Alyssa Olsen (’21)
Alyssa Olsen is a lifelong lover of and advocate for both visual and performing arts. She graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Interior Design with a minor in Studio Art from Endicott College in Beverly, MA. As a student, she served as the Secretary of the Drama Club Board and a Class Rep in the Interior Design student organization. She also supported Endicott’s burgeoning Performing Arts department as an actor, stage manager, props artisan, and scenic artist. In 2014, she was a Youth Programs intern at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem MA, focused primarily on the Maker Lounge Create Space. Following this, she was hired as a Weekend Supervisor for the PEM’s Art & Nature Center, where she worked hands-on in program development and ran numerous workshops and activities with museum guests. She spent the summer of 2015 as a Props/Scenic intern and stagehand for the Sharon Playhouse in Sharon CT, and returned for her senior year as the Production/Marketing intern at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport MA.
After graduating in 2016, Alyssa was hired as a Production/Administrative Assistant at the Firehouse. Her role has since shifted to include Box Office Associate, Production Manager, and most recently Gallery Director in 2018. As Gallery Director she has created a 50% increase in artists showcased, and initiated a new visual arts education program. She also freelances as a stage manager, props artisan, scenic painter, and artist in digital and traditional media.
I chose my undergraduate degree with the intent of combining my need for a creative outlet with the desire for a practical career path. In hindsight, had I known how expansive the opportunities for artists and creators are in the professional world, I would have likely focused my studies in a different direction. This is one of the first things that motivated me to pursue Arts Administration – to foster a culture where young artists and creative-minded people can feel confident in their desire to pursue arts as a career, without the stigma of being a “striving artist.” The Arts Administration program at Boston University is the ideal fit for me to build these skills, gain new perspectives and experiences, and start myself on the path of leadership and advocacy in the Arts. With its flexible classes, knowledgeable faculty, and expansive networking opportunities, I know BU will give me the tools I’ll need to succeed.