Dean's delegates

Selected students from the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts represent their department/major as leaders for the college and university.

Potential leadership scholars apply through the dean’s office. Students from each department are selected to receive a scholarship for leadership training and experience. Students serve on the leadership committee and represent their department and major in suggested activities such as college and university level functions, Dean’s advisory panel, student-to-student communication and community engagement. Committee participation may include direct involvement with recruitment, retention and development activities, focus groups, marketing, social media practices and customer service development.

Department of Communication

  • Anjali Gupta

    Anjali Gupta

    Anjali is a junior at Wayne State University studying film and anthropology. She works at the Detroit Institute of Arts in the art studio and enjoys creating art pieces in her spare time. Anjali aspires to be a director and writer for television and movie productions after graduating and has always dreamt of being a museum curator!   

  • Shawntay Lewis

    Shawntay Lewis

    Shawntay Lewis is a junior broadcast journalism and Spanish major at Wayne State University. She is a 2022-2023 Rosa Parks Scholar Reporting Intern at The Detroit News and has served as the Arts and Entertainment editor at The South End. In winter 2023, she was an associate producer at the journalism program’s MetroArts Detroit which airs on Detroit Public TV, and a news intern at WDET 101.9. She is a member of the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity and enjoys playing saxophone in the WSU marching band. She has a passion for storytelling and amplifying diverse voices in the community. Originally from Kalamazoo, Shawntay is interested in history, health care, music and civic journalism. She is looking forward to continuing her journalism career in Detroit and traveling abroad in the future.

  • Mya Smith

    Mya Smith

    Mya is currently a junior at Wayne State. After graduating from Grosse Pointe North she started her journey as a Warrior. Originally going into college undecided, she landed on a major of Public Relations. Through strong staff relations and a strong interest in creativity and writing she was able to find an internship at The Fulkerson Group, and develop many strong relationships with the taste-makers of Detroit. Post graduation she plans on attending Law School to strengthen her contract writing skills. When she is not writing, Mya enjoys traveling, reading, and hanging out with her fellow Warriors. She is so excited to serve as a Dean's Delegate, because she knows how much proper guidance at Wayne can benefit a students future.

  • Vonn Taylor

    Vonn Taylor

    Davon M. Taylor or Vonn is in his junior here at Wayne State University setting out to conquer his ambitions unlike any other individual. He is a hyperactive Detroit native that is majoring in Media Arts and minoring in Music Technology. Mr.Taylor has aspirations of being a creative director or art director within the entertainment industry or the automotive industry. He desires to use his creative talents to innovate his own path way and becoming a well known professional. 

    “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” David Brinkley 

Department of Music

  • Claire Hall

    Claire Hall

    Claire Hall is a junior majoring in Music Business. She serves as a member of Task Force in Wayne Redefined and is a section leader for all choirs. She also teaches private piano lessons and coaches a soul/funk band. Claire is excited to be apart of the Dean’s Delegate program to continue giving back to the music department where she has grown as a student and musician.

  • John Pablo Rojas

    John Pablo Rojas

    John Pablo Rojas is a junior at Wayne State University studying cello performance and composition. He has studied cello since he was eight years old, and has appeared with a variety of ensembles in Detroit and beyond. He recently attended and performed at the Brevard Music Center, a renowned pre-professional program geared towards young orchestral performers. At Brevard he had the opportunity to perform with giant classical names such as Jeremy Denk and Simone Porter, as well as the Broadway legend Audra McDonald. As a Dean’s Delegate, John Pablo looks forward to collaborating on projects with other passionate student leaders in the community.

Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance

  • Jesse Boyd-Williams

    Jesse Boyd-Williams

    Jesse Boyd-Williams is a BA Theatre major in his junior year at Wayne State University. Jesse is a graduate of the Detroit School of Arts, where he received rigorous training in classical, jazz, and choral ensemble music. Jesse earned an associate in arts degree in Telecommunication from Henry Ford College while working as a summer program intern at Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. Jesse is a recent winner of the 2023 Black Theatre Network’s StudentQuest Monologue competition and now serves on the board as undergrad liaison for the Black Theatre Network. His most recent involvement include Showtime, STARZ Network, HBOMax, Plowshares Theatre Company, and Williamston Theatre. Jesse is proud and honored to be a part of the Dean's Delegate program and hopes to keep inspiring and supporting the CFPCA community at Wayne State University.

  • Ashley Poulin

    Ashley Poulin

    Ashley Poulin is a fourth year international student working towards her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting whilst also pursuing minors in Musical Theatre and Forensic Investigations & Policing. She was most recently seen in Silent Sky, Cabaret, and Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again (KCACTF National Winner) Underground at the Hilberry Theatre (for which she is the Chair). Ashley has also worked as director on Burn This and June, July, August during the Underground summer season and is a cast member of Motor City Cabaret. She also works for WSU Housing as a Resident Advisor and a Recruitment Delegate in the CFPCA. Ashley hopes to continue to grow the CFPCA community's passion for the arts and is honored and excited to be a Dean’s Delegate for her third year. 

  • Olivia Woebke

    Olivia Woebke

    Olivia Woebke is a second year student at Wayne State University working towards a Bachelor of Science in Dance. She is originally from Bloomington, Minnesota, where she teaches dance and runs administration at a dance studio during the summer. She has deeply enjoyed her time at WSU, especially her experience touring to Michigan schools with Company One. Outside of the classroom, she loves hiking and rock climbing. Olivia is honored and excited to be a dean’s delegate, and hopes to strengthen relations between the dance department and the rest of the university. 

James Pearson Duffy Department of Art and Art History

  • Elana Anderson

    Elana Anderson

    Elana Anderson is a sophomore at Wayne State studying Industrial Design. She is from Southgate, MI and has loved being a part of the Detroit community. As both a fine artist and a performer, she is passionate about the arts and is looking forward to representing the CFPCA at Wayne State through the Dean’s Delegate program. In her free time, she enjoys playing gigs with her band, reading, working out, and spending time with friends! Outside of class she works as a resident advisor on campus and as a sales associate in her neighborhood home and garden store

  • Sherri Nidiffer

    Sherri Nidiffer

    Sherri Nidiffer is a senior at Wayne State pursuing a Bachelor's in Graphic Design. She also works in the Graphic Design lab on the third floor of Old Main. There, you can find her helping other students produce their projects or bouncing ideas off her peers. She also runs an Etsy store where she sells her own designs in the form of cross stitch patterns. She's excited to be a Dean's Delegate to bring attention to the department and to encourage more students to be creative Warriors.

  • Haley Moore

    Haley Moore

    Haley Moore is a senior studying design with a concentration in fashion, along with a minor in industrial design. Haley spent the summer interning with Bridal Couture of Birmingham working in alterations and selling couture gowns. Haley has always had a huge passion for wedding gowns and formal wear and hopes to work in that part of the industry after graduation. Haley is also the President of Wayne States Fashion Design and Merchandising Organization and can't wait to put on their annual fashion show.

  • Gabbi Slocum

    Gabbi Slocum

    Gabrielle Slocum is currently a senior at Wayne State studying painting with a minor in sculpture. They are motivated by their never-ending desire to explore various art mediums and forms of expression in hopes of gaining a better understanding of themself and the evolving world around them. Gabrielle is inspired by their Filipino immigrant family to explore opportunities and aid their community. Outside of Wayne State they enjoy spending time with their family, cooking, crocheting, listening to podcasts, and playing video games.