Deanna Nagle

Deanna Nagle has served as the Student Engagement Manager at the Center for the Performing Arts since April 2023. In the time she has been with us, she has initiated new programs, greatly enhanced extant ones, and has displayed an emotional intelligence far beyond her years. She has recently been recognized by our largest professional organization, the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, as an emerging leader in the field and through this recognition, participated in the Emerging Leaders Academy, a professional development session which allowed her to expand her national network of young professionals in the field. At Penn State, we share Deanna with Student Affairs, from whence half of her funding comes, as they share the vision with us that every Penn State student deserves meaningful arts participation. She created, in partnership with Health Promotion and Wellness, the Vibe Out series, a musical wellness series focused on bolstering students’ mental health through movement and music. She leads the Arts Engagement Assistants program, which is what we call our interns, and is so beloved by all of them. One of the primary tasks of the AEAs is to curate a guest artist to appear on the Center for the Performing Arts’ season. Of course, most students do not have a great deal of experience with this, and Deanna’s way of suggesting without pushing, encouraging without just doing the work, and her patience with the whole process is commendable. Last year’s efforts with the students resulted in a nearly sold-out Eisenhower Auditorium for a performance of SNL cast member Marcello Hernandez. The sense of ownership the students had as a result of Deanna’s guidance and managerial style was off the charts! She challenges them, supports them and coaches them, all while maintaining a positive and enthusiastic spirit. She eagerly offered to act as our representative to the College’s Access and Equity office, and has led sessions for the staff and college in that capacity. She is the advisor for the Performing Arts Council, helping to shape that student organization in service of uniting the student performing arts groups on campus. She co-advises the dance team the Luxurious Lionesses. She has had such an incredible impact on this organization and to the college already, we can’t wait to see what she does in the future. Her youthful spirit belies her deep embodied wisdom, and we are grateful for the contributions of our Rising Star Deanna Nagle every day!