Spider Spotlight
A Q&A with Tiffanie Chan, '02
Marketing Director, Modlin Center for the Arts
Tiffanie Chan, '02, promotes the arts and Modlin Center events in her new job as Modlin Center marketing director.BY LINDA EVANS
Editor, RichmondNow
Tell me about your job.
I’m the marketing director for the Modlin Center, which means that I build relationships with our various constituents—students, the campus community, the Richmond community, media outlets, other arts organizations and of course, our patrons. I handle our Web site, manage the Box Office, promote our events, oversee subscription sales, place advertising, assist our performing arts faculty in promoting their events and whatever else I can do to elevate the reputation of the Modlin Center. Right now I’m working on our brochure for next season—we’ve got a lot of great artists coming!
How long have you been at the University?
My mother started teaching here as an adjunct chemistry professor when I was two, so I remember visiting her office in Gottwald and feeding the ducks on the lake as a child. I attended the University as an undergraduate from 1998 to 2002, majoring in English and journalism. During that time I worked in the Modlin Center as a work-study student—as a box office manager, house manager and doing administrative work during breaks. Working in the Modlin Center is really what spurred me on to a career in arts administration. After graduation, I worked part time at the Modlin Center as a professional house manager. I started full time as marketing director at the beginning of this year.
Tell me about your professional background.
After graduating from UR, I worked for six years as director of marketing for VCU’s Department of Music. I had many of the same responsibilities that I have here, such as managing the Box Office and promoting events for the department. Including a small concert series, we had 200 events a year to promote. I also did some work in fundraising, recruiting and alumni relations.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job happens when people leave a show and they’ve been changed in some way. Art has a great transformative power, and I love it when someone has had their eyes opened to something new or can look at something in a different light. It’s great when it is evident that they love and support the arts, especially young people and children. And I love seeing a full house. It’s a sign that artists—who have put so much of themselves into their art—are being appreciated.
Tell me about your family.
My husband, Taylor Barnett, is a musician. He’s an adjunct professor at the VCU Department of Music and is a jazz trumpeter, composer and educator. We’ve been married for two and a half years and have a 1-year-old daughter, Abigail, who is such a joy to us. I was born and raised in Richmond and my parents are still in town—they are originally from Hong Kong. My father retired as a senior research chemist from Philip Morris last year and is now a pastor who ministers to Chinese students. My mom taught at UR until 2003 and now assists my dad. They’re also full-time grandparents.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
With a 1-year-old daughter, I don’t have much in the way of spare time, but we’re active members of West End Presbyterian Church, and I enjoy doing anything with my husband and daughter—running errands, playing, listening to music, it doesn’t matter as long as we do it together.