This year, building upon trips already focused on careers in business, tech, and finance, the Matthews Center debuted an arts trek to New York City .
Davidson’s Career Center hosts three career treks annually: trips designed to allow students to explore career paths in cities throughout the country. This career trek kicked off over spring break with students headed to New York for three days.
Lindsey Dolan, the Assistant Director for Career Development and Josh King, Associate Director for Engagement, organized the trek. According to King, the Matthews Center had a deficit in career-centered programming for students in the arts. “Our goal is, over time, to expose students to as many industries as we can,” King said.
King and Dolan approached Sherry Nelson, director of Davidson Arts and Creative Engagement, for guidance regarding an arts-centered trip. “I went to meet with them, and they said, Where should we go?” Nelson recalled. “I said, ‘New York.’”
The cohort met with Davidson Alumni working across the city’s creative industries. Highlights included visits to Spotify’s corporate headquarters, Creative Artists Agency, and the Met Opera house. Over 20 alumni joined students for a networking dinner at the Whitney Museum of Modern Art.
Emma McDonell ’27, a studio art major interested in pursuing sculpture and set design after graduation, highlighted the networking aspect of the trip. “The career center emphasized that around 90% of jobs come through networking, and that was reflected in the trip as it was really built around that,” Mcdonnell said.
Aside from the networking opportunities, students were able to gain a first-hand look into the day-to-day workings of different creative roles, helping them to narrow down their own plans. “I saw a lot of different paths I could take within the art world, and talking with alumni was helpful in understanding which ones I would be interested in and those I wouldn’t.” McDonell recalled.
A wide range of Davidson students participated in the trek, including those interested in studio art, film, theater, music and dance. The alumni who welcomed students into their workspaces reflected this vast array of student interests— they spoke about their work as creative directors, filmmakers, vocalists and actors.
Nelson shared that in her conversations with participating alumni, many said that they would have appreciated a similar opportunity, and are happy to engage with students. “[One alumnus] just said, ‘Sherry, this didn’t happen when I was a student, and we want to just be there for students who want to work in the arts.’’