The Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University announced the hire of Marion Young as Administrative Director and Angel Gardner as Assistant Director, External Affairs, a new position dedicated to serving arts alumni, the Center’s advisory council and current students.
Young will commence her new position on a part-time basis in December and assume her duties full-time on January 5. She succeeds former Director of Administration Fanny Chouinard, who was appointed in July to a new position at the Lewis Center dedicated to outreach to underserved communities through the Center’s programs. The Administrative Director of the Lewis Center oversees its staff, operations and finances, working closely with the Chair and program directors to realize the academic and artistic vision for the Center.
Photo by Ashley LaBonde, Wide Eyed Studios
Young is currently the Executive Director of Art-Reach in Philadelphia, an organization that connects artists and arts events with underserved audiences. Prior to Art-Reach, Young served for four years as Managing Director of The Civilians, a theater company based in New York. The Civilians worked previously with the Lewis Center teaching a Princeton Atelier in conjunction with the Princeton Environmental Institute that led to the creation of the musical on climate change, The Great Immensity, which had its New York premiere at The Public Theater Lab last spring. Young is a Princeton graduate, Class of 2000, and earned her M.F.A. in Stage Management from Yale School of Drama. Much of Young’s stage management career was devoted to the work of August Wilson, including the national tour of his final play Radio Golf, seen at both McCarter Theatre and on Broadway.
“We are extremely pleased that Marion has agreed to help us realize our mission to put the arts at the center of the Princeton experience,” noted Michael Cadden, Chair of the Center. “Her experience in stage management, as CEO of an important, community-based cultural organization, and as a managing director make her a perfect fit for our dynamic, growing and multi-faceted center for the study and production of the arts at Princeton.”
“I am thrilled to join the Lewis Center and support Princeton’s extraordinary vision for the arts,” stated Young. “I look forward to working with Michael and all of the program directors in achieving the Center’s ambitious goals.”
Gardner will begin her tenure at the Lewis Center on November 24 in a new position geared toward Princeton alumni and soon-to-be alumni, working closely with the Chair and his assistant, the Lewis Center’s communications office, as well as the Office of Development and the Office of Alumni Affairs.
Photo courtesy Angel Gardner
Gardner most recently served as Director of Communications for National Dance Institute, a major educational organization based in New York City and founded by the legendary choreographer Jacques d’Amboise. She has also worked as volunteer Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Oratorio Society of New York, with whom she has sung for many years. Previously, Gardner was Managing Director of the Hip-Hop Theater Festival, Assistant Company Manager at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and a tour manager, company manager and program administrator for a number of artists and events. She has a B.A. in Art with a concentration in printmaking and photography from Goshen College and earned her M.F.A. in Theater Management from Yale School of Drama.
“More Princetonians are identifying themselves as artists and/or as passionate participants in and supporters of the arts,” notes Cadden. “In this new position, Angel will work with me and many others to serve these alumni and build connections between them and our current students, and to help tell the story of how involvement in the arts at Princeton impacted the lives and careers of our graduates.”
“I’m incredibly honored to be joining the team at the Lewis Center for the Arts and the community of Princeton,” notes Gardner. “I look forward to working with the University to create new opportunities for engagement with alumni in the arts.”
