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| Welcome to Wesleyan Weekend |
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B.F.A. Visual Arts Concentration, Wesleyan College
Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) student, Wesleyan College
Program Officer, Fulton County Arts Council, Atlanta
For several years after graduation, Shantras Lakes pursued one of her greatest passions -- teaching. She has worked in Atlanta as an arts educator in many capacities -- as a private preschool–first grade teacher, as the Fulton County Arts Council program assistant for the School Arts Program and as someone who helps teachers integrate arts education into their academic curriculum. Lakes served as the director of Family and Community Programs at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, a job which incorporated her love of art and teaching as she provided the High Museum's large clientele with fun and engaging arts experiences.
After completing Wesleyan's Executive MBA program, Shantras left her position as director of Family and Community Programs at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and began working for the Fulton County Arts Council. As the program director, she directs the grantmaking program for Fulton County, which totaled $2.7 million in 2008. Fulton County Arts Council is the largest funder of arts in the state of Georgia.
Though she once dreamed of becoming a famous artist, her goals changed while an EMBA student at Wesleyan. She became interested in real estate development. But Shantras Lakes doesn't have big bucks in mind; instead her desires are strictly altruistic -- to provide homes for low income and immigrant families. Although not entirely sure where this interest will lead her, Shantras is committed to the issue of affordable housing as a community leader. Though the current economy has presented some challenges in reaching her goals, she has begun some small scale investments.
Lakes credits Wesleyan with teaching her to "dream big" and that "it is possible as a woman to be whatever her passion leads her to be." |
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