Gia-Rayne Harris, C’14
Above: Rayne in a blue sweater holding a clapperboard in front of an ornate wall and curtain.
Get to Know Our Alumni Spotlight: Gia-Rayne Harris, C’14!
The diamond of this season is an extraordinary talent by the name of Gia-Rayne Harris, C’14. Rayne is a writer and director whose journey through the arts reflects both courage and deep commitment to creative development. Raised in Mississippi and shaped by a plethora of experiences at Penn, Rayne’s path has never followed a single, linear route. From taking center stage on campus to directing professional sets on television, Rayne’s story reminds us that artistry is something that grows with you through experience.
Rayne’s career path diverged from more typical professions pursued by her family. Although she once imagined a future in medicine, she began asking herself: “What if I could do the thing I love and still touch hearts in the same way?” As a young adult, she began to understand that creativity and rigor were not mutually exclusive pathways and that one could meld them together, as long as they felt truly fulfilled. Rayne encourages those discovering their pathways to sustain creative practices alongside professional ones. “You might be a doctor or lawyer and still take dance classes, even if it has nothing to do with what you’re doing, but it keeps your body and spirit alive.”
During her time at Penn, Rayne immersed herself in artistic spaces that helped “keep alive the artist that was always there.” She performed with Penn Singers and 4A, participated in Penn Mock Trial, dipped her toe into analog photography, and participated in several campus shows including The Vagina Monologues, which was how she got bitten by the directing bug. She fondly remembers quieter moments as well, including sitting on couches, waiting to audition, and walking in to begin vocal lessons with Vocal Instructor Courtney Ames. Some of Rayne’s most meaningful Penn memories are inseparable from the people she shared those spaces with. Her two favorite arts-related memories were playing Muzzy in Penn Singers’ production of Thoroughly Modern Millie and playing the titular role in 4A’s production of Aida, music directed by her late friend Marcus Mundy, C’14. His passion for his work left a lasting impression: “His dedication to the show illuminated that experience for all. I still remember looking over throughout the whole show at him waving his arms and winking back at me for encouragement. He was a light, and we were all better off for having lived in it.” Today, as a writer and director who intentionally showcases the realities of women and BIPOC figures, Rayne works to bring light to every set she lands on, incorporating lessons from all the incredible artists she has met along her journey. “Honestly so much of my time as a performer at Penn made me into the creator I am now. Although I am now behind the camera instead of center stage – I still lead with my heart and believe that art is the answer to the world getting better for us all. “
Following graduation, Rayne moved to New York, and her gifts took her beyond performance and into the storytelling seat. While working a day job, she was asked to produce a project, and after signing on, she was asked to direct. It was her first time directing film, and she learned as she went. Thinking back to directing The Vagina Monologues in her senior year, she researched what directors and producers do and landed the gig. After time spent working day jobs and developing shorts, Rayne was accepted into the American Film Institute. It was a transformative experience, as she entered the program with two short films and exited with thirteen! During her time at AFI, the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Rather than slowing her down, she found within herself the drive to create. This momentum led to Rayne directing episodes of NBC’s Chicago PD and season 4 of the Netflix Original Series: Bridgerton. Just like Lady Whistledown, Rayne “do(es) not fear change. (She) embraces it.”
Reflecting on her journey in television, Rayne speaks candidly about the inequities she encountered along the way: “Black women work ten times as hard to get just as far. I don’t like that reality.” So, she works to change it. Today, Rayne continues to build her career upon the foundations of compassionate leadership, mutual collaboration, and a strong vision for future projects. Even when navigating difficult spaces, Rayne leads her teams with intention, thoughtfulness, and care. “If this doesn’t feel great, how can I walk in and change the atmosphere of the space? We can do what we love and not be terrible to each other.” Next on her list? Rayne is hoping to direct her first feature in the near future, and she will apply all she has learned along the way.
Rayne says that many of her accomplishments were made possible with the help of mentors she had. She emphasizes the importance of both being mentored and mentoring in return. For students hoping to pursue the arts beyond college, her advice centers on grounding oneself internally while remaining open to guidance. She believes that among many pathways to success is “Finding your own voice, then learning through mentorship among like-minded communities.” She wants to emphasize to those seeking mentorship that it is very important not to lose yourself while trying to advance your career: “You have to have your own meter and compass.” She also shared grounding advice passed down from her own mentor: “Your career is just a small fraction in your cup; your community, community service, family fills the rest.”
Faith is another incredibly important part of Rayne’s experiences in the creative world. “The arts are the closest version to helping people see some sort of hope, and that was instilled in me by God.” For her, “Art is about connection. Without art, we’d look like the grey scene from Halloween.” She is also concerned about the consequences of underfunding art programs, leading to a collective suppression of our imaginations: “They want us to be robotic and not explore. The real rebellion that could exist in all of us is keeping that artist alive. We all deserve a life, and a thing that makes us live.”
