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
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Shawntay Lewis
Shawntay Lewis is a senior broadcast journalism and Spanish major at Wayne State University. She is a Student Journalist for the 2024 National Association of Hispanic Journalists Student Project. Previously, she served as a breaking news reporting intern at The Detroit News, news intern at WDET 101.9 FM, caregiving reporting intern for Urban Aging News, arts and entertainment editor at The South End and an associate producer for MetroArts Detroit on Detroit PBS.
She currently serves as the Copy Editor for The South End and Peer Mentor for the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity. Her passion is in documenting stories of humanity and amplifying diverse voices in the community. She looks forward to pursuing a career as a producer with a focus on health journalism and the arts.
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Faith Stanley
Faith is a Senior at Wayne State double majoring in Film and Marketing. She was introduced to the world of creative writing and story at a young age and has been dedicated to improving her craft through practice and personal research ever since.
As a creative and student filmmaker hopes to lead the entertainment world into a new and exciting era. Her career focus is in all things filmmaking with a focus on creating safe spaces for POC creators to collaborate in projects that showcase positive, unrepresented aspects of Black and Brown communities.
Always up for a challenge and an opportunity to make a positive contribution, Faith has been a devoted member of the Student Activity Funding Board for three years and is the new Chair for the 2024-25 year. As well as a devoted member of Wayne State University’s Forensic team participating in both its CEDA Policy and NEDA Crossfire divisions.
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Joseph Kuykendall
Joseph is a junior at Wayne State University majoring in Film and minoring in Public Relations. During his senior year of high school at Henry Ford Academy Dearborn (2021-22) he interned for the Media Relations Department at The Henry Ford Museum. Later that summer, he worked as production assistant for The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation hosted by Mo Rocca.
Joseph aspires to work in Media Relations in order to use media spread a light on culture that gets overlooked. Joseph is also really on active campus he is the President of Bronze, A Men’s Leadership Initiative and a member of the Alpha Beta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
Inc.
Department of Music
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Claire Hall
Claire Hall is a senior majoring in Music Business. She serves as the President of Wayne State Choirs and is also a section leader. She also works for the Department of Music as a Student Desk Assistant. Claire is excited to be apart of the Dean’s Delegate program for her second year and continue giving back to the music department where she has grown as a student and musician.
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John Pablo Rojas
John Pablo is a senior BM performance major at Wayne State University, studying cello and composition. Since beginning to study cello at the age of eight, they have had the opportunity to perform all over the country, with large scale shows in Chicago and Pittsburgh. He won the Wayne State Concerto Competition in December 2023, and was able to perform with the university orchestra at Detroit Symphony’s Orchestra Hall. Including an avid performance schedule, he also is a Teaching Artist at the Detroit School of Arts.
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Layan Srour
Layan is a Lebanese musician based in Detroit. She is currently a senior pursuing a bachelor's degree in music while concurrently embarking on her graduate degree in choral conducting. She began her love for music at the age of four - taking piano lessons and participating in competitions around the Midwest.
She extends her love for music around Michigan — working with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Jazz Festival, Girls Rock Detroit, and even performing around the state. She began her education at Henry Ford College and later brought her love of diverse musical genres to Wayne State University, where she founded the university’s only vocal jazz group. Her work focuses on connecting the familiar tunes of her homeland to the memories, emotions, and shared experiences of her Arab diaspora identity.
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Matthew Vovak
Matthew Vovak is a dedicated musician and educator in his senior year at Wayne State University, majoring in music education. He has been actively involved in the university's music community, serving as a section leader, student conductor for the choir program, and president of the Wayne State University NAfME Collegiate Chapter. Matthew is a passionate teacher, currently working as a percussion tech at the Taylor High School Marching Band.
In addition to his academic and leadership roles, Matthew has held the position of Dean's Delegate, representing the College of Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts. Before his time at Wayne State, Matthew was a member of the non-profit organization The Young Americans, where he has taught and performed across the globe. Matthew is honored to be a part of the Dean Delegate program for his third year and is excited to work with the other student leaders in the community.
Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance
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Jesse Boyd-Williams
Jesse Boyd-Williams is a multifaceted artist with experience in acting, writing, directing. Currently a senior pursuing a B.A. in Theatre at Wayne State University, Jesse’s background includes rigorous training in vocal studies at the Detroit School of Arts and an A.A. degree in Telecommunication from Henry Ford College.
His notable achievements include internships with Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and winning the 2023 Black Theatre Network’s StudentQuest Monologue Competition. He currently serves on the executive board of the Black Theatre Network as the Undergraduate Liaison and is the 2024-2025 Dean's Delegate for the College of Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts at Wayne State University. Additionally, he holds the position of Summer Program Coordinator at the Detroit Opera House.
