Vana Trudeau Holds New Post
by Olivia Appleton
Vana Trudeau has a new position.
Trudeau, the Tilden Arts Center and college events coordinator since 2016, has been named the full-time faculty member at the 4C’s Performing Arts Program. It’s the first time since 2009 that the program has had a full-time professor. Previously, adjunct faculty have taught classes in the program.
“Some of our first steps are just to go back to looking at the program overall as it's structured … with music, theater and dance, looking at the curriculum, ensuring that our curriculum is up to date and transferable,” Trudeau says.
Trudeau says students not interested in making performing arts a career can benefit from getting involved.
“I'll give you an example,” Trudeau says. “A student who is studying criminal justice might well benefit from taking an acting or an improvisation course because on a daily basis those that are working frontlines in law enforcement and criminal justice are faced with unpredictable circumstances. Building tools that allow you to effectively communicate and respond to dynamic situations, that's a really wonderful way of showing how the performing arts can help someone who's focused in another academic area.
“The same would go for nursing programs, dental hygiene students, you name it. There's a lot of outreach to be done to other academic departments to build partnerships between the performing arts and those other programs and really grow opportunities for students to participate in the performing arts in ways that are gonna keep them engaged on campus.”
Trudeau graduated from 4C’s.
“I understand many of the challenges that today's students are facing. I'm also a first-generation college graduate and so (she has the goal of) reassuring students that their challenges, that their concerns, are not just heard but understood and validated. Looking at those ways that the performing arts can be an outlet for creativity can be a great mental health break for people, to connect students with each other. That's all part of being a well-rounded person, having deep meaningful relationships with your peers and finding ways to be a member of a community. That's what one of the many things that the performing arts can do.”
Trudeau says she is grateful for this new opportunity.
“I could not be more thrilled. Teaching has always been my first love. I started teaching at a fairly young age, tutoring students in my neighborhood and through my school system. I've always considered myself to be a teacher first. Over the years also added a number of skill sets, and the administration and planning and management and all of that is a great part of who I am, but nothing makes me happier than working directly with students.”
“Bright Star”, written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, is the spring musical at the Tilden Arts Center. An early round of auditions will be held during the finals period along with another round of auditions at the beginning of the spring semester. Rehearsals will be held in February and March, and the show will open in April. For more information, contact Professor Trudeau at [email protected].
Vana Trudeau. (Kendra Murphy)
Categories: Featured, Professors