Darren Jackson-Wilkins ’25

Hackensack, New Jersey

Theater major. Arts administration and music minor. Miranda Family Fellow. First-Year Experience peer mentor. Member of student club C.R.O.W.N. Student representative for Music and Theater Department committees.

I chose Skidmore because I was seeking an interdisciplinary education where I had the freedom to explore many areas of study. To be sure, I wanted to have conservatory-level training in theater and music, but I wanted to foster these artistic passions and simultaneously pursue my other interests.

My greatest accomplishment at Skidmore was being selected as a Miranda Family Fellow, which has provided me with considerably more networking opportunities and career advice.  

I am also Admissions’ head arts tour guide, a peer mentor for a  First-Year Experience seminar, outreach coordinator for C.R.O.W.N. (Creation of a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair), and a member of the Music Department’s student advisory board and the Theater Department’s season selection committee. These leadership roles are very important to me because they give me agency to create the college experience I want and allow me to create positive, meaningful relationships with students and faculty across campus.

After Skidmore, I hope to have a professional career as an actor or working in the nonprofit arts sector. My scholarships have allowed me to take the courses necessary to begin moving into these fields,  as well as the fantastic opportunity to network with professional actors and arts administrators.

The scholarships that you have made available provided great relief to my family. The financial impacts of the pandemic made college seem more inaccessible than ever, but your gifts broke down the financial barriers.  My family and I are forever grateful and will happily share with others the great opportunities that Skidmore provides.”