This virtual series brings artists together to foster connection, create dialogue, and open doors to new opportunities. Whether you’re building a career in the arts or weaving creativity into a multifaceted life, each session will provide fresh insights and meaningful conversation.
Goals of the Series
Spotlight ways the arts create and sustain community
Provide a forum for learning and dialogue in unprecedented times
Build relationships across generations, geographies, and disciplines
Offer live engagement with arts professionals
Why Join?
Forge your path in the arts, whether as a central pursuit or part of a broader career
Live Q&A with arts professionals: Ask your questions and get answers directly
On-demand access: All sessions are recorded and added to PA2’s growing resource library
A new offering from PA2: Real-world arts career insights, delivered virtually
All Princeton Arts Alumni, as well as current undergraduate and graduate students, are invited to join.
Upcoming Webinars
Making (It) Work: Graduate School
📅 Thursday, November 6th
🕗 7:00PM—8:00PM ET
Join us to discuss the pros & cons of various graduate degrees in relation to artistic pursuits. Our conversation will center around graduate degrees, including MFAs, MBAs, JDs, and other forms of tertiary education that can feed creative pursuits, perhaps in surprising ways.
👉 Sign Up Here by November 6th to attend the live and receive access details
Making (It) Work: Corporate Hygiene for Artists
📅 Wednesday, November 12th
🕗 7:00PM—8:00PM ET
Our conversation will center around how to keep your business's finances and paperwork in good form, with experts guiding you through key practices.
👉 Sign Up Here by November 12th to attend the live and receive access details
Making (It) Work: Strengthening Nonprofits
October 22nd
Meet Our Panelists
Panelists:
Lauren Whitehead ‘09, Social Protection and Gender Global Lead, UNICEF HQ
Lauren Whitehead is the Social Protection and Gender Global Lead at UNICEF HQ where she oversees a global portfolio to drive gender equality through social protection with colleagues and governments across 120+ countries and 7 regions. Her work focuses on finding more and better ways to fight poverty and support caregivers and children, against a backdrop of building a more gender equitable society. Prior to UNICEF, she was Chief Technical Specialist at UN Women, leading partner coalitions of governments, UN agencies, civil society and private sector to commit to the Sustainable Development Goals on gender equality.
She also previously spent six years at BRAC, the world's largest international NGO, where she led as the Director of Technical Assistance managing a team of 40+ global staff to design and deliver technical assistance, advisory services, and policy advocacy to equip governments around the world to design smarter, more effective programs to tackle poverty and inequality. After Princeton, she earned her Masters from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service. Throughout her career she has incorporated her Princeton theater background in a wide variety of ways, and brings a heavy dose of creative writing to her every day work imagining ways to make the world a better place for all.
Vidya Satchit '03, Global Strategy, Geopolitics & Policy Expert
Vidya is a respected leader at the intersection of strategy, policy, and cross-border financing who has advised numerous Fortune 500 companies, Global South governments, and non-profits on navigating complex global challenges. As Edelman's Global Strategist she played a key role in shaping + presenting the firm's Trust Barometer (now in its 25th year) and counseled C-suite clients on geopolitics, policy, and reputation. Vidya holds an AB from Princeton University, a JD from the Yale Law School and an MBA with Honors from The Wharton School.
She serves on the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra's Board of Trustees; the Grameen Foundation's Leadership Advisory Council; and Sakhi for South Asian Survivors' Emeritus Board. Vidya also speaks fluent Mandarin and is an accomplished classical violinist, Taekwondo black belt and certified yoga instructor. Originally from Philadelphia, she now lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their two boys.
Alan Fletcher '78, Munroe President and CEO of the Aspen Music Festival and School
Alan Fletcher has served as the Munroe President and CEO of the Aspen Music Festival and School since 2006 and has enjoyed a distinguished dual career as a composer and music educator. A Princeton and Juilliard graduate, he previously held leadership and teaching roles at the New England Conservatory and Carnegie Mellon University. His compositions have been commissioned by major institutions including the Pittsburgh Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Atlanta Symphony, and performed by renowned artists such as Renée Fleming. Fletcher was recently elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Class of 2025.
Moderator:
Lou Chen ‘19, Chief Executive Officer, INTEMPO
Originally from San Bernardino, California, Lou Chen is a social entrepreneur and arts educator. He currently serves as CEO of INTEMPO, a Stamford, CT-based nonprofit that provides music education and youth development services for children from immigrant backgrounds. Before that, Lou was at Princeton University for ten years: four as undergraduate student, six as staff. As a sophomore, he started a youth orchestra composed of Trenton high school students and Princeton student volunteers.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in music (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa), Lou was hired by Princeton to grow the orchestra into a larger arts outreach initiative connecting the Trenton and Princeton communities, now known as Trenton Arts at Princeton. For his work championing arts education, Lou has received the Tiger Entrepreneur Award, Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts, and A. James Fisher, Jr. Memorial Award, among other distinctions. He serves on the Princeton University Concerts Committee, Board of Trustees for Young Audiences NJ & Eastern PA, Board of Advisors for Princeton Arts Alumni, and Stamford Arts and Culture Commission.
