Students Gain Valuable Experience While Immersed in the MAA Program

Being a Master of Arts Administration graduate student looks different for everyone; that is part of what makes the MAA at OHIO so special. The MAA program emphasizes maintaining one’s artistic practice while also developing the critical administrative skills and leadership acumen. There are five area specializations, including Community Dance, Music Leadership, Museum Studies, Theater and Production Management, and Visual Arts Management. Thus, the program at OHIO is uniquely focused on training Artist-Administrators not just arts administrators.

Each student remains actively involved and engaged with artistic inquiry within their area of interest. Arts administrators seek engagement with their communities and are always imagining new, creative ways to be involved. Molly Cerep, a Music Leadership MAA student, offers “The MAA program gives me the opportunity to further myself as an artist while learning how to be an administrator. Having the combination is paramount to me!” Cerep teaches voice lessons to younger students, takes voice lessons herself, and performed in the School of Music’s latest production of Little Women.

“A lot of the ‘extra things’ I got to do during my time in the MAA were a direct result of being in the program. My professors provided extra opportunities for practical learning which made it so easy to find options for new experiences,” explains Theater and Production Management student Laura Wininger. “The professors within the program want the students to be engaged and are often a great resource to connect students to opportunities.”  

There are numerous opportunities to explore while immersed in the MAA degree. In the 2022-2023 cohort, one student played for OHIO’s Division 1 Volleyball team in the fall and another student served on a local arts nonprofit board.  Several Music Leadership students performed in OHIO Opera Theater’s performance of Little Women. One student volunteered as a grant reviewer for the Graduate Student Senate and another volunteer-minded student worked with 4Paws for Ability to help train future service dogs. MAA students also managed the MFA Playwrights Festival and the Undergraduate Playwrights Festival. 

For Music Leadership MAA student Maddi Julian, continuing to perform and play her clarinet are equally as important as learning administrative skills. “Performing is how I am able to express myself and it is something I am very passionate about, and I want to continue to pursue my passions through my MAA studies.” Fortunately, she can do both in the MAA program at OHIO. 

Prospective students are encouraged to consider what they might want to explore while pursuing the MAA at OHIO! Here are a few examples of what MAA students have done while enrolled in the program:

• Performed in numerous shows, productions, musicals, ensembles, and recitals
• Taught a salsa class
• Served on a non-profit board
• Served as production managers
• Directed opera scenes
• Performed in the Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra
• Performed alongside musicians of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra 
• Served as a Production Assistant for the American Pops Orchestra
• Volunteered with student organization 4Paws for Ability
• Worked part-time
• Sang in various choirs
• Played for OHIO’s D1 volleyball team 
• Worked for the Ohio University Art Galleries
• Media technician for oversized, archival printers
• Technical operator, industrial laser
• Worked in the CREATE_space at OHIO
• Developed and delivered bookbinding workshops
• Worked with the Ohio Area Education Conference as a laser technician
• Instructor of Record for various classes
• Volunteered and held leadership positions with Graduate Student Senate
• Vice President of Bobcat Print Club 
• Developed, created, exhibited solo exhibitions
• Participated in juried and group exhibitions and printmaking exchanges
• Taught private voice students
• Served as a climate and sustainability ambassador
• Improvised for a class at the regional American College Dance Association conference
• Taught classes on classical and jazz chamber music
• Taught beginning saxophone to undergraduate music education majors
• Directed and rehearsed jazz ensembles
• Directed a short play
• Had their own work produced and performed

For more information, contact Dr. Christi Camper Moore, Head of Arts Administration campermo@ohio.edu and check out https://www.ohio.edu/fine-arts/master-arts-administration.