Alumni Story

I had an incredibly supportive community of faculty, students, and staff that encouraged me to come out of my shell and create fearlessly.”

Paola Michelle Medina Villalon is a 2023 graduate of Catawba College. She majored in Musical Theatre and minored in both Creative Writing and Music. She was an active and involved member of the Performing Arts program.

When asked about her experience in the Performing Arts program, Paola said, "I had an incredibly supportive community of faculty, students, and staff that encouraged me to come out of my shell and create fearlessly. The Shuford School of Performing Arts is full of brilliant minds, kind hearts, and admirable dedication to their craft.”

Paola learned many valuable lessons during her time at Catawba. “When I arrived at Catawba, I was so afraid to use my voice and pursue the opportunities that excited me. My professors created an environment where I learned to take risks and dream big. My community also taught me to forge my own path. If a practice doesn't align with your values or goals, create a new way to do it!”

Catawba helped prepare Paola for her career after graduation by inspiring her to get outside her comfort zone and find new avenues in theatre to be passionate about. "The theatre department is full of people who can do it all. They inspired me to try even the things I didn't love (like building a set) and find ways to connect it to what I was passionate about. I graduated with so many skills in all areas of the arts: design, administration, performance, and more. When it came time to plan my next steps, I had a multitude of options,” she said.

Paola is currently working as the Marketing Coordinator for WDAV, classical public radio. She also works as a freelance arts critic, director, and writer.

Her responsibilities at WDAV include running the station's social media and newsletters, creating original content for their multiple marketing platforms, and helping to plan events that allow them to interface with the public on a personal level. She said, “I love working with such a thoughtful staff and getting to do something different and exciting every day, whether it's an interview with a famous musician in town or promoting our Recording Inclusivity Initiative, which records classical music compositions by artists from underrepresented communities.”

She added, “As a freelancer, I love getting to connect with the Charlotte theatre community. Being a multihyphenate in the industry allows me to experience our arts scene in such a meaningful way. I am learning so much about the amazing artists here in Charlotte, so getting to support and be a part of their work is priceless.”