Clark State Community College welcomes Adele Adkins as the new executive director of the Performing Arts Center. Adkins, the former associate director at The Collins Center for the Arts at The University of Maine, Orono, will provide leadership and administrative oversight for both the Performing Arts Center and the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center. She will begin her new position on November 1, 2014.
“Clark State is thrilled to have someone with Adele’s background lead the Performing Arts Center’s comprehensive range of programming and services,” said Dr. Jo Alice Blondin, president, Clark State Community College. “The arts are critical to a healthy, vibrant community, and the college is committed to presenting shows that will celebrate the diversity of the region and provide educational opportunities for students of all ages.”
Adkins is a cellist and received her undergraduate artist diploma from the Juilliard School for the Performing Arts and a graduate artist diploma from the Manhattan School of Music. She began her career as the associate general manager of Theatre Now in New York City. Adkins had a progressive career at the Maine Center for the Arts at The University of Maine, Orono, serving as the marketing manager, director for external affairs and ultimately associate director at the new Collins Center for the Arts at The University of Maine. She was the principal cellist in the Bangor Symphony Orchestra from 1995 to 2004 and was involved in the community, volunteering with the Mable Wadsworth Health Center, Maine Discovery Museum and Bangor Symphony Orchestra.
“I am thrilled to be joining the team at the Performing Arts Center,” said Adkins. “Everyone I met at Clark State was so welcoming and committed to the importance of having the arts in a community. I’m especially looking forward to engaging more students by working with faculty and staff to provide educational arts opportunities at the four campuses.”