It has been a busy summer for Rowan’s Community Music School (CMS), which showcased existing programs while preparing for a vibrant new season in the fall. According to director Elizabeth Guerriero, an “invaluable” asset during this time came through a match made through the Diversity in Arts Leadership (DIAL) internship program administered by Americans for the Arts.

From her home in Summit, New Jersey, Mimi Laws nevertheless does important work on the college campus. Virtually and literally. His internship allowed him to contribute to a wide range of CMS projects in addition to giving him new perspectives on his own future. She redesigned the website, created the latest editions of the monthly newsletter, developed an annual report, and worked on social media and marketing projects.

Thrilled with the many accomplishments on Laws’ roster, Guerriero was particularly eager to launch the new website, which launched on August 2 and coincides with the end of the internship. But Laws’ work for CMS will not end there. “We are thrilled with Mimi’s transition to a new role at Rowan Community Music School and she will take the helm as the Senior Marketing, Social Media and Development Assistant. Guerriero added.

“I learned something new every day,” Laws said of remote working. “I rework the way my mind works. It’s especially different for her when it comes to engaging with people and teams. “It’s been interesting to virtually form these connections and communities. “

At the heart of his work is an effort known as humanizing music. Suggested by former Rowan and CMS Advisory Board member Siiyara Nelson, the effort aims to collect and document the personal career paths of those linked to Rowan’s performing arts community; to humanize musicians, dancers and actors through conversations about how they started their careers. The aim is to develop an educational resource for students considering a career in the arts so that they can learn from the experience of professionals.

So far, Rowan subjects have included Nelson as well as Denis DiBlasio (professor of jazz), Michael McArthur (faculty of music industry), Christopher Roche (faculty of theater and dance) and Paule Turner (chair of the department of theater and dance). Laws, a senior at the University of Richmond with a major in Leadership Studies and a minor in Business Administration, adopted and drew inspiration from this work.

“When you talk to these people, you give context to their travels,” she said. She’s created brief summaries of the advice people have given, shared it on social media, and is thinking about how to archive the stories somehow.

Laws’ story includes a passion for music; she has played the viola and has participated in numerous ensembles over the past 11 years. She interned at the Richmond Symphony Education Office and their Richmond Symphony Virtual Music School, researching learning management software, facilitating lessons and helping students and to teachers.

Seeking another experience this summer, Laws applied for the DIAL internship. On the other side, Guerriero submitted to the host. The process pairs undergraduate students from backgrounds under-represented in artistic leadership with arts organizations, communities and mentors.

“The help she gave to CMS this summer is invaluable,” Guerriero said. “It’s like a good game.”

For Laws, working for Community Music School only solidified his goals.

“It definitely made the feeling that I want to go into the arts,” she noted. “I’m even more excited to take the next step forward. “

Visit the new Rowan Community Music School website at: go.rowan.edu/communitymusic.