Whether or not she holds the title of “Director” in a given room, Rayne shows up as a team player, a leader, and someone whose presence elevates everyone around her. Rayne’s journey from the stage to the director’s chair is emblematic of what it means to build a life that honors both your creative imagination and your intent to thrive. Through her work in the arts, she continues to remind us that creativity is not some frivolous indulgence, but a necessity for all.
This interview was conducted by Mariama Njie, C’27.
Gilberto Vega, C’14
Above: Gilberto performs his rendition of Rose’s Turn from Gypsy during a Penn Glee Club Show (2014) Photo Credit: Christian Hopkins
Get to know our Alumni Spotlight: Gilberto Vega!
This summer, Platt House had the opportunity to reconnect with Gilberto Vega, Class of 2014. However, “reconnect” may be the wrong choice of words, as over the past eleven years, Gilberto has been a very active alum. Whether serving as Music Chair for his class’ 5th Reunion, shepherding current students through an important group mission change, or stepping into the Director’s Chair to lead a student group through rehearsals and production in the midst of a global pandemic, Gilberto continues to lead our students with a combination of commitment, creativity, and care. In speaking with Gilberto, he reminds us that the arts are not only fun; they are not only reflective of our worlds and ourselves; they are also a place to find, build, and nourish community. We are excited to shine a spotlight on his story and impact below.
“The arts are not just important interpersonally, but also societally.”
Born and raised about a 90-minute drive west of Penn in Lancaster, PA, Gilberto always knew he wanted to go to college in the city. During his first couple days on campus, he participated in PennArts, a Pre-Orientation Program that brings together incoming students interested in the arts at Penn and in Philadelphia. During this program, sophomore, junior, and senior leaders share details about all different kinds of arts opportunities on campus and beyond from classes to clubs, from visiting arts centers to sharing stories. From this point on, Gilberto’s campus life was infused with the arts, a focus that he pursued through graduation and beyond.
Platt House likes to remind our students often that during their time at Penn, they are humans first, students second, and many things following. As a human, student, club member, scholar, and more, Gilberto exhibited the soul of an artist. Academically, he started as a Music major and Theatre Arts minor. However, through a deeply impactful experience working on A Year with Frog and Toad with Stimulus Children’s Theatre (Stim) in his junior year, Gilberto chose to fully commit to Theatre Arts as well as Music and to and pursue a double major. In his senior year, he directed You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown for Stim. Through directing as a student, Gilberto took the reins in a space where he could incubate and play, the culmination of so many arts lessons learned throughout four years of college. Gilberto shares how important it was for him that his professors encouraged students to get outside the Penn bubble when he was in school. He had the opportunity through classes, not only to go out into the city to see productions, but also to meet with members of those production teams who visited his classes and gave tours backstage. He got to know them as real people doing the real work.
Academics were not the only realm that transported Gilberto onto Penn’s stages and beyond the University’s sphere; music continually served as an artistic catalyst for him. During his first few years he participated in the Penn Band, performing at numerous football games, basketball games, and University events. In his first year at Penn, Gilberto joined the Penn Glee Club as a singer. The combination of performance, brotherhood, and tradition that the Club offered was impactful and insightful. One of Gilberto’s favorite arts memories was when he sang the iconic “Rose’s Turn” from Gypsy during his senior spring show for the Penn Glee Club “Under A Rest.” The show was set in a dystopian world where music was outlawed, and Gilberto played an extremely anti-music, anti-performance warden, pushing him deeply outside his comfort zone. He “rose” to the challenge, breaking free and releasing the music at the 11 o’clock hour. The Glee Club’s annual tours took Gilberto across the country and to Scandinavia, Niagara Falls, Bermuda, Qatar, Tanzania, and the UAE. As a lover of travel, having the arts transport him to new places and new understanding was invaluable. Gilberto says that “the arts are the pulse of my life.”
And now, Gilberto is an arts professional, just like those who made such an impact on him back in the classroom and across Philadelphia. As a teen and post-grad, he watched several performing arts heroes get out into communities throughout Philadelphia, a collaborative, arts-driven city he chose to make his home. In working with The Philly POPS, an echo of his time in the Penn Band, Gilberto oversaw their education and community engagement programs. He facilitated experiences for youth to meet and learn from Broadway Stars. Gilberto now works as the Director of External Relations at Theatre Horizon in Norristown. He serves as the organization’s primary grant writer and has supported the staff on community investment and education programs. One highlight was his work on the new play “TOWN”, in which he and the creative team interviewed over one hundred Norristown residents, drafted a play based on their stories, and produced it with them on the stage. As a bilingual teaching artist in both English and Spanish, Gilberto is grateful for the opportunity to support the vibrant Latino community in Norristown through this work.
