To better understand my story, it is easiest to start from the beginning. I have been an artistic minded individual and have also fostered a love for sports from the get-go. In May 2022 I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double major in Graphic Design and Sociology, while also being a student-athlete in the sport of rowing. If it was not obvious already, I am a woman of many passions, and I don’t particularly enjoy picking a single path to follow.
I have always known I wanted to pursue an advanced academic degree, but in what I have never really been sure. Throughout the years, I realized that I wanted to find a way to incorporate the arts into my career; I am a “Creative” at the center and I wanted to keep it that way. So, when I stumbled upon the MA-B in Arts and Creative Enterprise Leadership I was thrilled! One thing that is common between rowing and the arts around the world is their under-representation and my love for both. Reading more about this program and speaking with Rebecca Buckman, a fantastic advisor for the program, I learned this program was a great fit for me.
Now that I am over a month in, I know that I was spot on in my decision to join the MA-ACE Leadership Program, because it is a program that allows you to explore many areas and your passions. I am currently coaching on a volunteer basis for the women’s rowing program, working for Union South as a facilities intern, working with Friends of Allen Centennial Garden as a non-voting board member, and working with the City of Stoughton on a consulting project. Being exposed to all these different areas is really opening my eyes to all the places I can work and engage around the Dane County area. On top of this all I still have ample time to get to know and hangout with my cohort.
To bring the story full circle, at my Applied Learning Placement at Union South I am currently tasked with creating stage shows for Badger Bash, a tailgate show before football games for families. Earlier this month I was able to help recognize the 50 years of women’s rowing history in conjunction with Badger Bash’s 50thanniversary together in a stage show. Never in my dreams did I think I could overlap the artist and the athlete so completely. Being able to acknowledge sports in a creative setting is exactly how I wish to spend my days.
Lastly, I want to give a shoutout to my cohort – my experience would not be half of what it is without these individuals. The Bolz Center does a fantastic job of building cohorts of like-minded individuals with vastly different backgrounds. I have been able to surround myself with other athletes, artists, performers, painters, dancers, and so many more creative professionals. The Bolz Center truly does understand the athlete and the artist and embraces both whole heartedly and with open arms.
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