#VPA

Tag: #VPA

Her Next Play: Sophie Morey’s Summer Experience

As we approach the end of Spring term, summer is almost here! With that comes summer jobs or internships for the 2026 summer. Yet, what were Lawrentians up to last summer?

Sophie is a current senior about to graduate with two Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Gender Studies, with a minor in Government. As well, she is on the Women’s Basketball and Women’s Lacrosse teams.

In the 2025 summer, Sophie was an intern for Her Next Play, a nonprofit in the Twin Cities focused on developing the next generation of female leaders through sports. She worked virtually and helped maintain and run their social media accounts, primarily on Instagram.

With this, she started cleaning up their page, mainly matching color schemes and aesthetics. Sophie has been running the Wellness Center’s social medias for the past three years, so this felt very natural. She also created posts for events and various spotlights, such as the intern alumni series “Motivation Mondays”. Here, she would post a female athlete with a quote about their leadership style, including both incredibly famous and more lesser known athletes. The goal was to motivate and encourage women and girls in sports in every capacity.

“Leadership takes many different forms and I wanted to encourage girls to find their voice and leadership style that works best for them! I really enjoyed my experience at Her Next Play and would really encourage folks to check them out and consider partnering/donating!!” exclaimed Morey.

Her Next Play works directly with Lawrence University, as a Lawrence Funded Internships. When applying for these kinds of internships, you are only competing with other Lawrentians, as they hold spots directly for us. Keep an eye out for Her Next Play around winter term next year, and a huge congratulations to Sophie as she graduates in a few weeks!

Good luck Lawrentians!

Branding and Design Forage Simulation: What to Expect

Job simulations can be great tools when it comes to understanding an industry you aren’t yet in, or aren’t sure if you want to go down that route. It helps you get a decent idea of what kind of work someone in your simulated role would be doing, so you can get a feel for if this job is something you may want to do. I recently completed the Branding and Design Forage Simulation and simulated working with a clothing company called Lumea. The entire simulation was about their new tote bag.

With this tote bag, there were tasks that had to be completed, but don’t worry I won’t give you spoilers. Thinking about branding and what that means, the tasks were related to how to set yourself apart as a brand and how important continuity and consistency are. Think of any brand, maybe Apple, Google, Old Navy, or lululemon. They all have very specific things that make them unique and well known. This simulation walks you through how that may look in practice.

Social media is a huge aspect of branding, and of course design. Knowing how to use it properly is key to success in this industry. How do you engage your followers? Local communities? How do you partner with other brands? What about influencers? How do you choose which influencers to work with? How do you go about expanding your audience? Or keeping those already in yours? These are all questions that this simulation actually works through pretty well.

Overall, I enjoyed this simulation and it felt more engaging than i was expecting. I think you learn a lot of valuable information, and it’s definitely worth your time.

Good luck Lawrentians!

There’s No Right Path to Arts Administration: Informational Interview with Kathryn Reinardy ’05

In the Fall of this academic year, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kathryn Reinardy ‘05, the current Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. 

Kathryn is from the Milwaukee area and graduated from Lawrence University in 2005, with a Bachelors of Arts in History. After Lawrence, she pursued a Graduate Certification in Nonprofit Management from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has been working at MSO for almost 15 years.

When asked about how she went from studying history to working in the arts, Kathryn said this job fit in between her life plans. As well, she has always loved to write and wanted to be adjacent to the arts in whatever career she ended up in. After graduation, she reached out to the Career Center and they connected her with an alum in the opera world. Reinardy also mentioned how her foundation in history really did help her in arts administration, as well as Lawrence as a whole. “The Lawrence Difference is real!” she exclaimed. She continued to describe how our liberal arts college creates strong writers, teaches adaptability, and hones in on creativity. These are all skills that go great with working with the arts. 

While in her position, Kathryn says there really isn’t a typical day at work, as each one is different. However, that’s part of what she loves about it. In her role, she doesn’t stick to one thing. She partners frequently with various departments, such as fundraising, the box office, communications, public relations, and even data. Her current position involves a lot of artistic planning, helping others in their respective positions, and providing leadership direction. 

