Hear from our current students below about why they chose Westmont Meet Our Students

My name is Emily Derr and I am a Communication Studies and Theatre Arts double major. One of my favorite parts of Westmont is how easy it is to pursue all of my passions. I get to take a variety of classes that range from Acting to Media Ethics to Directing to Messages, Meaning, and Culture, and more. It's crazy to me how much I have been able to learn through double majoring and it's even crazier to me to see how both of my majors overlap. Almost everything I learn in a Communication class is applicable to a Theatre class. In addition to classes I also have had the ability to participate in productions as an actor and work behind the scenes on other projects! I chose Westmont because I wanted a place where I could integrate my faith with my passions. Through Westmont's amazing staff and faculty, I have been able to grow in my faith and grow in my love for the arts. If you have any questions regarding Westmont or the theatre department feel free to contact me at ederr@westmont.edu

Hello! My name is Rachel Herriges and I'm a double major in both theatre and religious studies. The last four years have been moments of understanding how faith and the arts intersect, which has produced interesting pieces of work in the Fringe Festivals at Westmont. I have been able to supplement my desire to be a storyteller while focusing on classes that enhance my knowledge and understanding of Christianity in the world. Attending a liberal arts school was imperative for me in picking what college to attend. Westmont has shown me how to understand my faith in a variety of disciplines while pushing me to blossom into who I am becoming. If you have any questions regarding Westmont or the theatre department feel free to contact me at rherriges@westmont.edu

Hey there! My name is Joel Michelson, I’m a double major in theatre arts and philosophy. I really appreciate that Westmont has made it possible for me to pursue my love of theatre and storytelling alongside my interests in philosophy. Double majoring has helped me make lots of connections between my classes that result in new discoveries on the stage and in everyday life! I chose to come to Westmont because of its strong academic reputation, its Christian commitment, and its liberal arts structure. Some added bonuses that I discovered after committing to Westmont are the intimate size of the student body, the trails on and surrounding campus, and the plethora of activities and clubs that students can participate in. If you have any questions feel free to ask me at jmichelson@westmont.edu!

Hi, my name is Megan Bowman and I am a Theatre Major at Westmont College. I have thoroughly enjoyed the program as it gives us as Theatre Artists a chance to become not only well rounded artists but well rounded individuals. I came in with an interest in acting, and now have become heavily involved with Tech, Design, and Playwriting. Because of our smaller department, there are deep relationships formed between students, and between students and faculty. This small knit community allows for immense amounts of self growth in the areas you're interested in around the Theatre. My absolute favorite part of the Theatre Season at Wesmont is our Fringe Festival where all the students come together and create over 30 new shows. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me at mbowman@westmont.edu

I think my favorite thing about the theatre program at Westmont is that we're such a small department, and it creates a really tight-knit group of friends between the theatre kids and the professors. Some of my favorite memories so far have been of theatre nights off campus, like going to a dinner & game night or a cast party at a professor's house, or taking a field trip to LA to see a show with my acting class. I also really love spring semester, which is when the department is really buzzing with senior projects and Fringe Festival, both great opportunities for me to experiment creatively with friends and practice in other areas of theatre like choreographing and directing pieces. I chose Westmont because I wanted a smaller school where I could grow in a Christ-centered community, and I love that the theatre department has encouraged that aspect of my experience, not only because of the size of the department but also because the professors encourage your walk with Christ. Santa Barbara is also so close to a lot of theatre in LA which is so nice as an aspiring artist.

I chose Westmont due to a variety of reasons. It was prominent on my radar because a family history with the college, the plentiful scholarship opportunities were extremely helpful, the liberal arts college experience would engage my interests, and of course the beautiful location in Santa Barbara. The film department is modestly sized here at the Mont, but that leaves a lot of room for creative freedom, specialization in how you explore the minor, and room for extra attention from advisors and film professors. The opportunities are also expanding as this new minor becomes more developed with a new film festival being developed on campus, a theatre department facilitated creative arts festival called Fringe, and other options such as some connections with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF)! If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me at nonims@westmont.edu