This agreement enables AMDA students to continue their studies in the liberal arts at Wells. In addition, the agreement extends the college’s admissions reach to new national and international markets, along with the further coordination of resources.
“We couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with AMDA,” said Jonathan Gibralter, President of Wells College. “A core strength of Wells has been in the arts, and this collaboration provides AMDA students with new opportunities in the liberal arts while studying at a world-class performing arts institution. It also infuses new energy and resources into Wells’ own administrative and support services, to the benefit of our students and faculty.”
As one of the nation’s premiere performing arts institutions, AMDA’s College of Performing Arts in New York and Los Angeles develops performing arts professionals who appear on Broadway, in motion pictures, in television productions, and in other areas in the performing arts and entertainment industries. For more than 60 years, AMDA has continued to “lead the education community with creative and innovative programs for emerging performing artists.”
“This collaboration with Wells allows our performers to graduate with a liberal arts degree inspired by professional training and experience in performance,” said Jan Rugger Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer of AMDA. “As performers, we talk a lot about finding our own voice and charting our own path. Wells reflects AMDA’s institutional values and ethos and presents a wonderful opportunity for our students to enrich their lives and knowledge.”
The Wells-AMDA agreement also allows for future joint ventures promoted through programs at the two institutions. For example, Wells and AMDA are working together to plan for a series of summer theatre performances on the Wells campus in Aurora. This featured Summer Performance Workshop for AMDA students will further connect and familiarize students at each institution, along with building opportunities for even greater collaboration.
“At a time when higher education is facing difficult headwinds, Wells and AMDA are delighted by the opportunity to forge an exciting new pathway for students,” said Marie Carroll, chair of the Board of Trustees at Wells College. “Through our shared values and by leveraging each institution’s strategic advantages, we believe that Wells and AMDA make for a great collaboration.”
Follow www.wells.edu and www.amda.edu for continued updates regarding this institutional collaboration and summer program schedule.
About AMDA
AMDA College of the Performing Arts, established in 1964, has been a pioneer in performing arts education for 60 years, producing some of the brightest talents in the world of music, theater, and dance including Tyne Daly (Emmy Award Winner, Tony Award Winner), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Tony Award Winner), J. Harrison Ghee (Tony Award Winner), and Anthony Ramos (Original Cast of Hamilton, Star of Transformers film, Star of In the Heights film), just to name a few. With a mission to provide unparalleled performing arts education, AMDA continues to be a thriving center for innovation, talent, and academic excellence. AMDA has campuses in the two centers of the entertainment industry: Hollywood and New York City. AMDA provides rigorous, performance-based training and an industry-focused educational experience; one that inspires excellence and prepares artists with an appreciation for the universal power of transformation through art. AMDA’s educational philosophy is based on close collegial interaction between instructors and students — in class, in production, and through active mentorship. The school offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programs in Acting, Musical Theatre, Dance Theatre, and Performing Arts as well as two year conservatory programs. www.amda.edu
