Alumni | ac-theatre

Dan Pucul

Ashley Jump

The Austin College theatre department has been graced with many wonderful Alumni. Here are the amazing things they have gone on to do.

A recent graduate of Austin College, Ashley "Hopper" Jump has pursued the two things she loves: designing and working with people. Since starting her job with Dr. Delphinium Designs and Events, she is also taking custom costume design orders in her spare time. She hopes to continue this for many years to come, and hopefully one day turn taking commission requests into a full time business.

Dan Pucul was inducted into Alpha Psi Omega Nu Kappa chapter his sophomore year at Austin College and graduated in 2004 with degrees in Communication Arts and Psychology. While spending a year in Los Angeles, Dan acted in several productions at Zombie Joe's Underground Playhouse. Dan went on to get an MA in drama from Texas Woman's University where he served as the Graduate Shop Foreman Assistant for two years. From there, he found employment at Theatre Three in Dallas as their technical director-- a position he retained for four years. Dan currently works at Austin College as Technical Director.

Where they are now:

Melinda Massie

Melinda Massie owns Organizing with a Side of Fabulous, a professional organizing company in Fort Worth, TX. She works with people across the country and her skills cover the range of needs from a home that is just slightly awry to borderline and mild hoarding. She has also worked in conjunction with extreme-cleaning/crime-scene cleanup teams in order to properly and safely clear out massive clutter situations. She was named “Best Personal Organizer” by Fort Worth, TX Magazine and “Most Glamorous” in StartupNation’s Home-Based 100. Her tips have been featured in Shape, Woman’s Day, and WeTV as well as many other local and national publications.

While at Austin College, Melinda was found mainly in the costume shop. After leaving AC, she performed with various Fort Worth theaters and spent 3 years as a professional ballroom dancer. Currently when she’s not up to her eyeballs in other people's clutter, Melinda enjoys performing as a supernumerary with the Fort Worth Opera as well as all things food and drink, yoga, and cursing (the words, not evil hexes). She especially loves champagne and believes it was meant for any and all occasions…like a Tuesday.

For more about Melinda and her business, Organizing with a Side of Fabulous, click here.

Renee Harris

Renee Forte Harris graduated from Austin College with the class of 1993. She is currently the Theatre and Technical Theatre teacher at Jasper High School in Plano, TX.

Michelle Davis Leverette

Michelle Davis Leverette graduated from Austin College with her BA in 1996 and her MAT in 1998. She is now a 7th grade science teacher in Arlington, TX. She also sings with her church's praise band and a blues/jazz/groove band called Pi 4 vi (Pie for Six - for more information, check out their Facebook page!).

Michelle is also a blessed mother of two great young men, one who is headed to UNT in the Fall of 2014 and one who looks forward to a future that involves speaking on a moment to moment basis.

Julia D'Ambrosi

Julia D'Ambrosi was a theatre scholarship recipient, and graduated in 2010 with a BA in Communication Arts (Theatre Emphasis). She recently adapted and directed Twelfth Night for 4th-7th graders at Highwood Theatre. Her recent roles include Manny Swartz in Highwood’s immersive murder- mystery Everyone’s a Critic and customers in the Helen Hayes Recommended Parfumerie at 1st Stage Tyson’s Corner. This summer she is teaching 3D art for Arena Stage and theatre for Imagination Stage. Last summer she taught design for Round House Theatre. Her paintings sometimes hang in East Pearl a Restaurant the Washingtonian calls the “Gem of the Pike.” Her art is sold here.