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Local artist and Kennesaw State University graduate accepted into prestigious program
Kennesaw, GA—When she was a little girl, Morgan began to draw; she had no idea that one day her passion would lead her to an acceptance into an exclusive art program at Georgia State University.
When Morgan Booker, 23, opened her email Tuesday, she found an acceptance letter into her program of choice: the Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and Nonprofit Leadership specialization program beginning in fall 2010.
Booker was four years old when the scratch lines of a toddler’s art turned into figures of whimsical creatures that she seen in story books. Drawing was an escape from her parents’ separation, moving, her father checking into rehab and a baby brother. “I was off in orbit when I drew; the world I created was always better than reality,” says Booker of her art.
Despite her passion for art she applied to Kennesaw State University (KSU) as an intended English major, to fulfill her other dream of becoming a novelist. Knowing her talent, it was her parents and high school professors who pressured her into going into the arts program at KSU. Uncertain as she might have been about her own artistic capabilities, she transferred her major to fine arts after orientation and “fell in love with the program, her classmates, professors—everything,” Booker says.
Throughout her college career, Booker changed concentrations four times. While she ultimately went back to painting, her portfolio expanded and now includes a wide skill set, including: printmaking, photography and art education.
She also got involved with America for the Arts, an advocacy program that aims to enrich the community through art, as well as fund art programs in schools. America for the Arts has had such a profound effect on Booker that she says she knew instantly what she wanted to do once she graduated.
Months before her December 2009 graduation she applied to Georgia State University (GSU) for the school’s B.S. in Public Policy and Nonprofit Leadership for fall 2010. Booker knew the program was competitive—only 30 applicants are accepted—but she also knew she wanted to experience this more than anything else.
The B.S. in Public Policy and Nonprofit Leadership is an accelerated program, in which the bachelor’s degree is finished in 18 months, followed by enrollment in a summer seminar that includes a graduate certificate and grants admission into the master’s program for two years.
The program teaches students how to lead a nonprofit organization and advocate for their organization’s cause ; this includes running the organization like a business by allocating the least amount of resources, primarily money, and navigating politics in order to help their cause by the most effective means possible, as defined by the graduate.
Being accepted into this prestigious program is a monumental step for Booker towards her dream to be the primary advocate for a nonprofit art organization. “I could have achieved my goals without going back to school, but it would have taken longer, a lot longer, and this puts me that much closer,” says Booker.
Will she continue to paint and pursue her passion? “Of course—painting is as much a part of me as art advocacy; I wouldn’t be whole if I only did one or the other,” says Booker.
She already has some plans for the future, “I want to get into the summer internship program with America for the Arts this coming summer,” Booker says. She has already applied and has made many contacts through volunteering, but until she hears she has been accepted she is keeping her fingers crossed.
For now it looks like her biggest obstacle will be preparing for her first solo gallery show at Mason Murer’s Gallery in Atlanta, GA in May. Of this challenge she says, “I’ll be painting like crazy until then.”
She hopes that college students know that no matter how often you change your major it is never too late to follow your dreams and achieve your goals. “You just need to remember what’s important and go for it,” Booker says.
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