Please give a warm welcome to Minji Kim, the inaugural program administrator for the program. Minji will manage and execute all administrative and operational functions of the program. As an alum, Minji is thrilled to return to the program and to NYU to take on this exciting new role.
Minji has over six years of experience serving as Communications and Events Senior Lead at the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA), a global association with a membership of more than 600 performing arts organizations from over 55 countries. During her time at ISPA, Minji played a key role in organizing conferences for global leaders in the field and partnering with arts organizations in New York City and overseas. In addition, she developed and implemented ISPA’s strategic communication plans. Prior to joining ISPA, Minji held various roles in marketing, membership, and development with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Japan Society, and Carnegie Hall.
In 2015, she was a 2015 Emerging Leaders of New York Arts (ELNYA) Fellow and subsequently served on the ELNYA board of directors. Minji holds a master’s degree in Performing Arts Administration (NYU Steinhardt) and a master’s degree in Mass Communication (University of Florida).
Dr. Richard Maloney, Director of the Performing Arts Administration program, said, “Ms. Kim will take the PAA program’s efforts to offer seamless support and an exceptional learning experience for our students to the next level. In addition, her deep understanding of the performing arts industry in New York and around the world will be a tremendous asset for the program.”
“I am deeply honored to join NYU’s Performing Arts Administration,” said Minji. “Over the years, I have observed the program’s deep commitment to creating and maintaining a superb learning environment. I look forward to contributing to the transformational work led by Dr. Maloney and our distinguished group of faculty members and colleagues.”
A Q&A with Minji Kim
When did you graduate and from what program?
I graduated from the Performing Arts Administration (PAA) program at NYU Steinhardt in 2013.
What was your career path following graduation that led to your current position?
In the summer after graduation, a PAA classmate of mine forwarded a job posting for the Communications and Events Coordinator position at the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA), where she had interned. The position turned out to be a perfect fit for me that allowed me to utilize the knowledge and skills I developed throughout the two master's programs I completed – an MA in Performing Arts Administration at NYU and an MA in Strategic Communication at the University of Florida. I spent six fantastic years at ISPA, serving the membership of more than 600 performing arts organizations from over 50 countries before coming back to the NYU PAA program as a program administrator.
Besides my full-time job at ISPA, I have served on the board of Emerging Leadership of New York Arts, a professional network, for a couple of years, through which my grasp of the local arts scene has been enhanced. I stayed in touch with the PAA program even after graduation and spearheaded a couple of networking events for the students and alumni.
How does your degree help you with your work now?
I completed the same curriculum as our current students. It helps me understand what our students may be going through and provide the faculty members with valuable insights into the student experience and matters that affect the academic program.
What other gigs are you doing outside of NYU?
The relationship I successfully maintained with my previous employer, ISPA, led me to an opportunity to provide on-demand strategic communications services as a contractor.
Do you like having a diverse array of work?
YES! I am pleasantly surprised to learn that the majority of skill sets that I have built from my previous professional experiences as a strategic communication specialist and an event manager are transferable to do my current job as a program administrator at NYU.
Is your career anything like what you thought it would be while you were a student?
Not at all. I was quite clueless of what my career would look like when I was a student. I am still somewhat clueless. The difference is that I was anxious while being clueless back when I was a student, but I am fine with being clueless as I am willing to keep my options open. My latest motto is “don’t fight the forces, use them!”
Where do you hope to go next?
To be utterly frank, I have no idea what my next chapter would look like. Regardless, I am confident that my tireless efforts to improve myself and the organization that I am a part of will take me to a place where my talents can be greatly appreciated.