Meet Our Professors: Rachel Parker, Arts Administration
Posted: March 10, 2017 | Author: Cami Mathews | Read Time: 2 minutes
Raised in a family of educators, Rachel Parker always knew teaching was in her blood. Now at Southern Utah University, she is sharing her experience and talents to inspire the next generation of arts administrators.
Parker's experience has been rich and diverse. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre & Media Arts (with an emphasis in Stage Management) from Brigham Young University, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Arts Administration from Southern Utah University. Parker has worked in various types of arts organizations, including the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery in Cedar City, The Utah Symphony & Opera and Sundance Film Festival & Institute in Salt Lake City, Inter-Borough Repertory Theatre Ensemble in New York City, The Nevada Arts Council in Carson City, and the Tony Award-winning National Theatre of the Deaf in Connecticut.
Nearly eight years ago, she started teaching at SUU as an adjunct instructor in the Theatre Arts and Dance Department. In 2013, Parker became the Arts Administration Program director.
She now teaches the following classes:
- AA 3010 Survey of Arts Administration
- AA 4010 Legal Issues for Artists
- AA 6010 Principles of Arts Administration
- AA 6040 Arts Advocacy and Cultural Policy
- AA 6210 Grant Writing
- AA 6220 Fundraising Event Planning
- AA 6810 Marketing the Arts
- AA 6890 Professional Arts Internship
- AA 6900 Capstone Internship
- AA 6940 Master of Arts Final Project
- AA 6980 Degree Defense
As director of SUU’s Arts Administration program, Parker has been invited to serve on several boards and committees at local, state, national, and international levels. Currently, she is chair of arts administration on the board for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region VIII, and serves on the Membership Committee for the Association of Arts Administration Educators.
Though she has years of experience and recognition, Parker said her time at SUU has been one of the most influential and memorable. She loves how involved everyone can be, whether in a specific area of study or with an outside interest.
“The experience of students at SUU is enriched by major-based activities, university clubs, study abroad opportunities, and experiential learning projects,” she said. “Here, students can find their path, their people, and really come to own their education.”
Like most professors, Parker enjoys witnessing the moment when the light turns on in a student’s mind. She looks forward to the point when everything clicks for a student, and they finally understand.
“In arts administration specifically, I love seeing my students latch onto arts advocacy,” she said. “That is what this program is all about, to create empowered advocates of the arts. When I see students turn into advocates, I know they will be successful in their career as arts administrators.”
Learn more about the Arts Administration Program at SUU.
This article was published more than 5 years ago and might contain outdated information or broken links. As a result, its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
Tags: Faculty Arts Administration College of Performing and Visual Arts
