Jacqueline PalaciosThe College of Performing Arts is pleased to announce its speaker for the 2019 Commencement Ceremony, senior Jackie Palacios, a double major in screen acting and peace studies.

Besides meeting the demands of her two majors, Jackie has also balanced two jobs throughout her time at Chapman. She works as the diversity affairs chair for the Student Government Association as well as a costume studio assistant for the College of Performing Arts. She has helped plan the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Annual Ethnic Studies Summit, International Vegan Day campus event, and recently hosted the first-ever Dodge College Diversity Community Cafe where faculty and students share problems and find common ground in hopes to achieve more diversity and inclusion in the film school.

In her sophomore year, Jackie was awarded the Student Government Association’s “Rising Advocate” award. In her junior year, she was awarded the “Outstanding Junior” award by the Dean of Students office, and she was recognized again this month with the Campus Leadership Award in diversity leadership as well as the Henley Social Sciences Award in peace studies. And she is also a Musco Scholar, having demonstrated superior talent in the performing arts.

Jackie’s post-graduation plans will lead her to Houston, TX, where she has accepted a job with Teach for America, which works to expand and strengthen education in low income neighborhoods. “I will be teaching elementary school kids starting this August!” Jackie explains.

“After a long debate about what I want my career to be, while I still want to act, I now know that I want to end up in Arts Administration because of my passion for diversifying theatre from the ground up. In 20 years, I want to be the boss that picks shows, helps plan how to reach out to communities, and works to guarantee affordable ticket prices and extracurricular activities, because the arts are for everyone,” she said.

The College of Performing Arts 2019 Commencement ceremony begins at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2019, and can be seen live on Facebook. CLICK HERE to watch.