“I had the freedom to focus on the topics and issues that matter to me.”
May 2022 – We’re taking a look at where some of the Drew University College of Liberal Arts Class of 2022 is heading.
Alyssa Sileo C’22
Theatre arts major (concentrations in playwriting & dramaturgy and applied performance & community engagement), Spanish and applied performance double minor.
Civic Scholar; Baldwin Honors Scholar; Action Scholar mentor; founder and facilitator of the Drew Performing Arts Access Coordinators; member of Alpha Psi Omega (theatre) and Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish) honor societies; co-facilitator of Butterfly Book Club; Orientation Committee member; and Center for Academic Excellence peer tutor/academic coach and assistant tutor coordinator/student administrator.
Where she’s going
Sileo will be the 2022-23 Artistic Resident at Luna Stage in West Orange, NJ, starting in the fall. Between Commencement and her residency, she will be an accessibility and advocacy consultant at Appel Farm Arts Camp. She will continue working on her full-length scripts, Spotlight on Fire and Un Canto di Natale for productions.
Seeking opportunity and experience
“Drew professors were supportive in informing me of local and remote opportunities for professional internships and work in theatre and civic engagement. Many of my Drew classes and co-curricular activities gave me hands-on learning experience in my fields of dramaturgy, playwriting, applied performance, and civic engagement, which really helped speed along the job application process.”
Finding her passions and people
“I had the freedom to focus on the topics and issues that matter to me. My Drew friends were my colleagues in these on-campus projects; we learned from each other. My mentors—upperclassmen and faculty/staff—were there for me in times of challenge and celebration.”
Words of advice
“I hope every Drew student gets the privilege of both mentoring and being mentored. Go out for opportunities like being a tour guide, orientation leader, or tutor/academic coach. See if you can be in community-based learning programs that work with local youth. I have found that being involved in the cycle of mentoring is the greatest joy of being a lifelong student.”