Making (It) Work: Portfolio Careers
October 8th
Meet Our Panelists
Panelists:
Saadia El Karfi Azzarone *26, Head of Partnerships & Academic Engagement
Saadia El Karfi Azzarone is the Head of Partnerships and Academic Engagement at Lumiere, a global research organization that connects high school students with research mentors to conduct independent projects. She leads Lumiere’s business development and academic engagement strategy across the U.S. and international markets, managing a global team that builds partnerships with schools, nonprofits, independent counselors, and universities. Through these collaborations, she drives organizational growth while developing programs that help students access research opportunities and learn to articulate their intellectual interests within the college admissions process. Prior to joining Lumiere, Saadia worked at a venture-backed EdTech firm, where she led mentor recruitment and curriculum design initiatives.
At Princeton, Saadia is a Ph.D. candidate in French and Francophone Studies. Her research examines how postcolonial literature from the Maghreb reimagines voice, agency, and authorship by transforming silence, shame, and the body into sites of resistance and creativity. She explores how narratives of desire and marginalization become acts of political and ethical engagement, turning storytelling into a space where silenced voices reclaim the power to speak and to redefine what it means to belong.
Dexter Palmer *01, Novelist
Dexter Palmer received a Ph.D. in English Literature from Princeton University in 2001. He is the author of three novels: The Dream of Perpetual Motion, which was named one of the best debuts of 2010 by Kirkus Reviews; Version Control, which was named as one of the best books of 2016 by GQ, The San Francisco Chronicle, and other publications; and Mary Toft, or, The Rabbit Queen, whose French edition (translated by Anne-Sylvie Homassel) received the Grand Prix de traduction de la Ville d'Arles in 2022.
He lives in Princeton, New Jersey and serves on the board of Princeton Arts Alumni.
Paul Schiff Berman ‘88, Theater Director and Law Professor
Paul Schiff Berman is both a theater director and a law professor. He was Artistic Director of Spin Theater from 1988-1995 and was Administrative Director of both The Wooster Group and Richard Foreman's Ontological-Hysteric Theater at Saint Mark's Church. He is currently creating and directing a new work in New York City entitled The Truth Beneath.
On the law side, Berman served as law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, has been Dean of two law schools, and has been a law professor since 1998. He is currently the Walter S. Cox Professor of Law at The George Washington University Law School.
Moderator:
James Van Wyck, Assistant Dean for Professional Development, Princeton University
James M. Van Wyck is an Assistant Dean for Professional Development in the Graduate School at Princeton University. He co-edited The Reimagined PhD: Navigating 21st Century Humanities Education (2021, Rutgers University Press), and has published articles in venues including the New England Quarterly, the Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed. He earned his Ph.D. from Fordham University, specializing in 19th Century American Literary History.
He serves on a range of boards, advisory councils, and mentorship programs, including: member of the board of directors of the United Way of Greater Mercer County; Alumni Executive Council Member at William Paterson University; Regional Network Leader and Dean’s Advisory Council board member for the College of Arts and Sciences at the University at Buffalo; board member for Princeton Arts Alumni. His current book project is “Leadership and the Imagination.”
Making (It) Work: Applied Humanities
September 24th
Meet Our Panelists
Panelists:
Genevieve Allotey-Pappoe *24, Assistant Professor of Music, Brown University
Genevieve Allotey-Pappoe is an Assistant Professor of Music at Brown University. She completed her PhD in the Department of Music at Princeton University in May 2024. While at Princeton, Genevieve was a graduate fellow at the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS) and a GradFutures Social Impact fellow at various non-profit organizations including the Newark Symphony Hall. Between 2021 and 2022, she was a visiting graduate fellow at the Humanities Branch of the Spanish National Research Council in Barcelona (IMF-CSIC).
Genevieve is the founder and host of the Black Music Nomad podcast. She is also a composer, and her compositions have been performed in Ghana, Greece, USA, and Nigeria. Genevieve has an MPhil in Ethnomusicology and Composition as well as a BA in Music and Sociology from the University of Ghana.
Kurt Adams *17, Senior Content Marketing Leader, Going
Kurt Adams ‘17 is a marketer working in the fintech sector, where he helps consumers navigate the world of personal finance. He’s currently working on a book about the history of credit card rewards and frequent flyer miles, exploring who benefits from—and who pays for—these loyalty programs.
Kurt earned his Ph.D. in Religion, with a focus on American religious history, and is actively involved in the Princeton alumni community. He volunteers with Graduate Alumni Annual Giving and is a new member of the APGA board.
He lives in New York City with his partner, Kevin, and their two cats, Franklin and Lucy.
William Plunkett ‘16, National Account Manager, Macmillin Publishers
Will Plunkett is a National Account Manager for Macmillan Publishers, managing relationships with retailers like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Barnes & Noble, driving sales growth, brand awareness, and product visibility. While specializing in digital sales, Will also has a background in in-stock management, optimizing online sales presence and managing/forecasting inventory levels for print books (Adult and Children's).