Beyond work, Gilberto has been taking his own artistic skills to the stage, consistently hosting and performing at Open Mic events at Theatre Horizon and venues across North and West Philly. Over the last two years, he has branched out into stand-up comedy (if you ever get the opportunity, ask him how eating a jalapeño right before a comedy act affects one’s performance!). Behind the scenes, he is developing a new murder mystery play called The President at the Frat Party. In leadership, Gilberto sits on the Boards of Directors for the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Theatre Philadelphia, and the Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia, mirroring his college days in the Glee Club. Back at Penn, for his class’ 5th Reunion, he served as Music Chair, leveraging the deep-set community connections he made throughout the years to incorporate partnership from current students and alumni to create a nostalgic “Fling-style” event in the Quad (where Fling festivities used to be held, back in the day). In the height of the pandemic, Gilberto returned virtually to Penn’s stages, directing The Magic Flute for Penn Singers. From Frog and Toad to Charlie Brown to professional Philadelphia theatre, and back to Penn again, Gilberto continues to lend his artistic voice and vision to so many. He remembers how many people have mentored him and seems to be getting more comfortable with the “mentor” label for himself. Gilberto also helped advise and support the Penn Glee Club in their transition to a gender-inclusive choir—holding space both for the needs of current students and the traditions of the past—and their recent 160th Anniversary Gala.
To students interested in pursuing the arts beyond college, Gilberto says “Take the leap.” He rejects the old adage that college is the best four years of one’s life and instead reframes that time as “a launching pad for me to do so much more than I would have ever dreamed.” As an artist and arts administrator currently working in several fields, Gilberto expresses concern over the rise of artificial intelligence and its impact on artists and the current federal funding trends. He has witnessed and has been a part of the positive impact that happens when arts and artists are supported. He says that support for the arts may be under threat, but that highlights the power the arts have to make change and to be a third space outside home and work/school for community and for questioning. He asserts that to be a well-rounded person in today’s world, business savvy is important, and creativity and expression are vital. Gilberto uses his background, experiences, and artistry to leave his mark, to inspire youth, as he was inspired, and to continue to help the arts flourish in each new realm he touches.
This interview was conducted by Patrick Miller, C’27.
Lolita Jackson, E’89
Get to know our Alumni Spotlight: Lolita Jackson E‘89!
A woman who wears many hats, Lolita Jackson balances careers in environmental policy, engineering, and jazz singing.
Before arriving at Penn, Lolita received acclaim for playing the bass clarinet. Not wanting to pigeon-hole her future career by studying bass clarinet at a conservatory, she came to Penn to study engineering but promised herself she would continue to pursue music. Although she was unsure of her own singing abilities, she joined the Penn Gospel Choir, now known as New Spirit of Penn, and was swiftly recognized for her vocal prowess. As a first-year she sang a solo, from which she was scouted to become a member of Counterparts the following year. She continued on to perform Jesus Christ Superstar as a member of Quadramics and closed out her time at Penn as a Friar.
After graduating from Penn, Lolita began navigating careers in the office and on the stage. She currently works with a climate investment firm and was previously employed by the NYC mayor’s office. By night, she is the lead singer of Scottish band “The Lolita Jackson Group”, the latest in many jazz/funk bands she has participated in since graduating. Through her singing, Jackson has had the opportunity to perform at a Jazz club in Tokyo and several times at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She also serves as the Vice Chairperson for the Board of Trustees of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
Lolita is also deeply involved with the Penn community as an alum. She is on the advisory committee for the Platt Student Performing Arts House, is a senior advisor at Perry World House, and is an adjunct professor in the Masters of Environmental Studies program. She is also the Alumni Class President for the Class of 1989. Lolita has run several class reunions, notably the Class of 1989’s ten-year reunion, after which she and other Black alumni raised over 1 million dollars through DuBois College House to create a perpetually funded scholarship which gives $20,000 to four students every year.
Lolita encourages students who are interested in pursuing the arts, in addition to more traditional career paths, to go for it. She has found a surprising amount of cross pollination between her career and her artistry, as her most recent show with The Lolita Jackson Group in Glasgow was attended by her company’s CEO and other coworkers. At her previous position with Morgan Stanley, her shows became a space of congregation for the company, creating a seamless and fulfilling professional and artistic life. Lolita reminds us that the arts are important as they are a true space for self-expression.
This interview was conducted by NuAmen Audena, E’27.
