Jacqueline Engel

BA Music—Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA

BA Arts Management—University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA

MA Arts Administration—University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Jacquie has worked in the arts for the last 30 years and is an strong advocate for arts education.  Her background is in performing with a focus on piano and theatre arts, having directed and/or music directed over 170 community, professional, college, and high school productions. 

She served as the Artistic Director of the Community Theatre League in Williamsport for more than a decade and has worn every possible hat in that arena.  She created the Ray of Light Awards, a large-scale, Tony-awards event for high schools in North Central PA which is televised annually on WNEP-2 and also founded/directed the ACTUP! Summer Theatre Program at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport featuring students from more than 10 counties and 30 different high schools each summer. 

In 2017, Jacquie left the theatre world and pursued her Masters Degree in Arts Administration at the University of Kentucky (Go Big Blue!) which eventually brought her to Schuylkill County and the Walk In Art Center in February of 2020.  The pandemic proved to be a challenge but in conjunction with a very supportive Board of Directors, the Walk In not only survived but thrived during those challenging times.  She now strives to raise the awareness and prestige of the arts in Schuylkill County and has found a home amidst the talented visual artists at the Walk In Art Center. 

Jacquie lives in Pottsville with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Bingley, and pound kitties Benedick and Beatrice and is a rabid fan of college basketball (C-A-T-S, CATS, CATS, CATS!).

Favorite Quotes:

Regarding teaching the arts in school “Of course reading and writing are important, but without the arts, what would they read and write about?”

Regarding performing on stage “It’s the one thing you can do as a young person that truly prepares you for real life. ‘Oh sure,’ you say?  But it’s true.  The confidence a person develops from performing will benefit you in whatever field you choose.”