Name: Kelly Scandone
Majors: International Affairs & Art History
Year: Senior
Hometown: Tallahassee, FL
Kelly Scandone sits in a giant red chair, surrounded by the various artworks she helped curate and install in the Honors, Scholars, Fellows buildings; a queen on her throne, surrounded by her carefully chosen cohorts. Kelly is a leader in the creative side of campus, involving herself in a variety of organizations, attending a variety of events and seeing every theatre show she can. Her smile is bright as we talk, though she complains about not sleeping much anymore; her attitude is full of pep and motivation, her laugh sprightly, it’s no wonder she is such a successful, culture-crazed leader in the creatives here at Florida State.
Her Campus (HC): So Kelly, what are you involved in on campus? I know the list is enormous.
Kelly Scandone (KS): What I’m involved in? Can I just send you my CV (curriculum vitae) to answer that question? I am the President of the Undergraduate Art History Association and the Co-Chair for the College Leadership Council for the College of Fine Arts. Beyond that, I work with the Art on Campus Initiative, helping to curate and install works of art created by FSU students in a variety of places on campus, including here at the HSF house. I have recently accepted the position of Creativity Chair on the Student Council for Undergraduate Research and Creativity and I also conduct my own individual research on collegiate architecture.
HC: Take a breather! You’re involved in so many creativity-based things.
KS: It’s actually funny, because I’m not creative at all. I can’t draw, or sing, or dance, or do anything like that, really. But, I think the creative fields provide opportunities to learn more about yourself as an individual and the world around you. That’s why I love art history: because you can look at a work of art that someone has created and decipher so much meaningful information about the artist, who they are and the culture and history they represent.
HC: Wise words from Kelly Scandone. Speaking of culture: you are planning on pursuing a graduate degree in cultural studies. You’ve also spent a few summers studying abroad with FSU. How has your international experience through Florida State affected your post-graduate studies?
KS: My study abroad experiences definitely changed my perspective on what I wanted to pursue as a career. I did a spring break in London studying museums and cultural heritage sites; I spent a semester in Florence, Italy, focusing my classes on art history; I recently spent the summer semester completing an internship with the British Museum in London, too. These experiences really showed me how much I care about other cultures and how much I long to share that passion with other people, so that they can broaden their perspective of the world and the people living in it, because we all are so diverse and unique and that makes us all really special. I said that in my Fulbright application.
HC: So, basically, study abroad is what you live for.
KS: Exactly. I can’t wait to travel again. I absolutely love to travel.
HC: Do you have any advice for students wanting to get involved in research in the creative departments?
KS: Go for it! Don’t let the terrifying blogs that say you’ll never achieve anything in the creative fields scare you and prevent you from doing what you love. It took me a good amount of time to commit to art history and the creative fields because I was so nervous about potential jobs and being successful, but I realized that as long as you have a passion for something, you will be fine. You’ll overcome that anxiety. Ignore the posts that say things like “Top 50 Unemployed Degrees,” because you are your own person and you determine your own future.
HC: Great advice from an inspiring girl! Now, quickly: what’s one thing you’re super passionate about?
KS: Theatre. I love theatre, as is evidenced by my attending fourteen West End productions this summer in London.
HC: What were your favorites of the fourteen shows you saw?
KS: I have three favorites: Kinky Boots, The Book of Mormon and The Lion King. The Lion King was magnificent; the quality of the show, the way they turned animation into live performance, it was all very impressive.