Archer Fellowship Program Alumni Profiles
Jessica Peña Torres
Spring 2013 Archer Fellow
Internship: National Endowment for the Arts
Education
The University of Texas Pan-American
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance, May 2014
The University of Texas at Austin
Master of Arts in Public Practice, May 2020
The University of Texas at Austin
Doctor of Philosophy in Performance as Public Practice, May 2027
Career
Doctoral student and professional choreographer/artist
Spring 2013 Archer Fellow
Internship: National Endowment for the Arts
Education
The University of Texas Pan-American
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance, May 2014
The University of Texas at Austin
Master of Arts in Public Practice, May 2020
The University of Texas at Austin
Doctor of Philosophy in Performance as Public Practice, May 2027
Career
Doctoral student and professional choreographer/artist
"It has been so fun to see what other Archer Fellows go on to accomplish in their lives and careers. Everyone I met in the Archer Fellowship was brilliant and unique and it makes me proud to have been a part of a group that had so much potential and talent."
Q & A with Jessica
Please tell us more about your current position.
I am a dancer/choreographer focused on Mexican identity and performance. As a Ph.D. student in the Performance as Public Practice program, I study ballet folklórico and Mexican modern dance through a social, political, and cultural lens.
Please tell us more about your Archer Fellowship Program internship.
I interned at the National Endowment for the Arts, in the international activities office.
What has been your general career path?
In both Mexico and the U.S, I have had a chance to work and perform for big and small arts organizations, such as Shakespeare Theatre Company, Maru Montero Dance Company, Academia de Danza Condesa, Compañía de Danza Kaana, and the Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México de Silvia Lozano. With my company, Coctel Explosivo, I created the dance-theatre piece México (expropiado), a performance of my master's thesis.
How has your experience as an Archer Fellow influenced your career path and goals?
I became interested in graduate school during my time as an Archer Fellow, as my classmates discussed their plans to take LSAT, GMAT, and GRE during our semester together. In addition, through my internship with the NEA, I learned how funding works for independent artists. As an artist/scholar, my Archer Fellowship experience has become increasingly relevant to my current practice.
What did you value the most about your Archer Fellowship Program experience?
I loved the opportunity to simultaneously study and intern. I think it prepared me to enter the real world. I also loved meeting my classmates and housemates––I am still very close to some of them!
What do you value the most about being an alumnae?
It has been so fun to see what other Archer Fellows go on to accomplish in their lives and careers. Everyone I met in the Archer Fellowship was brilliant and unique and it makes me proud to have been a part of a group that had so much potential and talent.
What is your favorite memory as an Archer Fellow?
I loved taking classes in museums and memorials with Dr. Swerdlow. Our classes felt like we were doing the studying (as opposed to reading about it). I also loved spending time with my housemates exploring D.C. neighborhoods and restaurants, and attending President Obama's second inauguration. So many memories. It's hard to choose just one of them!
Please tell us more about your current position.
I am a dancer/choreographer focused on Mexican identity and performance. As a Ph.D. student in the Performance as Public Practice program, I study ballet folklórico and Mexican modern dance through a social, political, and cultural lens.
Please tell us more about your Archer Fellowship Program internship.
I interned at the National Endowment for the Arts, in the international activities office.
What has been your general career path?
In both Mexico and the U.S, I have had a chance to work and perform for big and small arts organizations, such as Shakespeare Theatre Company, Maru Montero Dance Company, Academia de Danza Condesa, Compañía de Danza Kaana, and the Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México de Silvia Lozano. With my company, Coctel Explosivo, I created the dance-theatre piece México (expropiado), a performance of my master's thesis.
How has your experience as an Archer Fellow influenced your career path and goals?
I became interested in graduate school during my time as an Archer Fellow, as my classmates discussed their plans to take LSAT, GMAT, and GRE during our semester together. In addition, through my internship with the NEA, I learned how funding works for independent artists. As an artist/scholar, my Archer Fellowship experience has become increasingly relevant to my current practice.
What did you value the most about your Archer Fellowship Program experience?
I loved the opportunity to simultaneously study and intern. I think it prepared me to enter the real world. I also loved meeting my classmates and housemates––I am still very close to some of them!
What do you value the most about being an alumnae?
It has been so fun to see what other Archer Fellows go on to accomplish in their lives and careers. Everyone I met in the Archer Fellowship was brilliant and unique and it makes me proud to have been a part of a group that had so much potential and talent.
What is your favorite memory as an Archer Fellow?
I loved taking classes in museums and memorials with Dr. Swerdlow. Our classes felt like we were doing the studying (as opposed to reading about it). I also loved spending time with my housemates exploring D.C. neighborhoods and restaurants, and attending President Obama's second inauguration. So many memories. It's hard to choose just one of them!
