Stacy Shapin wears two hats in the College of Fine Arts — she is both the director of advising as well as the program director for the new Bachelor of Arts in creative practice. She helps students develop robust transferable skills for employment in today's modern workforce.
"All our students leave with the ability to think creatively and outside the box,” says Shapin. “They are problem solvers, develop excellent time management skills, and they have the ability to take feedback and critique and synthesize it into a desired outcome."
Her career with UNLV began in 2007, when she was hired as an office manager for the School of Music. Now she helps students discover the many aspects of working in creative fields.
Tell us about your expertise prior to coming to UNLV.
I have worked in higher education for the entirety of my career. I like to say I started college and never left!
Prior to moving to Las Vegas, I worked at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, where I worked in the housing department and new student programs. I completed my BS in arts management there. After I moved to Las Vegas and realized I had been working in higher education for 20-plus years, I decided to make it a career and earned my M.Ed. in higher education at UNLV in 2014.
What is a meaningful spot for you on campus — either personally or professionally — and why?
I am very fond of the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, for several reasons. My bachelor's degree is in arts management with an emphasis in museum studies. So, being in the museum feels very comfortable. Professionally, it's the first place I started teaching first-year seminar courses on campus. I really enjoy introducing our newest members of the university to such a lovely, serene space. Personally, it's a delightful, quiet spot to spend a lunch hour or just get out of my head for a bit and recenter when I experience stressful workdays.
What is the biggest misconception about your field?
The biggest misconception is that a career in the arts is unsustainable and unemployable. The stereotype about the starving artist is outdated and inaccurate.
A degree in fine arts — no matter if it's the creative practice BA or a stage and screen acting degree in theatre — provides some of the most robust transferable skills for employment in today's modern workforce. All our students leave with the ability to think creatively and outside the box. They are problem solvers, develop excellent time management skills, and have the ability to take feedback and critique and synthesize it into a desired outcome.
The flexibility of the BA in creative practice allows those majors to tailor an undergraduate experience that will focus on the artistic areas they care most about and teach them business tools like developing a business plan and working in an internship. Our graduates are able to work as entrepreneurs or become valuable employees in any sector because they have developed the skill sets that employers value.
Is this what you thought you’d do when you grew up?
It's nowhere near what I thought I'd do! I started as a music major and when I realized I didn't want to be professional musician, I didn't know what else to do. I was an English major, a psychology major, and finally ended up in arts management. Even when I was graduating with my bachelor's, I wasn't sure that was the major I wanted!
After I moved to Las Vegas, I was able to put that degree into practice when I was hired to be the office manager for the School of Music. It wasn't until I was about 36 that I realized I wanted to get a master's degree in higher education.
I'm what my mother used to call a "late bloomer." I've worked with many students who experience very similar situations to mine. The beauty of blooming late is that, while you experience frustration in the short-term by not being able to progress easily like you see all your peers doing, when you finally find the "thing" that is yours, you fly — because you know all the things you don't want to do and have already made most of your mistakes.
Becoming the program director for the BA in creative practice many years later is a joy for me. I have been able to help develop a program that will allow our students to enter into a professional area that they will hopefully find satisfaction in doing work they love and excel in, whether that's running their own studio or gallery, working for a nonprofit agency or a large corporation in a creative endeavor.
When you’re out in the community or traveling, what’s the biggest misconception you encounter about UNLV?
That UNLV has a hard time with students taking their studies seriously because the Strip is right there and is so distracting. Our fine arts students are driven, passionate, immensely talented, and committed to their studies. I'm in awe of the amount of things they juggle — classes, rehearsals, studio time, performances, academic research, jobs, etc.
I'm proud of each and every one of our students and our college, our excellent faculty, advising staff, support staff, and administration. The commitment to our students and their success is what our college stands for.
What is the worst advice you’ve ever received?
"Never give up." It's important to give anything a chance and dedicate your best attempts to it, but sometimes you just have to stop doing what you're doing if it's not working or making you miserable. It's only when you take a break and can say "I've changed my mind and this isn't for me" that you can see a different path ahead.
What advice would you give your younger self?
The advice I would give my younger self is to not worry so much. Explore more, say yes to the opportunities that come along, even if they don't look the way you imagined or you're not sure you can do it. Be confident in your ability to take care of yourself, change your mind as often as you need to, and keep growing. Great things show up when you least expect them if you're open to new ideas and willing to accept the challenges.
Name a person (or group of persons) on campus you’d like to thank.
First, I want to thank Julie Johnson, the director of Student Success Initiatives in the College of Fine Arts. She was my boss in advising when I first started, and she took a chance on me without any formal experience or even an advanced degree when I started. Without that opportunity, I know I wouldn't be where I am now.
I also want to thank College of Fine Arts Dean Nancy Uscher. She is tireless in her leadership of the College of Fine Arts. Her vision and drive have really advanced our college, and her support and mentorship for me personally have been so important in my own professional development.
And lastly, but definitely not least, I want to thank our advising staff. Every single person I work with is so committed to our students, their success, and our college. They are passionate helpers who achieve miraculous amounts of work for our students while being severely under-resourced, and really believe in the value of an education in fine arts. They make my day-to-day job such a wonderful experience, and I am exceptionally proud of the work they do.