Allison Powell, C’93
Alumni Spotlight on Allison Powell, C’93
Can you keep dancing throughout life, while balancing family, work, and philanthropy? Allison Powell certainly does! She started dancing at age 3 and never stopped. “The arts are important to me because they have always been a part of me,” Allison shares. While attending summer classes at Penn, as part of Penn’s Precollege Program for High School Students, she took dance classes at the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center (currently the dance studio at Penn Live Arts), loved it, and fell in love with all that Penn had to offer. Fortunately, she was admitted Early Decision to Penn. During college, Allison was a member of Penn Dance Company, serving as its Co-Chair in her senior year, and also was a member of the Performing Arts Council (PAC). She graduated from the College with majors in Economics and Psychology, went on to study law at Fordham University School of Law, and has had a successful career in antitrust, patent infringement, and intellectual property law in New York City. After starting a family, she branched into both legal and nonlegal writing and editing, and also represents family interests in various real estate ventures.
When thinking about her time at Penn in the performing arts, a plethora of memories comes to mind: seeing the professional dance companies perform at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (now Penn Live Arts), performing with and choreographing for Penn Dance Company, working with professional choreographers with Penn Dance Company, collaborating with other student performing arts groups, attending many performances from other student performing arts groups, learning how to stage and tech a dance show, attending Bacchanal, and getting hired to perform with other Penn Dancers at a Wharton MBA party! With all of these fun memories, Allison said, “the arts at Penn have always sustained my interest in and love for the arts,” which inspired her to give back and stay involved in the community.
Since graduating, Allison has taken weekly dance classes, most recently in tap dancing. She also ventured into ballroom dancing, became a swing dance instructor, and participated in two semi-professional swing dance companies in Lindy Hop. For nearly ten years, she has also been a part of the Penn Live Arts (PLA) Board of Advisors. She has helped with the Penn Performing Arts Initiative (PPAI) collaboration, in which PLA, Platt Student Performing Arts House, the Theatre Arts Department, and the Department of Music advance performing arts activities on Penn’s campus and beyond. She is the Co-Chair of the New York City branch of the Penn Performing Arts Regional Council (PennPARC). This Council organizes events to bring together Penn alumni working in and/or interested in the performing arts. They have helped support the annual student showcase at Carnegie Hall, as well as several spring events that bring together alumni, Penn student performing arts groups, and professors active in the different performing arts genres. The goal is to promote the arts at Penn and also help develop relationship between students, faculty, and alumni.
Having a busy life while trying to stay involved in the arts is no small feat, but Allison says that “when it’s a part of who you are and you are fulfilled from it, you’ll look to it and make time.” When she was in one of her swing dance companies, she worked with her employers to find a way to accommodate her rehearsal schedule. Such conversations can be challenging, but Allison reminds us that we need not “shy away from that either.” “If it is important to you, hopefully you can find a way to make it work.”
For students who are interested in pursuing a career in the arts beyond graduation, she recommends exploring the Penn administrative and alumni network that is available to them. Although reaching out to unknown alumni may be intimidating at first, “most of the time alumni are happy to hear from and help students.” Allison suggests that interested students touch base with the staff at Penn Live Arts and Platt House about opportunities for students to connect with alumni in the arts. Allison believes that “wherever people live, there will always be an opportunity to see or participate in the arts, it’s just [about] reminding yourself of how rewarding it is and making the time to pursue it.”
This interview was conducted and written by Ella Nevo, ENG’26, Penn Dance member and Dance Arts Council Chair.
Sarah Elger, GAR’13
Alumni Spotlight on Sarah Elger, GAR’13
Sarah Elger, GAR’13 has a diverse background in the arts. After pursuing sculpture and dance at Bard College, Sarah worked on the set at Sleep No More in NYC. She met Neil Patel, and by his recommendation, Sarah got her Master’s degree in Architecture at Penn in 2013. Despite the challenges of being among peers with Bachelor of Architecture degrees, Sarah embraced the opportunity and learned not only how to design buildings but also how to think strategically. She believes the arts at Penn were “instrumental” as architecture as well as set and lighting design became the foundation of her company today.
After becoming a finalist in Walt Disney Imagineering’s Imaginations contest, Sarah’s career grew as she moved to a position with the company. Bridging her love of theatre and architecture, she describes design for theme parks as “big, permanent theater.” Sarah then transitioned to work on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Skull Island: Reign of Kong in Universal before founding her own company, Pseudonym Productions. Collaborating with Nikhil Menezes, C’15, a friend from Penn whom she worked with on her thesis, Sarah took an 18,000 square foot warehouse and transformed it into a “real-life video game,” a fulfilling milestone in her career.
During her time at Penn, Sarah participated in various collaborations in the arts. She became fast friends with the late, beloved Peter Whinnery, who became her mentor. She took a lighting design class taught by him and pursued several independent studies. Sarah also designed sets and lights for various groups, including iNtuitons and InVersion Theatre, founded by a group of iNtuitons graduates. Sarah’s favorite arts-related memory during her time at Penn is working on her graduate thesis with advisor Annette Fierro: merging video games, architecture, and theater. Working with an exciting brainstorming group, she scattered cryptic papers around campus creating a chasing game and saw who was “open to playing.” She also reminisces fondly on “chaotic, time-consuming” building and story writing in the PAC Shop with Peter Whinnery.
