Amanda Jacobs Dean ’84
A.B. Music, Piano Performance, Wesleyan College
M.A., Georgia State University
Further conservatory training and certification work; Musician and playwright, New York City; Co-authored "Daniel: The Musical," part of the 2000 FRINGE Festival in Edinburg, Scotland.

Current projects include: A musical adaptation of Jane Austen's novel "Pride & Prejudice;" two film projects for RIT film students; a second set of art songs based on Robert Louis Stevenson's "A Child's Garden of Verses;" running a music and theatre licensing/publishing company; organizing musical theatre productions; working on New York State Instrumental Teacher Certification; and raising her four-year-old daughter, Elibba Jacobs Dean -- "She will be a Green Knight!" Dean says.

Wesleyan wasn’t Dean’s first choice for her college education, but it soon became THE choice.  Read her story!


Chenny Q. Gan ’02
A.B. Music, Wesleyan College
A.B. Studio Art, Wesleyan College
M.A. Piano Performance, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
M.A. Piano Accompanying, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

"Like the college itself, I knew the Wesleyan music program would be personal and offer many opportunities for performance and growth rarely found at other schools," said Gan, who graduated summa cum laude with a double degrees in music and studio art. "The faculty members are accomplished and internationally recognized in their respective fields."

During her years at Wesleyan, Gan won numerous awards and accolades, including the Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellowship for 2002-2003. And she credits her preparation at Wesleyan for her quick acceptance into the UNC at Greensboro’s graduate music program. Read her story!


Shantras Lakes '90
B.F.A. Visual Arts Concentration, Wesleyan College
Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) student, Wesleyan College
Director of Family and Community Programs, High Museum, Atlanta

Lakes currently is the director of Family and Community Programs at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, a job which incorporates her love of art and teaching as she provides the High Museum's large clientele with fun and engaging arts experiences.  Though she once dreamed of becoming a famous artist, her goal as an EMBA student at Wesleyan is to become a real estate developer. 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. Read her story!


Heather Hughes ’05
A.B. Music & Theatre (self-designed major), Wesleyan College
M.F.A, American Musical Drama Academy

Heather returned to her native New York upon graduation to complete graduate studies in musical theatre. Taking advantage of two outstanding academic programs at Wesleyan, she combined coursework to develop an approved self-designed major in Music and Theatre. Her senior project at Wesleyan was a one-woman show which she wrote and performed. Heather stayed very active in campus life, especially as STUNT chair during her senior year. In 2007, she finished her course work at AMDA (American Musical Drama Academy) in New York City.  Recently, she performed in a showcase for industry professionals in Manhattan.


Ashley Hare '07
B. A. Theatre, Wesleyan College
General Technician Apprenticeship, Imagination Theatre

Ashley Hare is a self-proclaimed theatre geek.  In 2007, she became Wesleyan’s first graduate with a degree in the new theatre major and received the Outstanding Theatre Student Award. Following graduation, she moved to Boston for an internship with the North Shore Musical Theatre.  The excitement builds for an unforgettable Act III, and by year-end she will begin work for a prestigious internship at Imagination Stage in Washington, DC.

Ashley was one of four people chosen from a pool of over 400 applicants for the 2007- 2008 season. It was her top choice of several offers she received. At Imagination Stage, she will be working in a general technician apprenticeship experiencing every aspect of production with this prestigious children’s theatre company. Also through the experience, she will get a chance to interact with theatres throughout the metropolitan DC area. Read her story!