a life changing experience!
What is your favorite Wright State memory?
My favorite memory would probably be the day that Mr. Tom Hanks came to visit our university. As a Tom Hanks Scholarship recipient, I was invited to an intimate lunch with Mr. Hanks as well as with the other recipients. We talked about our plans for the future and I was just in awe that someone I've seen in such amazing movies was right in front of me. Even talking directly to me! It was surreal.
What did receiving the ARTSGALA scholarship mean to you?
While I was a student, it was such a strong boost of encouragement. School can be really tough on a person, but even a small bit of encouragement can go a very long way. I was grateful that there were people out there pushing me to continue to grow!
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I believe that Wright State is an incubator for arts and I hope that people everywhere will continue to help to keep that culture alive. It takes a village!