Currently, Sarah is working on her first permanent installation here in Philadelphia. She is designing an experience that will be an immersive venue and hub for creativity. Her goal is to merge something similar to Santa Fe’s Meow Wolf and Sleep No More with her “own unique flavor” from her years of independent creations that empower guests. The experience allows the guests to step into the world of a ride without the use of tracks or vehicles.
When asked what advice she would give students interested in pursuing a career in the arts, Sarah says: “It’s important to create opportunities for yourself. It’s crucial to stay open-minded and not limit yourself.” Sarah recommends building a strong network of people who can help lead you in the right direction for you when thinking about your future’s path. She also urges you to pick a direction, but don’t lose sight of your goals: “It may be easier to take the office job, but life is about perseverance and resilience.”
Sarah recognizes that at times, the spark of creativity can slow down, and work in the arts industry can be demanding. However, her passion for the arts and the impact they have on her life continue to drive her forward: “I don’t know what life would be without the arts.”
This interview was conducted by Tommy Christaldi, C’23 and drafted by Jordyn Harris, E’25.
Kalyne Coleman, C’14
Alumni Spotlight on Kalyne Coleman, C’14
Get to know our Alumni Spotlight: Kalyne Coleman, a Penn alum who was heavily involved in the arts as a student and still is today. Originally from Richmond, VA, Kalyne is very close to her family, including her parents, three siblings, and ten nieces and nephews. She loves being their “Super Auntie.” Even before making her way to Philadelphia, Kalyne always knew that she wanted to act. She got involved with community theatre in Richmond and spent free time reenacting scenes from Sister, Sister; Twitches; and Even Stevens, but was not sure how to pursue acting as a career. Rather than throw herself into an arts school for college, she decided to go to Penn to get a solid educational foundation in the liberal arts. Kalyne kicked off her time at Penn in PennArts, a pre-orientation program that brings together incoming students interested in the arts in school and in Philadelphia. In the overwhelming transition from high school to college and moving to a new state, PennArts showed her from day one that she could find her people. Through this program, she met her best friend to this day, collaborated on a multi-media poetic art piece, and became a student leader and coordinator, helping mentor future peers interested in pursuing their creative passions.
Before sharing her extracurricular pursuits at Penn, Kalyne first sends well wishes to current students, encouraging all to first, take care of themselves. While at Penn, Kalyne realized that the arts make her “light up inside.” She joined the African American Arts Alliance (4A) and fondly remembers acting as Beneatha Younger in A Raisin in the Sun, her first acting experience in a play written by a Black artist and surrounded by Black creatives. She reminisces on dreading the long hours of load-ins and load-outs, but actually remembering the community, the late night pizzas, and a stage management mishap during which she accidentally brought a set piece on during another student’s solo – a tough moment at the time that all involved laugh about today. Now a proud “5A” alum, Kalyne’s involvement then extended into other parts of campus as well: she minored in Theatre Arts; joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., ultimately becoming President; served at the Student Outreach Chair for the Black Student League; participated in the Vagina Monologues, helping her to own her womanhood and sexuality; and was inducted into the Onyx Senior Society.
Kalyne says her experiences at Penn, particularly those in 4A, PennArts, and as a Theatre Arts minor, were instrumental in helping her find her voice, especially as a Black artist. During her senior year, she also had a great job working with a wonderful supervisor at Gap, Inc., which opened a pathway into a corporate career, but with the support of her parents, and the light inside, Kalyne decided to go all in on acting. She made her way up the east coast, spending some time in New York, and ultimately completed her MFA at Brown in 2020 amidst the backdrop of the pandemic. When thinking back on her experience as a Black woman in the arts at Penn, Kalyne says: “As much joy as there was, there was also challenge. There were a lot of highs; there were a lot of lows. And I learned from it all, and those experiences shaped who I am today. As a Black person, let alone a Black artist, it is important you know who you are, your worth, where you come from, what makes you smile, what makes you find balance. [It is important that] you have a community around you that supports you, so when those challenges come up, you’re able to meet them, you’re able to fight for what you believe in, and you’re able to push through. I think at Penn, there were times that both of those things happened. Always try to live in the joy, but there is a lot of work to be done in educational spaces, in different structures, the theatre community, the tv/film industry, and it takes artists like us to make our imprint and to be authentic, and to fight for what we believe in.”
Kalyne at Career Mentorship event hosted by Platt House, Makuu, and UMOJA – February 2023
To those interested in pursuing the arts beyond college, Kalyne shares that although it is challenging, and the journey is long, one must never ever ever give up on oneself: “You are worthy. You are more than enough. Your life, your story, your experiences, your pain, your vulnerability, your heart, the darkness, the light – this is the thing that people want to see, and this is the thing that will make you shine.” She recommends that folks surround themselves with the people who lift them up, who will help you make an audition tape at midnight, who will come to your shows, who will be there both when you get the job and when you do not. She reminds us that artists are emotional creatures, and she advises that we build up our mental, emotional, and spiritual health, in order to stay balanced.
