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A WOMAN OF MANY ORGANIZATIONS RACHEL SHIPLEY

THALIA DOE FEATURE EDITOR

Rachel Shipley, from Rowlett, Texas, said she had a few options when deciding which college she would attend. Wanting to study theatre, Shipley was able to perform her caracal in front of over 200 college representatives around the country; one of those was Midwestern State University.

“I went to the North Texas Drama auditions, and was called back by around fifteen colleges. I ended up coming to a second round of auditions at MSU and they offered me a scholarship that gave me the most financial coverage in comparison to the other colleges. I also enjoyed the English department since I am a double major in theatre performance and English literature,” Shipley said.

Shipley says that ultimately, deciding to come to Midwestern was a smart decision. Now a senior, she is heavily involved in three organizations.

“I am the type of person who really likes being busy. I also felt like certain opportunities were too beneficial to both me now and me in the future, and the skills that I would develop alongside those opportunities,” Shipley said.

Shipley is the Woman’s Stand Council Coordinator for MOSAIC, president of Sigma Tau Delta and an officer for Alpha Psi Omega. To top it off, she also works at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art.

“I became the council coordinator in December of 2019. One day I saw there was a job opening and I applied. I get the challenge of blending all MOSAIC’s purposes together based on being a woman,” Shipley said.

Shipley has been a member of Alpha Psi Omega all four years of her college experience and is glad to say that Sigma Tau Delta has newly been reinstated as a student organization on campus this past semester. Shipley says that, due to lack of funding, the fraternity had gone under.

“We put on performances like charity shows and then donate the proceeds. What I love about Sigma Tau Delta is we help support people through their academics in English. What it comes down to being a part of both organizations, I am able to build a community with people that have related and or similar goals like me,” Shipley said.

Outside of the MSU community, Shipley was given the opportunity to participate in an internship program the English department had offered at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art. At the end of her internship, Shipley was offered a part-time job.

“I got paired with the director of the museum, Tracy Roberts, I was able to work alongside her and do upper-level management tasks that I am wanting to do as a career. She offered me a paid position and so I work there now and will continue working there until I graduate and move to go on to grad school,” Shipley said.

Working at the museum has been the most challenging and fulfilling thing in all of Shipley’s years at college. Shipley says the ability to walk in every day, not knowing what to expect, with constant puzzles waiting to be solved, is what has allowed her to use the education received from MSU and merge it with real life experiences.

“It has just really solidified that I am heading down the right path going to graduate school for arts administration. Having the opportunity to connect artists, audiences and arts organizations, while being mentored by someone that has been in the profession for years. I am so blessed to have worked with Tracy and to continue working with Tracy,” Shipley said.

Overall, she says leaving MSU is bittersweet but knows it is time to continue on to the next stage. One of her favorite moments at MSU has been her involvement with MOSAIC.

“I would say my favorite moment I’ve had at Midwestern that I wouldn’t have been able to experience if I wasn’t involved, is seeing the growth and transformation of MOSAIC. I am really glad I’ve had the opportunity to work there and be a part of such great people and that also includes the faculty and staff and not just the other students,” Shipley said.

Shipley says that she is in love with the fact that she will be able to take what she has learned at Midwestern and apply it to her career field. Consequently, MSU will always be a part of her.

“This will always remain a part of what I am doing, even if it is not here. I can’t wait to take everything I’ve learned here and apply it into my career field.”

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN Shipley reading “Wit” by Margaret Edson, Jan. 22.