Who We AreThe Penn State Student Performing Arts Council (PAC), started as a group of students who wanted to break down the walls between performing arts organizations and promote cooperation and collaboration to further the mission of each individual organization and of performing arts in general at Penn State.
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Our HistoryPAC was officially established as a student organization on December 16th, 2014. Since then, a relationship has been established between PAC and Penn State’s Student Affairs as well as the Center for the Performing Arts. These relationships have led to many diverse partnerships, and opportunities for the performing arts organizations at University Park.
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Our Mission |
The mission of the Penn State Performing Arts Council (PAC) is to foster a culture in which performing arts can flourish by serving as a resource to student performing arts organizations and their liaison to the University.
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About Us |
One of the Performing Art Council’s greatest achievements has been holding a meeting which was attended by 42 performing arts leaders of 23 organizations along with the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, the Director of the Center for the Performing Arts, and the Director of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts - all of whom support PAC as the voice of the student performing arts organizations at Penn State.
Now a university-affiliated organization registered under Student Affairs, the Performing Arts Council - equipped with a hardworking executive board, talented genre ambassadors and a brand new communications committee - looks forward to future endeavors that continue to elevate the status of the performing arts at Penn State. |
Our Members
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The Performing Arts Council is a diverse group of student representatives from various similar groups across the University Park campus. We organize ourselves internally in the following groups:
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2021-2022 Executive Board
Brian Krall, President
Brian Krall is a senior Biology major/Theatre Minor from Bordentown, New Jersey. Being involved with arts organizations across campus such as The Penn State Thespian Society and No Refund Theatre is the reason he loves Penn State and he cannot wait to lead PAC this year. As President he works to advocate for and represent the arts community to students, staff, and university administration. Brian is also a proud Lion Ambassador and loves working to empower and share the arts across campus.
Tommy Bennett, Vice President of Community Relations
Tommy is currently a Third-Year student studying Psychology and HDFS and Child Maltreatment. While a member of PAC, Tommy also acts as the choreographer for The Singing Lions and is passionate about the impacts that art can have on society. In his second year on PAC, he is eager to aid the arts communities across campus to help them succeed to the best of their ability and thrive as organizations.
Caroline Newman, Vice President of Production
Caroline Newman is a Senior majoring in Earth Science and Policy and minoring in Earth and Sustainability. She is the treasurer of Savoir Faire A Cappella, and is involved with her THON org and THON special events committee. She is so excited for this year and is looking forward to putting on some amazing PAC events!
Jess Naegele, Director of A Capella Relations
Jess is a junior Marketing major from Bucks County, PA. She is a member and the Public Relations manager of The Pennharmonics, one of Penn State’s co-ed a cappella groups. When she’s not singing, you can find her hanging out with her sorority, or somewhere off campus with a camera in hand. Jess is passionate about a cappella and the arts community, so she is excited to step into this role alongside Tommy
Stephanie Libertucci, Director of Public Relations
Stephanie is a senior majoring in Public Relations with minors in Theatre, Arts Entrepreneurship, and Digital Media Trends & Analytics. On campus, Stephanie is involved with Public Relations Student Society of America, Happy Valley Communications, and is involved with THON. Along with this, she is a Front of House Staff Member at Eisenhower Auditorium. Although she isn’t a performer, Stephanie has a lot of love and passion for the arts. In her spare time, you can usually find her watching a musical or taking in the campus views.
Jordan Fritsch, Dance Community Relations
I am a Sophomore majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management with the hopes of one day working for the Walt Disney Company in Walt Disney World. Dance has always been a passion of mine and am so lucky to be a part of Tapestry Dance Company on campus to continue my love of dance. This is my first year on PAC and I am very excited to see how I can help impact the Performing Arts community and continue my passion for the arts in my college career.
Riley Herman, Director of Digital Engagement
Riley is a senior majoring in Theatre Studies & Advertising. As the Director of Digital Engagement, Riley focuses on graphic design and capturing our events on camera. When she is not designing for PAC, she is working on shows for the School of Theatre, NRT, and attending meetings for the DiscipleMakers Christian Fellowship. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, playing the ukulele, and sharpening her photography skills.
Lindsey Sabo, Director of Sustainability
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Lindsey is a sophomore from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania majoring in German and Environmental Resource Management with a focus in Water Science. On campus, Lindsey is involved with The Penn State Thespian Society and No Refund Theatre, which introduced her to PAC and inspired her get involved. In addition to her arts involvement, she is involved with the Environmental Resource Management (ERM) Society. Lindsey is looking forward to help make the Penn State performing arts community more sustainable while working alongside the PAC executive board in her first year of involvement.
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Olivia Ritchey, Treasurer
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Olivia is a senior majoring in Accounting through the Integrated Bachelor’s and Master’s of Accounting (MAcc) program and minoring in International Business. On campus, she is a member of the Oboe Studio, Global Brigades, and serves as Homecoming’s Financial Management Director. In addition, Olivia works as a TA for ACCTG 211. Olivia has a passion for the arts and is excited to advocate for Penn State’s arts community as Treasurer of PAC!
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Marley Bradner, Secretary
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Marley is a Senior studying Biology with minors in psychology and theater. This is her first year with PAC and will be serving as secretary. On campus she is involved with the Penn State Thespian Society and has been involved with their Main Stage productions, annual MasquerAIDS cabaret, and children’s shows. She is also a member of No Refund Theatre where she is currently Vice President and served as Secretary for the 2020-21 school year. Outside of the performing arts she is has been a committee member of THONs OPPerations committee, and served as a new student orientation leader for the Penn State Class of 2024.
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Nick Borgacci, Assistant Producer
Trinity Jackson, UPUA Rep.
Naomi Dao, SPA Rep.
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Nick is a Predmedicine major with a minor in Biomedical Engineering from Dickson City, PA. He is involved with both the Penn State Thespian Society and No Refund Theater, serving as a tech chair since the 2019-2020 school year. Working at Schwab Auditorium keeps him around theater very often, but he is excited to get to work alongside PAC to showcase the talent the Penn State arts communities have to offer.
Trinity is a freshman BFA Acting major from York County, PA! Trinity is very excited to connect with all the wonderful performing arts groups on campus! Usually waltzing around the HUB, coffee in hand, Trinity is also a first-year council member on the 16th UPUA assembly. With this being both her first year at Penn State and on PAC, Trinity looks forward to working to protect and represent our artistic rights here on campus!
Naomi is an agribusiness management major with a minor in entrepreneurship with the hopes of one day working for PepsiCo or starting her own restaurant chain. She enjoys reading, crocheting, eating and hiking. With the position of SPA liasion, she hope to integrate organizations under PAC and SPA committees by bringing forward new ideas to help make the Penn State community cherish and admire the arts.
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AdvisorHope Falk, Student Engagement Manager |
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Hope is the Student Engagement Manager for the Center for the Performing Arts and Student Affairs at Penn State. In her role as Student Engagement Manager Hope is responsible for engaging students with CPA's performances by providing opportunities for meaning-making, learning and further connection with the artists. She is also passionate about the intersection of art and wellness and runs a workshop series called Mindful Making that offers students one-off art making opportunities as a self-care practice. She is thrilled to be working with PAC and is looking forward to assisting them in expanding their programs.
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