Prior to 2020, he worked at A&O Shearman as a senior business analyst before transitioning from law into a career in publishing. At Princeton, Will concentrated in English with certificates in Linguistics and Theater.
Charlotte Werbe (Hazard) *18, Education Professional, PhD Mentor and Coach
Charlotte Werbe (Hazard) is a sales and operations leader, educational consultant, and mentor for humanities PhDs pivoting into industry. She holds a PhD in French Literature from Princeton University and transitioned from a tenure-track faculty position at Gettysburg College to senior leadership roles in EdTech and consulting, including founding leadership at a VC-backed firm. She specializes in sales, operations, and go-to-market strategy, helping small EdTech companies successfully scale.
Drawing on her own academic-to-industry pivot, Charlotte champions humanities PhDs pursuing diverse career paths through mentorship, thought leadership, resume services, and proactively bridging PhDs with employers. She brings a nuanced awareness of the challenges PhDs face when building careers beyond the academy and works closely with them to ensure their analytical and leadership skills drive meaningful professional advancement and fulfillment, while empowering them to become confident self-advocates.
Moderator:
Pilar Castro Di Carlo, Founder & CEO of More Canvas Consulting, Founder of Princeton Arts Alumni
Since founding More Canvas in 2014, Pilar’s expertise in business consulting, focused on strategic planning, operations improvement, communications management, and leadership coaching, has generated value for a portfolio of clients across industries.
Pilar’s approach connects strategy with storytelling, drawing both from her professional experience and training: Pilar earned an MBA from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania and an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, all while working as an entrepreneur and professional artist after graduating cum laude from Princeton University.
Making (It) Work: Arts Festivals
September 17th
Meet Our Panelists
Panelists:
Blair Hurley ‘09, Author
Blair Hurley is the author of THE DEVOTED, which was longlisted for The Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize. Her second novel, MINOR PROPHETS, was published in 2023. Her work is published in New England Review, Electric Literature, The Georgia Review, Guernica, Paris Review Daily, and elsewhere. Her story “The Telepathist” was listed as a “Distinguished Story” in Best American Short Stories 2022. She is a Pushcart Prize winner and an ASME Fiction award finalist.
Gregory Nussen, Lead Critic, ScreenRant
Gregory Nussen is a multidisciplinary artist from Los Angeles, whose show, QFWFQ, won Best Solo Theatre and the Sydney Fringe Exchange Award and was nominated for Top of Fringe, Best World Premiere and the Joy Who Lived Award. Off-Broadway: Caliban in The Tempest (CSC), Jess Burkle & Tony Speciale’s A Four-Letter Word (CSC/Plastic Theatre/World Event Young Artists in the UK); Other NYC: shows with Piehole, Pulse Ensemble.
The Diary, their previous solo show, premiered at Theater for the New City. Regional: Christopher in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Phoenix Theatre Company). LA: several shows with Theatre of NOTE, Theater West, The Odyssey, Red Ink Ensemble, UCB, The Groundlings. Gregory is also an NYFCC award-winning critic and is currently the Lead Critic for Screen Rant, with bylines in Deadline, Slant, In Review Online, Backstage, Salon, Knock-LA and others. MFA, Columbia. AEA, SAG-AFTRA, GALECA.
Ryan Ozminkowski ‘19, Creative Producer
Ryan Ozminkowski '19 is a creative producer based out of Las Vegas who specializes in a wide range of experiential and immersive productions. His productions aim to blend a variety of artistic endeavors into one seamless experience with his experiences ranging from magic shows and fine dining to art walks, drone shows, and holograms. His productions have taken him from LA to Arkansas, F1 and Art Basel to Warsaw and of course, Princeton Reunions.
Prior to his time in events and experiences, Ryan worked in Hollywood for directors Ron Howard and Damien Chazelle and cofounded a Y Combinator-backed fintech startup in San Francisco. At Princeton, Ryan concentrated in Philosophy with certificates in Theater and Musical Theater, competed for the varsity track team, and co-founded Princeton Tonight, Princeton's first cable-access television show.
Moderator:
Lovell Holder, Writer and Filmmaker, Princeton Arts Alumni Board Member
Lovell Holder has produced the critically acclaimed feature films The Surrender, Peak Season, Midday Black Midnight Blue, The End of Us, Working Man, Some Freaks, and Loserville (which he also directed). He recently celebrated the theatrical release of his feature film adaptation of the play Lavender Men, which he directed, co-wrote, and produced. Collectively, his films have screened at over 100 festivals worldwide, including SXSW, Santa Barbara, Fantasia, Outfest, and BFI.
His debut novel, The Book of Luke, will be published by Grand Central Publishing (an imprint of Hachette) in hardcover and audiobook in Fall 2025. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, he is a graduate of Princeton University and Brown University (MFA).