Arts Management Classes, SAEM Faculty Help Lead Alumna to Position With Lincoln Center

Meet Rachel Winkler (now as an alumna)

Job title: Development Operations Assistant
Organization: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Degree earned: Bachelor of Science in Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management
Graduated: December 2014
College activities: SAEM Club, Brackets 101 and internship with Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival
Scholarship from Point Park: Transfer Trustee Scholarship
Hometown: Cranston, R.I.
High school: Cranston West High School
Now living in: New York, N.Y.
Hobbies/interests: Dancing, watching sports, exploring NYC and spending time with friends and family
LinkedIn: Rachel Winkler

Rachel is now a senior manager of individual giving and development operations at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

How did your SAEM degree help you land your position with Lincoln Center?

When I began my college search I realized that many programs similar to Point Park's sports, arts and entertainment management major offered hospitality degrees and not business degrees. Graduating with an SAEM business degree made a huge difference when it came to applying for jobs, especially in my current role.

In my department at Lincoln Center, we work extremely close with accounting to create the budget for the year. The core classes we take as SAEM students prepare us for what to expect in the business world. The only difference is we get to relate it to sports, arts and entertainment!

Tell us about the work you do and the role your SAEM arts management classes have played.

The SAEM arts management classes gave me insight into the many possibilities available at a nonprofit. Learning the structure of how a performing arts organization runs and the different department responsibilities has enhanced my ability to be a liaison throughout Lincoln Center.

As the development operations assistant, I work on a variety of projects including prospect research, reviewing of donor recognition and corporate funding credits, filing state charitable registrations, training staff in multiple databases, gift processing, organizing and maintaining department expense reports, overseeing newsletter distributions, updating board reports and helping out with special events as needed.

I recently coordinated a two-day conference at the Lincoln Center which hosted performing arts executive directors from around the country. The knowledge I gained from Point Park in classes like Facility and Venue Design and Performing Arts Management were beneficial when it came time to create a budget and track the event logistics. The conference was a success!

Why would you recommend Point Park to a prospective student?

Location, real-world experience, small classes, endless opportunities. Point Park is such a unique college and really prepares students for their future. Being Downtown surrounded by sport stadiums, performing arts stages and entertainment venues gives you a variety of opportunities you might not have elsewhere.

You are able to gain real-world experience through internships, career shadowing and class assignments all within walking distance. Class sizes are small, and give you the chance to have one-on-one relationships with your professors, who take an interest in your strengths and weaknesses and are there to assist you in so many ways. The experiences, opportunities and guidance I received from Point Park helped me get to where I am today.

What are your favorite Point Park memories?

My favorite Point Park memories are all the guidance I received from the SAEM faculty. I had motivating one-on-one office hours with every SAEM professor, and each one helped me in a different way.

Ed Traversari was my advisor and helped me plan out my course schedule every semester with pep talks. Professors Teresa Gregory and David Rowell helped me decide between two amazing internship opportunities. (I ended up doing an internship with Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, Mass.)

Lastly, Steve Tanzilli who served as my mentor throughout my three years at Point Park, helped me transition as a transfer student when I arrived to Point Park, and, most recently, gave me the courage to move to New York City to advance my career. Looking back on my time at Point Park University, I will always remember the SAEM faculty and their dedication to all students.

Rachel was profiled as a student at Point Park in 2013. Read her student internship web profile.

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More About: alumni, transfer, scholarships, Rowland School of Business, sports, arts and entertainment management, success story