Steve Desrosiers — Master of Science in Arts Administration candidate

"The Arts Administration program provided me the means to combine my interests in non-profit administration with a lifelong passion for the performing arts. Over the past few years the program's flexibility enabled me to juggle school, work, and tours with several local and international world music bands. As an active performer/session player who shares responsibility for managing a band, I was particularly thankful for the Legal Issues in Arts Administration course. What is learned helped my band to effectively negotiate our first overseas distribution deal. I love to Google our band's name, Nomads, and see the results of utilizing principles I learned in the Marketing and Audience Development course."

Sandra Bower — Master of Science in Arts Administration '08

"I applied to the Arts Administration program because I wanted to combine my commitment to public service with my passion for the arts. I have been a practicing lawyer for many years, but I am also a musician, songwriter, and performer. For the past few years, I have been on the board of Speakeasy Stage Company, the Pavilion Resident Theater for the Boston Center for the Arts. My board experience has helped me realize first-hand the many challenges facing a performing arts organization. I am confident that the Arts Administration program will help me be a better board member and arts advocate along with providing opportunities for me to use my legal and writing skills in a more creative environment."

Jinghua Chen — Master of Science in Arts Administration '08

"I decided to attend the Arts Administration program at Boston University because of the knowledgeable faculty and professionals, and the thrilling cultural atmosphere of the city. The comprehensive curriculum and internship opportunities enable me to utilize my education to gain real-world experience. As an international student from China, I envision myself practicing arts administration from a global perspective and engaging in cross-cultural communication. The international study courses are a unique opportunity to explore different styles of arts administration, giving me a competitive advantage in the job market."

Alberto Perez — Master of Science in Arts Administration '08

"During my music composition studies in my home country, Venezuela, I conducted a professional choir, produced concerts, and collaborated with diverse ensembles. After transferring to Florida, I co-founded the Latin American Center for New Music, a non-profit organization supporting academic composers and musicians in Latin America. Today, I consider myself fortunate to experience the Arts Administration program and to reside in one of the top intellectual and cultural cities in the world. The program combines an artist-centric, mission-driven philosophy with practical instruction from specialists in the field. This approach will pay dividends in my future endeavors."

Emily Yoder — Master of Science in Arts Administration '08

"When considering where I wanted to do my graduate studies, one aspect of the program at Boston University that really stood out was the opportunity to take courses while working full-time in the field. Not only have I been able to apply what we are studying in class to my job at the Handel and Haydn Society, I have also benefited from my classmates' work experiences. Our in-class discussions are engaging and relevant to working arts administrators. I have a more comprehensive understanding of the Boston arts scene because the students are engaged in it every day."

Heather Berlowitz — Master of Science in Arts Administration '08

"At Boston University, I feel at home within a community of diverse and accomplished peers who share my enthusiasm for arts administration. I appreciate the opportunity to gain new perspectives that enrich my understanding of the art world. I value the relationships I have developed with my professors and their ability to mentor me in my career. Juggling full-time work and graduate school can be a formidable challenge, but the confidence I have acquired in my accelerated professional growth definitely makes it worth the effort!"

Guillem D'efak Fullana-Ferre — Master of Science in Arts Administration '06

"After working in arts administration in Europe, I came to the United States to learn other ways to manage culture. This was the best decision I could have made. The Boston University program gave me exactly what I wanted: an established, diverse academic program offered in a flexible schedule. I did my required internship at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where I was involved in extensive, practical, hands-on training that complemented the theory I learned in class. I was given responsibilities beyond that of an entry-level intern, and that undoubtedly happened because of the knowledge and skills I acquired at Boston University. Overall, my decision to come to the States exceeded my expectations."

Katherine Macy — Master of Science in Arts Administration '06

"After three years as director of a commercial art gallery, I realized that the work was not the right fit for me. In search of my next step, I entered the Arts Administration program. During this time, I fine-tuned my administrative skills, identified alternative career opportunities, and connected with a supportive and thriving community of arts administrators. While taking Public Art Program Administering in my second year, I was recommended for an internship in the Public Art Program at the Cambridge Arts Council (CAC). My career path quickly became clear. Today, I am the Public Arts Administrator and Director of Education and Outreach at CAC. I definitely found what I needed at Boston University."

Claudia Nunes de Castro — Master of Science in Arts Administration '04

"I first became interested in Arts Administration while attending music festivals in Brazil (my home country), Germany and England. After completing a Master's degree in Music Performance in New York, I decided to change careers and focus on Arts Administration. I chose Boston University because it offered the two things I needed most at that point in my life: a formal education and the opportunity for practical training. This turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life! The program taught me how to manage an arts organization and piqued my interest in cultural policy. The faculty has been encouraging and supportive — so much that I have been accepted into a doctoral program in public policy to further explore my passion for cultural policy."