Cassandra Pearson

Cassandra Pearson (MET’24)
Development Manager, The Irish Repertory Theatre
2024 Excellence in Graduate Studies Award Winner for Arts Administration
MS, Arts Administration; Graduate Certificate, Fundraising Management

What motivated you to earn your master’s degree at this point? Why did you choose to fulfill your goal at Metropolitan College?
As the daughter of two high school teachers, education has always been an important aspect of my life, and a defining part of that education was the arts. As I worked towards my undergraduate degree, I discovered the field of arts administration—the perfect combination of my passions as well as my skills. Attending a liberal arts institution like Boston College helped me attain a well-rounded education, but I knew a master’s degree would help hone the necessary skills for my desired path. However, when I graduated in 2020 it was right at the start of the pandemic. As a result, I worked for a few years at a community music school in the Berkshires to gain some experience. This helped reinforce that a career in arts administration was what I truly wanted, which led me to further my education with a master’s degree to bolster my skill set.

I chose BU’s Metropolitan College for multiple reasons: I loved that the faculty were working professionals in the field; I felt excited about the idea of returning to Boston, a city with many opportunities; the program allowed me to complete the degree on a part-time basis, making it more accessible; there were courses that included opportunities to travel abroad; and I could earn a Graduate Certificate in Fundraising Management along with my master’s degree.

What do you find most fascinating about the discipline of the Arts Administration program? Do you have a particular focus within the broader field?
The arts are a special field. People choose to engage with the arts—attend a show, go to a museum, gallery, or concert—to feel good, to learn, or to emote. The arts can transform lives, make change, and bring people together. It is a wonderful feeling to be part of helping to make these experiences happen. Within the field, I have always been interested in youth engagement and making sure the arts are accessible to all. During the MS in Arts Administration program, I took particular interest in the development side—raising funds for programs to succeed. Though my experience is in music and theater performing arts, the program taught me about the visual arts as well.

Congratulations on your high achievement in the Arts Administration program and your Award for Excellence in your studies! Looking back, what do you consider to be the main ingredients of your success?
Thank you so much! Something that helped throughout was reminding myself why I was doing this. When I decided to get my master’s degree, it was a conscious investment in myself. I knew it was going to take a lot of time, money, and effort, but it was something I wanted to do for me. I put in the work because it was so meaningful in my life. Another main ingredient was the people around me. I am constantly in awe of the community this program has built, from the faculty and staff who care deeply, to the incredible students. Their dedication inspired me. I also could not have done this without my wonderful friends and family, all of whom were extremely supportive and helpful along the way.

How were you able to successfully balance your studies with your commitments outside the classroom?
Balancing my time was one of the most challenging parts of completing a master’s degree while working full-time. When I started the program, I had two different part-time jobs, and then one full-time job at the end, which meant I had to stay very organized. I kept a planner that outlined my personal commitments and coursework, which allowed me to stay on track. At times I had to say no to some things that I wanted to do, but I also said yes to some opportunities that challenged me.

Was your success in the program driven by a particular outcome—such as professional advancement, educational achievement, personal satisfaction, or something else?
I came into the program wanting to advance professionally and make more connections in the field. Engaging with the wonderful faculty and students in class and beyond has been a great resource for this. By connecting with the faculty, I was able to also find success academically. Choosing a field that I am passionate about led directly to personal satisfaction.

Is there a particular course or project that enhanced your experience in the Arts Administration program? Please explain.
I learned about different aspects of arts administration from each of my classes, including leadership, organizing a fundraising campaign, the legalities and financial responsibility of running a nonprofit, and the cultural policies of other countries. However, in my final semester I took Advanced Management and Consulting for Arts Organizations (MET AR 804) with instructors Anita Lauricella and Janet Bailey. This course felt like the culmination of all I had learned. In this course, we had the opportunity to work directly with an arts organization to apply our newly-acquired knowledge from the program and our personal experiences. Not only did this give me real-world experience in an arts sector that I had not previously engaged with; it also demonstrated the importance of working as a team to achieve a shared goal.

Can you share any examples of skills, principles, or practices learned in the program that you were concurrently able to apply to your job?
In my previous role as communications and marketing manager at a community music school, I was able to directly apply the grant writing skills I learned from instructor Michael Ibrahim in Raising Funds and Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations (MET AR 550). I helped the organization find grants through prospect research, and created a case resource file, budget, and letter of inquiry for them. Thanks to what I learned in that course, I helped the organization apply for 21 grants (of which 19 received funding!).

You were recognized by faculty and peers for your hard work and dedication to the Arts Administration program. What “words of advice” or encouragement have served as a guiding principle, or simply inspiration, for you?
I received lots of helpful advice throughout the program. Three pieces of advice that have served as inspiration to me are:

• Say yes. You never know what experiences will surprise you. By saying yes, you open yourself to exciting possibilities.
• Your journey does not have to follow one straight path. Opportunities will lead you in many different directions, all of which provide you with the chance to learn about yourself, what you love, and what you want to do.
• Build a community. Teams and organizations do not exist in isolation. You need to be able to collaborate with many different people to achieve a shared goal and vision. Through community, you also allow yourself to learn and grow from everyone’s unique strengths.

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