Meet Katie Runkel | Arts Administrator at University of Northern Colorado

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Runkel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
When I was 17, I won one of the largest competitions in the Los Angeles area, The Spotlight Awards. Being a grand finalist in the program really propelled my decision to go into the arts. It was the validation I needed that I was going to succeed if I tried. However, what kept me in my vocal performance major was the experience I receive the summer prior to college at the Aspen Music Festival. I was there on a full ride as part of my grand prize from Spotlight, and I was the youngest student there (in the opera program).

High School music was never a great experience for me. There were a lot of politics, catty singers, and people worried about the wrong thing. The professionalism of the musicians I spent that summer with in 2007 was everything my mom (who was a professional musician) promised it would be. They were collegial, courteous, generous, and so incredibly talented.

It opened my eyes to the type of people I wanted to surround myself with. That propelled me to have the tenacity to stay in my major, instead of giving myself an out to change to communications, political science, or finance. I was highly academic in high school, and for that reason my mom was always baffled that I wanted to go into the arts. I got a near perfect score on the Math section in the SATs, I was in the top 20 students in my graduating class, and I loved using my intellect. But I would argue that is why I went into the arts. The arts was always the place I felt the most challenged. Its multifaceted, its complex, and its missional. That’s why I love it, and I hope to always stay in the field.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I work as the Director of Advising for the College of Performing and Visual Arts at the University of Northern Colorado. I’ve worked at UNC since November 2015. I started as the Music Retention and Business Coordinator, and now in my current role I work to positively impact academic advising, recruitment, retention and academic student success for the College of Performing and Visual Arts. I love what I do. I love being able to help impact students on a day-to-day basis, ensuring they gain the tools they need to be part of the vibrant arts community in Colorado.

I also work as an adjunct faculty member. I program Common Hour, a concert/discussion series for music students to zoom out on what the music industry offers, and I teach a course called PVA 110: Starting a Career in the Arts. This course is meant to expose arts students to all the industry has to offer, and how they can utilize their strengths, their courses and their talents for career success.

Outside of my time at UNC, I am also the Director of Worship Ministries at Summit of Peace Church in Thornton, Co. I cantor, contract and book professional band members, book classical players, run sound, program music, and I’m a co-director of our summer camp. We had 215 students come through our 3 camp weeks this summer, offering a low-cost camp options to families in the Thornton Area.

I’m a wife, and a mom to two beautiful boys, Nolan and Connor. I’ve often been told I have a lot on my plate, but it’s the diversity of what I do that drives my day. I absolutely love having so many points of impact to positively contribute to the Colorado community, as well as the arts community.

When I first graduated with my graduate degree from the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins in 2013, I began working at the University of Denver in the Lamont School of Music as the Student Coordinator. The field of arts administration was somewhat new to me. My experience to that point was that of a student. I was continually surprised and energized with how much I loved giving back to the students helping them with steps I had just covered in my own education.

I came from a musical family, so although arts administration was new to me – the world of the arts already felt like home.

When I finished up my day at DU, I didn’t know how to fill the rest of my night. I was so used to nightly rehearsals, between opera productions and concerts – so I got a second job – then a third job. I liked to tell myself it was because artists have a “patch career.” We are always adding, adding, adding to diversify our skills, and our portfolio. Our educators gave us the permission to think this way. Looking back, I could only really do this because I didn’t have children or responsibilities outside of my marriage or my work.

The hardest part of my career was choosing contentment. I think my generation sometimes struggles with this. We are always striving and seeking the next best things, and we often don’t want to wait for the experience to be granted that next level of responsibility or leadership. I was very guilty of that. I was restless in my role, and feeling ready to jump into another role, another company or even another industry. Then the pandemic happened, and it slowed me down. It gave me back the ability to provide others with grace, empathy and patience. More than anything, I’m thankful that the process taught me patience and contentment. Because I settled into my role, I truly learned more about the integration of my industry. Now, I’m sitting in a role I absolutely love, and its foundation is that of the experience I’ve built over the last 11 years.

I think for me it’s that phrase “you only live once” (yolo) that just keeps pushing me to continue achieving. However, as a mother of two, a wife, a daughter, a Christian, a community member, and a colleague, I know that you must pick your priorities. However, I think 11 years into my career that I have the self-assurance and determination to only do what truly drives me and what I feel inspired to contribute to the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My absolutely favorite spot for any anniversary, birthday or night out with a friend is the DBAR. My husband and I spent our first anniversary in Colorado at their original location, and have gone back to the new location for birthdays, visits from family and special nights out.
I also LOVE how easy it is to get to a show at the DPAC. Between going to see the Colorado Symphony, and watching a touring show that’s in town, Denver is a great city to call home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my support system, both personally and professionally. I have an incredibly loving family – my parents, my husband, my brother’s family, my in-law’s, and my children. I’ve grown up with my husband, and we’ve continued to lean into each other’s strengths, reminding each other of our capacity and capabilities.

Outside of a supportive home life, I’ve been thankful to have supportive and trusting colleagues, and mentors along the way. My voice teachers, both in undergraduate and graduate work taught me a lot about collegiality, work ethic, and how to still have fun. One of my prior bosses, Mike Alexander, taught me a lot about what it means to be successful. Unknowingly, I still had a lot to learn about what success looked like at the age of 27. I was in an arts administration role, and still feeling like I didn’t “make it” because I wasn’t singing, until I really took a look at my life, my values, my priorities and realized I was exactly where I was meant to be.

Working in the arts, I’ve always felt like I’m working with my “people.” We are creative, we think outside the box, we look at a problem from multiple angles, and we don’t take ourselves too seriously. Leaning into my network, staying consistent with my character and ethics, as well as not being afraid to try have been large factors in my success. And I wouldn’t be where I am today without everyone I’ve worked with along this journey.

Website: https://arts.unco.edu/advising-center/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runkgirl/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katierunkel/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.runkel.3

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRunkFam