In This Story
When adjunct professor Debra Smyers isn't teaching, she serves as the Executive Director of Fauquier Community Theatre and has been in the position since 2020. In 2005, she became the first Arts Management graduate at George Mason. Through the lenses of previous student and current arts practitioner, Debra challenges and supports students by teaching and assigning real-world type projects in the classroom. In the early years, she greatly expanded the Arts Management Internship Program and assisted students with resume building to optimize their career advancement opportunities.
Debra has over 30 years of experience in the arts and social services sectors. She has held various positions dedicated to promoting the arts and advocacy. Debra is the founder and principal of Arts Consulting International, LLC. Memberships include SAG-AFTRA and Americans for the Arts. Also, she is the founder of the Florida nonprofit Waste Not, Want Not, now in its 35th year of providing food and clothing resources in 14 counties.
Many Arts Management students come into a classroom thinking that assignments are just specifically catered for a course, how do you relate your assignments or projects to real world examples?
Debra: For the current Grant Writing in the Arts classes and the previous courses I taught: Strategic Planning in the Arts, Seminar in Arts Management, and Performing Arts Management, students create projects that are synonymous with real world grants, strategic plans, creative programming, and more.
Which arts management role has made a significant impact in your professional life and has also translated into your teaching methods?
Debra: Two roles have been equally important. In 2005, the Arts Management Program offered the course Arts Consultancy. That class changed the course of my career to become an Arts Consultant working with many organizations and multiple disciplines of the Arts. Also, being an Executive Director of two different arts organizations gave me even more knowledge about sustainability. In particular, during the health pandemic, Fauquier Community Theatre pivoted well despite many obstacles.
How long have you been at George Mason University and what has kept you in their Arts Management program?
Debra: My journey began as a student in 2004, the first year that the program offered courses. Almost all of us were performing or visual artists yearning to learn more about the business side of the arts. I graduated in 2005. Then, in 2007, I became the Internship Coordinator for the program. Next, 2008 became the year I was hired as adjunct faculty and have continued teaching in the Arts Management Program ever since. What keeps me in the program is the joy of giving back since I very much appreciated all my professors and mentors along the way! The more we all support each other, the more the Arts flourish!