For my fellow aspiring arts administrators, there are a few key traits that are bound to lead to success in the industry, according to Kathryn Reinardy. Having strong adaptability, critical thinking skills, curiosity, brain power, and a go-getter attitude really do make a difference. As well, it is so important to ask questions and observe, which is something LU tends to prepare its students for pretty well. Getting used to a workplace environment vs a classroom is also a crucial change to get used to, but is something once again we are capable of doing. 

So, how can we prepare to enter the world of arts administration as current college students? Well, Reinardy has some thoughts on that. Engaging in the industry can be extremely helpful. Connect with alumni in your field through the Career Center or personal investigation. There are also arts marketer groups on social media or professional arts administration organizations you can join (Jillian Johnson in the Conservatory is a great resource for this). Lastly, try different things. Don’t be afraid of something just because it is new or you’ve never tried it before. Most people who study history don’t end up working at a world-renowned symphony orchestra, but Kathryn Reinardy did and genuinely loves it.

Good luck Lawrentians!

Don’t be Afraid of a Masters of Music

I had the pleasure of interviewing Sarah Pedlar ‘25 about her experience in graduate school.

Sarah is currently pursuing a Masters of Music in Contemporary Flute Performance at the Manhattan School of Music, and is about to be done with her first year. When asked about why she wanted to continue her education, she mentioned how in the music world, getting a Masters is kind of just what you do. If performing is your goal and music is your passion, this makes perfect sense. She also talked about how she was ready to specialize, as the musical education one receives from Lawrence is primarily classical, and she had a strong passion for more contemporary music. Sarah applied to about 5 specific programs for this. 

Preparing for your grad school application for music specifically is crucial. You have to audition, either in person or virtually, and do prescreen auditions as well. Pedlar mentioned a very common tactic to do this is to not just rely on those of your same instrument. Many people will have professors and friends listen to their audition repertoire, but it is important to gain various perspectives. If you play the clarinet, maybe think about asking some brass musicians to listen, or even the non musicians in your life. You never know what input people will have, especially coming from different backgrounds both musically and personally. 

When asked about if there was anything she wished she knew when applying to grad school and choosing where to go, Sarah talked about finances. She described that as a student going into her second year, her school has made it very clear on how to appeal financial aid packages. Yet, as an incoming student, she had no idea. It’s important to inquire not only about aid, but also assistantships, housing, and especially cost of living. Going from studying in Appleton, WI to New York, NY has a huge price jump. That’s something a lot of people don’t really think about. Sarah’s opinion was to always argue for more aid. You never know what they might say, and the worst they could say is “no”.

In comparison to Lawrence, grad school is very different. An 8:30 class in Appleton obviously is very early. For Pedlar, a 9:00 class time feels earlier than she was used to here, since you have to add in commuting time. As well, electives are a given in any path to higher education. Here at Lawrence, we are more prepared for grad school than you might think. Sarah talked about how since we register ourselves for classes starting your first term your first year, we have a really good sense of the kinds of classes that fit us, which is a leg up when it comes to graduate school. The Lawrence Busy is also something many other programs don’t have, not to our degree anyway. Pedlar mentioned actually feeling like she has more time in her day and how The Lawrence Busy prepared her very well to balance a Masters program with everyday life. With that, us Lawrentians are used to 10 week terms. Everywhere else primarily has semesters. In comparison, a 15 week semester can feel very long in comparison to our normal 10, which was something Sarah mentioned as well. She also talked about how she felt like she was learning the same amount of content as she would’ve learned here in 10 weeks, but in 15 in New York.

Offering some pieces of advice, Sarah Pedlar said that early preparation is key. Doing your research in a timely manner is so important! If graduate school is something that is a possibility for you, start investigating. Which professors would you want to work with? Where would you want to live? What kind of program suits your goals? Typically if you are at LU for four years, your third year is when you should start poking around. Don’t forget to use your network. Talk with your professors, friends, upperclassmen, alumni, everyone. Talk out loud in conversations focused on what you want to do with your favorite professor, as this is how Sarah ended up going through with submitting her application to the Manhattan School of Music. 

“Push yourself to do what you actually want to do,” Sarah said as her final piece of advice. Good luck Lawrentians, you can do this!

Starting a Photography Career with What You Already Have

A lot of students are interested in photography, but it can be hard to know where to start. Sometimes it feels like you need an expensive camera, a full portfolio, or a lot of experience before you can take it seriously. But honestly, you do not need to have everything figured out right away. You can start with what you already have, even if that is just the phone in your pocket.