You can check out Kalyne’s work in her first television show as Grace in Interview with a Vampire (2022) on AMC Plus. You can also catch her in So Help Me Todd and Evil, both on CBS. She says that shooting the show was a wild, beautiful journey. Kalyne has also been participating in a bunch of readings, a great way to get to know artists and playwrights. She recently did a reading of “Good Bones” written by Philadelphia-based playwright James Ijames and another with Harrison David Rivers in conjunction with Roundabout Theatre. Kalyne says that auditioning is the job, and she keeps the faith that the next job is always coming soon. Someone once told her that in considering a role, look at “the art, the part, and the pay.” Kalyne does a lot of research into projects and partnerships, seeing if an opportunity aligns with her values before committing to it. She also reminds us that, as an actor, there is so much out of your control, but you can always offer good work. The grind can be frustrating, but it is also a blessing when you have the opportunity to try. Kalyne says she loves what she does: “If anyone ever doubted the role of the artist, Covid reminds us that we are the lifeblood of society. What we do is so essential. I want to be a part of stories that change minds, that spark conversations, and make people feel seen.” In particular, giving Black people a space of joy, healing, and complicated versions of themselves is a major goal of her work, her calling, and she shows no sign of stopping: “I am in it for life.”
This interview was conducted by Jordyn Harris, ENG’25.
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Daina Troy, W’98
Alumni Spotlight on Daina Troy, W’98
Daina Troy is a Penn alum as well as a proud Philly native! When applying to school, she originally wanted to go into Engineering and applied for the M&T program. She was ultimately admitted to the Wharton School and spent the entire summer before matriculating studying the fields of management and marketing. Upon arriving on campus, Daina knew that she wanted to have a good Black experience at Penn. She had a busy extra-curricular schedule after joining the Black Student League, Black Wharton Undergraduate Alliance, and the African American Arts Alliance (4A). For her senior year, she also joined Friars, and she was present for the beginnings of UMOJA, though it had not quite started in its formal capacity while she was a student. While enjoying life at the University, Daina found Wharton challenging, and the arts, specifically theatre, gave her something to dream about. She would wake up in the morning excited to pursue theatre, and she applied the consumer experience skills she learned at Wharton to her passions in the performing arts.
After graduating, Daina married her interests working in entertainment, management, and marketing in New York City. She spent time working at Bad Boy Records, J Records, and Interscope, and she even spent time working on Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls’ posthumous album! After a while, Daina realized that she wanted to pivot out of the entertainment and management industries, and she joined the staff team at Makuu: The Black Cultural Center, right here at Penn. Working at Makuu gave her space to explore the crossover between artistry and student development. This experience also helped her develop a new perspective both about the entertainment industry and about the University. In addition to her work, Daina is also a proud mother of twin sons. Between 2013 and 2019, she took a break to focus on family. She returned to Makuu in 2019 and noted how students’ needs have changed over time. Daina shares that she loves her role of framing the journey for students: “They know what they want to do. I am giving them permission to pursue those dreams.” Daina now works with the Penn Spectrum team in Alumni Relations at Penn, where she continues to help University community members follow their dreams.
Daina shares her favorite memory of the arts at Penn: she had her first lighting job in the 1996 production of A Soldier’s Play! The play featured a full Black male cast, and Daina fondly recalls everyone really growing into their roles. Today, Daina feels fortunate to work with so many alumni who are leaving their mark on the arts world. She is also a co-lecturer in the Africana Studies department, and she is working on a modern archive of Black art. The arts are important to Daina because they provide a good creative release. To students interested in pursuing the arts beyond college, Daina reminds them to be patient: “Consider your integrity and the sacrifices you’re willing to make. There is net capital in the long run, and you need to be passionate enough about it to be willing to wait. The reward is not immediate. Don’t give up art.” Wise words to lead us all.
This interview was conducted by Jordyn Harris, ENG’25.
Arnab Mishra, W’96
During his undergraduate experience at Penn, Arnab Mishra spent tons of time flexing his creative muscles in and out of the classroom. He shares that his college experience was a transformative one, especially due to Penn’s cross-disciplinary nature. Arnab majored in finance and used his elective credits to dabble in literature, writing, and music classes, even learning how to play the sitar (the latest in a long line of instruments he grew up playing). When not studying, Arnab worked at the student radio station and served as a columnist for the Wharton journal. He interned at multiple magazines in New York City and realized that his original plan to pursue journalism as a career was not the correct path for him. However, Penn offered him the chance to experiment with multiple career paths, all while forging lasting connections with peers from diverse backgrounds who helped him expand his ability to see the world. Arnab credits these friends with providing him new perspectives even to this day (even on pandemic Zoom calls).
