Mellanee Goodman of Charlotte was attracted to art management as a degree that allowed her to explore her passion for art while also providing a solid business background. In her time at Appalachian State University, she’s found that her classmates are more like family and her professors are her favorite aspect of the program.

“I can tell that they enjoy teaching and engaging with their students, and I love how they have passion for the topics and courses they teach,” Goodman said about her professors.

Goodman also works as the special events assistant and instructor for the Blazing Easels children’s workshop at the university’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, a position brought to her attention through the Art Management Organization, a student club on campus.

“We meet once every two weeks and do different art projects or go to different art events locally and regionally,” she shared. “We’re a close group, and they’re my support team.”

During summer 2017, she had the opportunity to intern with the Diversity in Arts Leadership program, run by the Arts and Business Council of New York City. The prestigious program is only offered to college students from underrepresented backgrounds who are majoring in the arts or management sector.

“One day, I would like to manage my own gallery in New York,” she said. “I would also like to develop a nonprofit organization that works to implement the arts for children that come from underrepresented backgrounds.”