Reflections Magazine Issue #77 - Fall 2012 | Page 16

Feature Article

?

You Did

What
With Your

Siena Heights

Degree

By Doug Goodnough

Graduates Sometimes
Take an Unorthodox Road
to a Career Path

M

any institutions of higher education claim that their
students “can do anything with a college degree.”
Over the years, Siena Heights University graduates have put that
statement to the test. Reflections Magazine interviewed a few these
graduates who have used their education to carve out interesting—
if not unorthodox—career paths. Success indeed does come in many
forms, and these students have a good answer when asked :
“You did what with your Siena Heights degree?”

On the Move
When Chloe Whiting Stevenson ’08 completed her
degree in theater/speech communication at Siena
Heights University, her education was far from over.
In fact, it took another two years of graduate school at
Illinois State University before she finally figured out
what she wanted to do with her degree.
“I dediced that I wanted to study physical theatre, which is a somewhat new term within the theatre realm.”
In fact, there were only two Master of Fine Arts programs in the
world – and only one with American accreditation. She enrolled at
the Accademia Dell’Arte program in Italy, which is accredited through
the University of Mississippi for Women in the U.S.
The program is two-and-a-half years long and includes a variety
of classes, including voice, movement, mask work, dance, acting,
music, acrobatics, philosophy and circus. Yes, circus. This past summer
Stevenson attended an intensive five-week workshop with a circus
school in Torino, Italy. She trained in acrobatics, tightrope, silks,
Chinese pole and the trapeze.
“I was personally drawn to the silks,” she said.
At workshop’s end she was part of an hour-long circus performance.
She had a solo and participated in several ensemble numbers.