He recently served as the Assistant Director for “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When The Rainbow is Enuf” by Ntozake Shange during Wayne State University's Fall 2024 season. Additionally, he directed Blood at the Root by Dominique Morisseau as part of the university's Summer 2024 season.
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Olivia Woebke
Olivia is in her final year as a Bachelor of Science student at Wayne State University. Social justice and phenomenological research are the pillars of her artistic practice, and she is passionate about creating spaces centered around her values.
Olivia feels a deep connection to nature, informed by her origins in Minnesota, which is present in all of her work. She is endlessly curious about interdisciplinary work, and seeks to use movement, voice, and visual arts to create holistic, multifaceted worlds.
This year Olivia is an executive director for WSU Dance Workshop, where she will mentor students through the creation of an evening long dance theater work. She is also a member of NDEO, and a presenter at the 2024 National Conference in Seattle.
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Aurelio Delgado
Aurelio Delgado is BA Theatre Major at Wayne State University. Originally from the Saginaw area Aurelio has worked film work for such institutions as Wayne State, The motion Picture Institute of Troy, Delta College, General Motors and is represented by both Wink Talent and Ryan Hill Casting.
He has recently been given scholarships from organizations such as IATSE Local 38, the American GI Forum of Saginaw, and Wayne State University. He currently works at the Hilberry Gateway theatre. Aurelio is thankful to be chosen to be a CFPCA Deans Delegate and is grateful to all those who have lifted him up.
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Taylor Salter
Taylor Salter is a Sophomore BA Theatre major, working towards a BFA in acting, with a Musical Theatre minor. Her previous theatre works with Wayne State include Murder on the Orient Express, Urinetown, and Into the Woods, among 16 other outside productions. She also has experience with stage management, directing, and creating expressive work.
As a Dean's Delegate, Taylor aims to connect the CFPCA community, events, and activities with the rest of Wayne State to promote and celebrate the arts, as well as provide an exciting, enriching learning environment for her fellow CFPCA students. This being her first year as a Dean’s Delegate, she is honored to join such a prestigious group of students to represent and support the arts community.
James Pearson Duffy Department of Art, Art History, and Design
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Elana Anderson
Elana Anderson is a junior at Wayne State studying Industrial Design. She is from Southgate, Michigan, and has loved participating in the Detroit community. As both a fine artist and a performer, she is passionate about the arts and looks forward to representing the CFPCA at Wayne State through the Dean’s Delegate program this year. She is one of the co-founders and a co-president of the Wayne State Industrial Design Club.
In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, 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.
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Gabbi Slocum
Gabbi Slocum is a senior at Wayne State University studying Painting and Sculpture. They also work as a studio tech for the Sculpture room in the Art Building. Exploration of Identity is a core theme in their artwork, spanning across various mediums such as oil paint, cast metal, plaster, woodworking and printmaking.
They are honored to have the opportunity to be a Dean's Delegate again for their last semester and look forward to representing and bringing attention to the department.
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Emily Betz
Emily is a senior at Wayne State pursuing her BFA in Fashion Design. Since transferring to Wayne State from Schoolcraft Community College in 2022, Emily has felt her skills grow exponentially as a seamstress and designer. She has developed multiple capsule collections, honed her textile design abilities, and showcased her work in the 2024 FDMO fashion show.
Beyond academics, Emily has experience as a custom costume designer and ran a vintage clothing and home goods shop. She recently completed an internship with Steve Madden and is eager to share her newfound skills and experience with her peers. Currently working in the WSU sewing lab and acting as FDMO Co-President, Emily is dedicated to contributing positively to the design department which has greatly impacted her growth.
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Haley Puri
Haley Puri is a sophomore majoring in Fine Arts with a concentration in Painting. He is also a member of the WSU Speech team. As a Queer and Filipino artist, he is fascinated by modern-contemporary and social practices.
Within Haley's own work, mainly portraiture, he addresses themes of race, queerness, and human interaction. Haley echoes his induvial experiences to reach the whole and communicate political messages and change. His goal as an artist is to create safe spaces. Haley is deeply committed to building community through creative frameworks to uplift other bodies.
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Julia Pyzik
Julia is currently a junior at Wayne State University majoring in Graphic Design and minoring in Illustration. Hailing from Dearborn Heights, Michigan, Julia enjoys being a part of the Detroit community. At Wayne, Julia is the residing Communications Director for the WSU AIGA Student Chapter where she maintains communication with students and faculty.
Outside of school Julia works in the hospitality scene in downtown Detroit. In her free time, she enjoys viewing and creating art, especially with friends. Julia is honored and excited to be a part of the Dean's Delegate program and share all the opportunities CFPCA has to offer to current and incoming students.
