ICT's Caryn Desai Named '2018 Distinguished Alumna' By CSULB

International City Theatre artistic director caryn desai [sic] has been named the Distinguished Alumna from the College of the Arts for 2018 by the California State University Long Beach Alumni Association.

According to Association president Robert Irwin and executive director Gay Arakawa, this is the highest alumni award bestowed by the Association and the University. The award is presented each year to an a!umnus from each college who is an outstanding example of accomplishment and distinction. The recipients are selected by committees comprised of representative leaders from alumni, faculty, staff, administration and students.

desai received her B.A. from the CSULB College of the Arts in 1986. In addition, she has an MFA from UC Irvine and a certificate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London.. Other continuing education includes certificates in arts administration, marketing and fundraising. caryn completed the first Arts Leadership Initiative with the L.A. County Arts Commission and received a full Fellowship to complete an Executive Program at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, selected as one of 50 arts leaders in the nation. She also completed an Executive Coaching Initiative at the Hudson Institute, Santa Barbara. Previously she served as administrator for the Walt Disney Entertainment Arts Program. She has served on grant panels for the County of Los Angeles and the City of Long Beach, and as a speaker/panelist for the SRO Theatre Conference at USC on Best Practices, the Technical Theatre Conference about the role of a director, and more. She represented ICT as a National Participant for the Listening Post Project with John Hopkins University and was named "Enterprising Woman in the Arts" in Long Beach. caryn is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. In March 2016, caryn was honored with a Local Hero Award from the African American History & Culture Foundation for "excellence in leadership and service that stands out as a stellar example to youth in the community."

A ceremony and banquet is set to take place on Thursday, May 3 at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach.

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