Undergraduate Spotlight: Joshua Carley
Joshua Carley, graduating this year, is a Performance Studies major and a Museum Studies minor who also holds an undergraduate Diversity Certificate. In an interview, Joshua spoke about the Department of Performance Studies, what it means to him, the value of his years here, and what lies ahead for him past graduation.
Carley stated “Performance Studies has meant that I have the opportunity to explore a variety of artistic expressions and mediums.” Here at Texas A&M, the Department of Performance Studies exposes students to a variety of fields and can influence a broad coalition of majors and minors.
“Performance Studies has meant that I have the opportunity to explore a variety of artistic expressions and mediums.”
Joshua Carley
In his four years here, Carley has experienced a great many opportunities presented through Performance Studies. For instance, he got to work with STEM subjects, introducing technology to the world of performance, finding a way to integrate it into art. When asked about the challenges of being in college during the COVID pandemic, Carley mentioned that the virtual aspect of some of his classes taught him how to utilize a growing “media space” and see how it might affect the world of performance. Still, he believes the performing arts are better suited to a face-to-face context.
Beyond this year, Carley looks forward to applying to graduate school in the area of Public Management, specifically in the arts and museum management field. As he parts with A&M and ends this chapter of his life, he wants to encourage fellow students to embrace the field of Performance Studies and foster the community of learners and scholars that has been built here in the Brazos Valley.