In school, Arnab realized that his favorite pursuits combined the creative and the analytical. After graduating, he made his way back to New York, working in investment banking and private equity. The firm where he worked had raised a growth capital fund in the midst of the dot-com bubble, and he spent time investing in mid to late stage technology companies. Arnab discovered a love for technology entrepreneurship and building businesses from the ground up. After attending Harvard Business School, he relocated to San Francisco to work on his first of two startups. Both companies were eventually sold to larger public companies, the first to the French-based Alcatel and the second to east coast-based Broadsoft. Arnab still lives in the Bay Area with his wife, originally from Northern Virginia, and their two children. After two decades, he jokes that their family has finally stopped asking when they will move back east. Arnab currently serves as the Chief Product Office at Xactly, where over the last four years he has dramatically expanded the company’s product line, applying a knowledge of market opportunities and user needs. Arnab loves his job, as it once again allows him the room to be analytical and to creatively suss out solutions.
Arnab has also been a very active alum. In 2013, he joined the James Brister Society. Founded in the early 90s and named after the first African American to graduate from the University, the James Brister Society is the umbrella alumni organization for diversity and inclusion at Penn. Arnab has served as the Co-Chair of multiple committees in the Society, and what he loves most is helping advise the University on initiatives to create a more inclusive space for faculty, staff, and students. When asked to join the Platt House Alumni Advisory Council, Arnab was not sure if he was the best fit, since performing arts was not at the foreground of his college experience, nor his current work. However, Arnab says he was drawn to Platt House’s goal of increasing diversity and inclusion initiatives and Platt House’s ethos of uplifting voices. One of Arnab’s first roles on the Council was supporting a panel discussion on racial and social equity in the arts this past spring. The session was geared toward alumni with a goal of updating them on current trends and goals in the student performing arts spaces. Platt House is so excited that Arnab has joined this team, as we are grateful for his experience with advocacy work and his perspective from the business world. Many of our students have followed in his footsteps as students in the Wharton School, and we have a lot to gain from his insight.
When asked why the arts are important, Arnab shares: “I dont view art as a thing unto itself. I think the notion of art and the notion of creativity lives in every single discipline out there. It’s universal.” Arnab explains that even when creating software products, there is a level of artistry within them. Arnab also shares that he believes philosophically that “art is a place where the human spirit can be expressed like no other. I think having those outlets for people is really important. [People] can talk frankly about sensitive subjects through art. In the US, the more diverse and progressive and accepting we become as a country, the more we need the arts to create a space for those discussions.” Arnab believes that students can leverage their performing arts experience beyond college because every performance is a team effort. He says it is the team that works together to deliver a unified product, which is business in a nutshell. He continues, stating that the performing arts also demand a kind of rigor and help people learn to be comfortable addressing other people. “Studies show that leaders who are comfortable being vulnerable in front of others are the most effective in leading.” Arnab reminds us that the performing arts help shape new leaders, no matter what discipline they ultimately pursue.
This interview was conducted by Jadel Contreras, C’22.
Sara Outing, C’13
Sara Outing, C’13 is Platt House’s inimitable Administrative Coordinator! She came to Penn from Chapel Hill, NC and graduated with a degree in Theatre Arts. Since then, her journey has looped through the regional and Fringe theatre scenes of Philadelphia and its suburbs. In her time away from Platt House, she enjoys the gorgeous landscape and history of her neighborhood in the Northeast, practices a clutter of creative hobbies, and continues to freelance as a scenic designer, props fabricator, and puppeteer. As a student, Sara knew she wanted to try her hand at scenic design, so she engaged in design and carpentry gigs with 4A, Players, Singers, Quadramics, Stim, and the Theatre Arts Program. Additionally, Sara was a founding member of Keynotes A Cappella and was briefly a member of PLBD. These formative experiences sparked in her lasting loves for social dance, singing, and music composition.Through living in the Arts House residential program in Harnwell and participating in the performing arts scene on campus, Sara found a space not only for practiced talents, but also for new beginnings. Sara shares: “Despite the stereotype of performative excellence at Penn, within my creative community I felt the invitation to fly or fail at sight-reading a new tune on violin, to show up as a newbie at West Philly Swingers’ Fish Fry, to bumble through my first Noteflight arrrangement, to mix colors fearlessly in the PAC Shop.” During undergrad, Sara learned to enjoy and celebrate the experience of being an amateur just as much she celebrates honing her craft. This willingness has served her well in the freelance arts world. Sara reminisces over some Penn memories including watching friends and strangers shine onstage, specifically citing a Quadramics’ Fling Production of Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party, which “blew [her] teenage mind.” Sara also fondly recalls her own “rare” moments onstage, stating that she is not truly confident as an actor but is so proud of her past self for giving it her all. [Platt House jumping in to say that Sara is a humble, but truly skilled performer, acting included!]Sara is also the creator of the brand-new Backstage @ Platt House podcast! Sara identifies as a “podcast person,” her interest stemming from Welcome to Night Vale a few years ago and recently landing on Alie Ward’s Ologies. Back in March, Sara was working with a bunch of local arts alumni for an in-person panel. Once Platt House programming moved to the virtual sphere, the podcast format seemed like an obvious and exciting transition. The first season of the podcast features those local arts alumni and a few University staff. Backstage @ Platt House Season 2 will have a student focus, acting as a conduit among performing arts community members.
