Ashland University graduate Megan Harvey named executive director of Main Street Wadsworth

Megan Harvey had really enjoyed participating in community and high school theatre productions but was too afraid to pursue theatre as a career.

After a few other career explorations, she decided to pursue a profession in arts management.

However, the university she was attending and had wanted to attend since she was a child, Ashland University, didn’t offer an arts management major.

“While Ashland did not offer this type of program in either the school of business or theatre, I had the opportunity to create my own major instead of transferring to another university,” she said. “By combining the studies of theatre and business management, I was able to create a multidisciplinary program that catered to my career goals and aspirations while making me a well-rounded theatre artist.”

With the help of AU’s flexibility with her major, Harvey has found career success since her 2018 graduation.

She was recently named the executive director of Main Street Wadsworth after working for six years at the Akron Civic Theatre, where she was the executive assistant and its development manager of foundation and individual giving.

“With a diverse background in nonprofit leadership, community development and organizational management, I am excited about the opportunity to lead Main Street Wadsworth in creating a vibrant and thriving downtown experience informed by my six years of experiences of working in the arts and culture sector with an emphasis on community development at the Akron Civic Theatre,” Harvey said.

As she transitions into her new role, Harvey said she looks forward to implementing ideas inspired by her time working in Akron and connecting the two Greater Akron communities through the arts and culture sector.

“By having Akron as a shining example of how to employ artists, sustain multiple theatrical, dance, music, and visual arts organizations, and raise and distribute arts funding back into the community, I hope to demonstrate to the community of Wadsworth that community and economic development can be successful by using the arts and culture sector as a vehicle to achieve those means,” she said. “If people attend an event in downtown Wadsworth with an arts focus, they will frequent our restaurants, visit our gas stations and stay at our hotels, ultimately driving resources back into the community.”

Growing up on a family farm in Seville not far from Wadsworth in Medina County and graduating from Medina High School in 2014, Harvey was already very familiar with the area before taking her current job.

She also knew Ashland University very well growing up going to Homecoming and other alumni events on campus since both of her parents graduated from Ashland.

“As a child during one of these events, I proclaimed that one day I would also attend their alma mater,” Harvey said. “Not only did I have a family connection, but I heard the stories of how great AU was with students one-on-one.”

Now she tells stories of how great AU was for her, especially working with Teresa Durbin-Ames, associate professor of Theatre/artistic director.

“Some would think I was crazy for creating my own major, but Teresa didn’t bat an eye as I explained what I would want in a career,” Harvey said. “Instead, she helped me find every opportunity possible to shape me into the best theatre artist.”

Durbin-Ames said she was impressed with Harvey as a student and admired her passion for her goals, which include someday running her own theatre.

“Megan used every opportunity presented to her to learn more about all aspects of theatre,” Durbin-Ames said. “She worked in the box office; she was the house manager and she even auditioned and was cast as a chorus member in 'Seussical the Musical' her last semester at AU.”

That last semester at AU also included her capstone project of planning and producing a 24-Hour Theatre Project.

“She led her peers as a producer establishing a process that is still going on at AU today,” Durbin-Ames said. “Bringing students together to create a theatre production in 24 hours. They write, audition, cast, rehearse, design and build a set, costumes, lights, sound, PR and hospitality.”

That attitude of going above and beyond that blossomed at AU, has continued into her career.

In addition to working for Akron Civic Theatre and now Main Street Wadsworth, Harvey has been a part of several community organizations, including ArtsNow, a Summit County nonprofit whose mission is to connect arts, culture and community, as well as Torchbearers, a young professionals group that engages evolving leaders to connect, grow and volunteer within the Greater Akron Community.

“Ashland University helped me with my career by making me a well-rounded individual,” Harvey said. “I came to Ashland University because of the mission to have the ‘accent on the individual.’ By having intimate classes, trained staff and the opportunity to become skilled in multiple areas, Ashland University prepared me to enter the world with a great deal of knowledge and the continuous drive to learn.”