Print Interview Rough Draft

Print Interview Rough Draft

Local artist and KSU graduate accepted into prestigious program

Kennesaw, GA—When she was a little girl, Morgan started to draw, she had no idea that one day her passion would lead her to an acceptance into an exclusive program at Georgia State University.

That one day was Tuesday, when Morgan Booker, 23, opened her email late that evening to find an acceptance letter into her program of choice: the Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and Nonprofit Leadership specialization program for fall 2010.

Booker was three when she picked up her first crayon and began drawing figures from her imagination. Drawing was an escape from her parents separating, moving, dad checking into rehab and an annoying baby brother, said Booker, “I was off in orbit when I drew, the world I created was always better than reality.”

Surprisingly, she applied as a hopeful English major at Kennesaw State University (KSU) and it was her parents and high school professors that pressured her into going into the arts program at KSU. Uncertain as she might have been about her own talent, she changed to Fine Arts after orientation and “fell in love” with: the program, her classmates, professors, everything, Booker said.

Throughout her college years, Booker changed disciplines four times and while she ultimately went back to Painting, her portfolio expanded and now includes a wide skill set, such as: 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 had such a profound effect on Booker that she knew instantly what she wanted to do once she graduated, according to Booker.

Months before her December 2009 graduation she applied at Georgia State University (GSU) for their excelled Bachelor of Science Public Policy and Nonprofit Leadership specialization for fall 2010. Booker knew the program was competitive, only 30 applicants are accepted, but she also knew she wanted this chance more than anything else.

The Bachelor of Science Public Policy and Nonprofit Leadership is an accelerated program. The program encompasses finishing the bachelor’s degree in 18 months then enrolling in a summer seminar that includes a graduate certificate and grants admission into the master’s program for 2 years without having to apply.

The program focuses on teaching students how to lead a nonprofit organization, work for the cause, running the organization like a business allocating the least amount of resources and navigating politics to help the cause by the best means possible, as defined by Booker.

Having been accepted into this prestigious program are monumental steps for Booker towards her dream to one day having her own nonprofit art organization to advocate for. “I mean 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,” the art advocate said.

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,” Booker said.

As for the future she already has some plans, “I want to get into the summer internship program with the America for the Arts this coming summer,” Booker said. She’s already applied and has made many contacts through volunteering, but until she hears she’s been accepted she’s keeping her fingers crossed!

For now though it looks like her biggest obstacle will be preparing for her first solo gallery show, at Mason Murer’s Gallery, in Atlanta, GA. this coming May. ”I’ll be painting like crazy until then!”

She hopes that college students know that it doesn’t 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 said.

She’s come a long way since her first crayons, that’s for sure.

by: Tiffany Lempesis