Courtney’s journey to PVCC was prompted by a sequence of events following her graduation with a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance and Minor in Film Production, with honors, from ASU. She had been working in music retail and education and decided she wanted to continue her passion in Theatre after having been away from the field for some time. She enrolled in Andrea Robertson’s Stage Combat Class and an American Sign Language class at PVCC. With both classes offered on the same day, she was able to continue her full-time employment.
Fast forward a couple years and Courtney quit her job to become a Freelance Stage Manager. In so doing, Courtney determined she wanted to build on her skill sets by taking classes in Stage Management, Make-up, and Stage Combat. She has since completed her AAFA in Theatre and was the first in the program to graduate with the CCL in Stage Combat.
One of Courtney’s most memorable aspects of her PVCC experience was participating in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Hawaii. This experience enabled her to continue to refine and develop her skills in theatre. The relationships she developed while at PVCC continue to impact Courtney as she receives professional support from Andrea Robertson, Karla Frederick, Amie Bjorklund, and Dr. Craig Kosnik. While attending PVCC, Courtney was very engaged in the production of the shows and was involved in the CAST club on campus.
Courtney has completed a Master's degree focused in International Arts Management from Southern Methodist University and HEC Montréal. The international focus of this program took her to Dallas, Montreal, Bogota, Mumbai, New Delhi, Beijing, and Milan. This globetrotting, Masters-level educational experience further connected Courtney to Arts enthusiasts around the world and allowed her to refine the management skills that she began cultivating while at PVCC.
Courtney is currently self-employed, teaching and choreographing stage combat around the state, and stage managing around the Valley. This fall, she will enter another year as an adjunct professor at PVCC teaching stage management as part of the Opportunities in Production class within the theatre department. She reflects fondly on her experiences at PVCC and the intricate web of professional contacts it has fostered for her.