If you want to become a professional photographer, the most important thing is to keep practicing. Take pictures of your friends, campus events, nature, buildings, or even random things you see during the day. The more photos you take, the more you learn what looks good, what kind of lighting works, and what style you like. You do not have to be perfect in the beginning. You just have to keep trying.

Building an audience also takes time. You can start by posting your photos on Instagram or creating a small online portfolio. You can also offer to take photos for student organizations, events, or friends. At first, your audience might just be people you know, and that is okay. Every photographer starts somewhere. The important thing is to share your work and let people see what you can do.

It is also good to think about how much time you actually have. As students, we already have classes, jobs, homework, and other responsibilities. You might not have time to do a big photoshoot every week, but maybe you can take photos once a week or edit for a little bit when you have free time. Small steps still count.

Equipment is helpful, but it should not stop you from starting. If you only have your phone, use your phone. Learn about angles, natural light, backgrounds, and editing. Later, when you want to try more equipment, Lawrence students can check out cameras from the library. This is a really good way to practice with better gear without having to buy it right away.

Photography is not just about having the best camera. It is about how you see things and how you tell a story through pictures. So if you are interested in photography, start now. Use what you have, practice when you can, share your work, and keep learning. Your first step might already be in your pocket.

An MM Isn’t As Scary As You Think

I had the joy of interviewing Reese Pike ‘25 about her graduate school experience.

Reese is about to finish her Masters of Music in Global Jazz at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute this June. When asked about why she wanted to continue her education, Reese stated that she always knew she wanted to pursue a Masters of Music, as it is a very common path for musicians. She always had the desire to keep music in her life and to continue one-on-one lessons to keep playing. However, during her time at Lawrence, Pike was the only jazz student who was interested in pursuing higher education. That was a bit of a road block, but she ended up applying to about 4-5 programs.

The Masters of Music in Global Jazz is a really interesting program. Reese detailed it as a one-year program that when you get in, your tuition is fully covered. In addition, the program is actually very focused on social justice, not just music. This was what made the program really stand out to Reese, as the emphasis on using you art to help others was very appealing. There are also very frequent world-renowned guest artists that students get to take lessons with and participate in masterclasses. 

One of the biggest resources for Reese Pike during this process was actually a Lawrence University alum. A guest artist came and performed a concert on campus and Pike made the effort to connect afterwards. They had the same studio professor and the alum and Reese ended up having a private lesson with him. Here, he actually helped her get a job. Reese interned at the Panama Jazz Festival. The folks who run this festival were the ones who informed her about the Global Jazz Institute. 

For this program, Pike has about 14 classes per week, including rehearsals, lessons, career advising, and masterclasses. She balances classes on music composition with ones on social activism. Said classes are typically only once a week, at about three hours long. The Lawrence Busy is something we are all familiar with, but it can get busier than that. Time management being key has been crucial for Reese during this one-year program, and for the application process.

When thinking about applying to grad school, Reese thought a lot about what she wanted to move towards. As a then five-year dual degree student in Spanish and Piano Performance with a Jazz Emphasis, she loved many things. The summer before her fourth year, Pike spent her time primarily without music, and hated it. This is when she knew that music needed to be kept in her life in a large capacity. Her fourth year was primarily spent doing her research and recording/doing prescreen auditions. She actually had to balance grad school with her senior recital and studying abroad in Chile. 

When it comes to thinking about graduate school, Reese had a few pieces of advice, the first one being that it is okay to not know what you want to do. If grad school is something you are even thinking about doing, take the time to research. Use your Lawrence community, including professors, friends, upperclassmen, or alumni. Even your professor’s professors can be great resources. There is bound to be someone in your orbit who has or wants to go down the same path as you do. It is a big decision to keep pursuing education after Lawrence. You will be doing your subject all day and every day. Realistically think if that sounds enjoyable, or not so much.  

“There is no right path”, Pike stated. It’s important to take your time and do your research. Give yourself the time to think, not cram life-changing decisions in your last term on campus. Everything will be how it is supposed to be, and that is different for every one of us. You can do it! 

Good luck Lawrentians!