This summer, Sara was one of six artists awarded with the Black Puppeteer Empowerment Grant from Puppet Showcase Theatre near Boston. As part of her remote Creative Residency, she developed a short original shadow show alongside the other artists. Sara is next looking forward to her upcoming design project for an Alice Childress piece with the Philadelphia Artists Collective. She recently delivered a set of creative props to one of her favorite companies, Bearded Ladies Cabaret, whose projects are always artistically entertaining, emotionally nourishing, and queer as can be. Sara will also be diving into a props/paper/packaging design on an afrofuturist story-by-mail with an incredible company, Tiny Dynamite, and an incredible new collaborator, local playwright Jarrett McCreary. Check out Sara’s website for more!
To those interested in pursuing the arts beyond college, Sara says “The arts industries can sometimes romanticize ‘imposter syndrome’ as a noble trait of humble and hardworking creatives. Don’t fall into the trap of internalizing a value system that hurts you! After many years, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to land among companies, organizations, and collaborators who empower my sense of artistic self and pay attention to my financial health, but that work has to occur within as it does without. If you find imposter syndrome and self-denial, sit with it. Take note of your worth, and hold tight to people around you who do the same.”
Photo Credits: Boaz Kim
Jennifer Weber, C’00
Get to know our featured alum, Jennifer Weber, C’00! Jennifer is a choreographer living in New York City. She graduated from Penn in 2000 with a major in Communications, but not before founding Strictly Funk Dance Company. Before Strictly Funk got off the ground, Jennifer was a choreographer and performing member of Bloomers. She says it was amazing, but singing is not her forte, so she wound up playing a mime and a bunch of frat boys. She auditioned for a handful of dance groups on campus, and was not selected, but she really began to miss dancing and decided to take matters into her own hands. Jennifer placed flyers all over campus and drummed up a ton of interest for a new dance group. Funk’s first audition had 20 people. When she came back for her sophomore year, Funk participated in Freshman Performing Arts Night (now rebranded as Student Performing Arts Night). After that showcase, 80 people auditioned for the group! Jennifer reflects fondly on the relationships that were built through that experience. She says that dancing is a “magical way to connect with people [I] wouldn’t have met otherwise.”
Creating Strictly Funk really launched Jennifer onto her future career path. She did not originally think she would be a professional choreographer. After graduating, she landed a job in marketing, but she found herself pulled toward a life in the arts. Jennifer says that seeing Funk succeed made it seem like it would be easy to create a company and succeed in New York. The reality of that goal was much more complicated, but her experiences with Funk absolutely prepared her to face any challenges head-on. And her success has only grown, demonstrated by the many exciting projects she is working on. She choreographed her first movie Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 2, viewable on Disney Channel. One of the videos she made for it, Flesh and Bone has an astounding 23 million views! She also choreographed the musical & Juliet, currently running in London’s West End. It tells the story of a Juliet who leaves Romeo behind and goes on an adventure to discover her own identity. Her choreography for & Juliet was just nominated for an Olivier Award. And Jennifer’s acclaimed The Hip Hop Nutcracker has been touring in the US for the past five years and was even featured on a PBS special. This show, that she directed and choreographed, is a reimagination of the Tchaikovsky score told through the language of hip hop.
The road has not always been easy. Jennifer shares that working on a project basis necessitates a constant cycle of creation and hustling to find something else to create. She says that each time she takes on a new project, she essentially starts over, working with new people, redefining dynamics, and using her own vision to be a part of the project. It can be difficult for her not to not get frustrated, but she says it is important to focus on the amazing opportunities that await. To students interested in pursuing a career in the arts, Jennifer says “It is important to be honest with your passion.” She advises creating your own path, especially if one is not readily available to you. Jennifer also stresses the importance of building relationships and being authentic, as fostering those connections can lead to other opportunities. Jennifer reminds us that the arts are important because they bring people together, illuminate commonalities, and inspire. “Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams, and dream really big.”
This interview was conducted by Hannah Lottenberg, C’21.
Photo Credit 1: M. Emran