What it means to be a graduate of our program
Pitt-Greensburg students who are passionate about the arts have found our Visual and Performing Arts program an excellent training ground for their careers.
VAPA Majors
Alicia DiPaolo, working as Talent Acquisition Representative for Excela Health, performs frequently with Westmoreland-area theatre companies, seen most recently as Linda in the Wedding Singer (Greensburg Civic Theatre) and as Woman #2 in My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra (Theatre Factory). She was stage manager for the Theatre Factory's performance of Tenderly, The Rosemary Clooney Musical. She is on the boards of both the Greensburg Civic Center and the Pitt-Greensburg Alumni Association.
Samantha Downes completed her first solo album Rhythm of Your Soul as part of her senior capstone project. She is currently studying nursing in Cincinnati.
Jordan Fessler, who double-majored in Communications and VAPA, is working as an Account Executive at Renda Broadcasting, for Pittsburgh’s WISH 99.7.
Elaine Fisher, while working as a Manager at Anytime Fitness in Murrysville, is completing a Photography certificate at Pittsburgh Filmmakers; she also works as a free-lance photographer with Elaine Fisher Photography.
Carissa Hardy is a Teacher at The Children's Center of Pittsburgh.
Claire Kraski (Secen) is Leave Specialist at UPMC, and records and performs with her husband Cody as the Feel-Good Revolution.
Cody Kraski forms the other half of the Feel-Good Revolution. He is Loan Support Specialist for PNC Bank.
Cletus McConville is currently working in the Box Office of the Palace Theater in Greensburg, PA, and also works as a magician and entertainer with Magic on the Run.
Brittany Nycz graduated Magna Cum Laude with an MBA from Point Park University. She works in a coordinator/project management role at Brunner, an advertising agency in downtown Pittsburgh.
Jesse Palatucci is an actor living and working in Los Angeles. He had a leading role in the film Frenchman’s Flat and appeared in a Credit Karma commercial.
Bethany Puzzini (Thomas) completed an MBA in Arts Administration at Point Park University and reviews theater performances for the PA Theatre Guide.
Tony Puzzini is Account Executive at PLS Logistics Services.
Melissa Raichel is currently working as Box Office Staff and Front of House Staff at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg, PA.
Elliot Sheedy completed a Master of Fine Arts in Media Studies at Emerson College in Boston, MA. As part of his MFA studies, he wrote and directed the film Crown of Gamma, collaborating with the Pitt-Greensburg Chorale for its soundtrack.
Emily Stark has been working in business and accounting with EmAche Productions, LLC, a production company working on the Netflix series Mindhunter filmed in Pittsburgh, PA.
Amy Swan (née Metz) earned her MA in art history at WVU. She works at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) as an Archives Technician in the Processing department to maintain, preserve, and digitize the records of the Federal Government.
Jake Steele is a tattoo artist who relocated to Los Angeles to continue his career at Hidden Los Angeles Tattoo And Fine Art.
Theatre Minors
Nate LaSor, Communications major and Theatre minor, is living and working in Los Angeles as a photographer and owner of ImagiNate Entertainment.
Meg Hughes, Creative and Professional Writing Major and Theatre Minor, has completed a Master of Fine Arts degree in TV Writing at the Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television in Los Angeles.
Lauren McGuigan and Samantha McGuigan, Communications majors and Theatre minors, are relocating to Los Angeles to pursue careers in acting.
