Work Hacks: DCAD Director of Communications Amanda Curry

Amanda Curry may single-handedly run the communications department at the Delaware College of Art and Design, but she started her journey in the arts as a performer.
“I’ve been a performer since an early age and knew I wanted to pursue theatre professionally,” she said.
For three years, Curry taught 5^th- and 6^th-grade English and special education. She went back to graduate school soon after, at Villanova, where she studied theater. While there, she became the PR and marketing assistant for Villanova’s graduate theater department.
Then, last summer, she began working as DCAD’s communications director.
“My schedule is pretty insane,” Curry said. “I’m frequently juggling performing in the evenings after my also very busy days in the office, but I love it. DCAD is helping to strengthen and improve the climate and opportunities for artists in Wilmington.”
Outside of DCAD, Curry has kept her love for performance alive and well. Earlier this year, she and a friend launched Bloom & Fly Theatre Company. She then co-wrote and starred in two recent Philadelphia Fringe Festival productions, Wendy and Peter and Rainbowtown.
Here’s how Curry balances work and play.

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How did you end up becoming the director of communications at DCAD?
When I stepped foot in the door for my first interview, I was pretty blown away by the talent and artistic sophistication of the students’ work. I was very excited at the prospect of helping to increase DCAD’s positive visibility in the community by taking on this position/department.
I’ve had big shoes to fill — my predecessor, Jessica Sturgis, who is now at the Music School of Delaware, was truly an asset to DCAD. It’s been an honor to take up the reins.
What’s the first thing you do every day at work?
Drink coffee (I have a pretty serious K-Cup addiction) and check my Google alerts/social media channels for DCAD first thing so I’m up to date on any press, mentions or happenings I may have missed overnight.
From there, I make my to-do lists. (Typically, three: One for myself — which typically gets refined throughout the day as things inevitably come up — one for my work-study assistant and one for the DCAD INQB8 designer who I manage, Shawn Hall). Shawn and I have daily morning meetings as soon as he gets in to touch base on what needs to move for that day/week and ensure we’re on track for deadlines.
How often do you check your e-mail?
Probably more than I should — although, with a few exceptions, I refrain from checking work email on weekends. It’s so important to be off the grid and refresh your brain, so I make it a point to guard my personal time.
What’s it like working with DCAD students and/or staff?
The students are incredibly passionate about their work and their school. There’s never a shortage of students wishing to represent DCAD as volunteers/student ambassadors, which is a pretty great testament to student attitudes at the college. As far as the staff goes, every member or our admin staff, despite their primary job at the school, has an artistic background or talent in some capacity. It’s pretty refreshing to work with such diversely talented, creative people.
What is the most gratifying part of your job?
I’d say the most gratifying part is seeing how DCAD is helping to strengthen and improve the climate and opportunities for artists in Wilmington.
When you need to take a break, what are you turning to?
Coffee/fresh air breaks. Primarily to LOMA Coffee down the street — to say I’m a regular there is a pretty serious understatement.
What’s your design and computer gear (program preferences/ones you use the most, Mac or PC)?
I use a PC at work and a Mac at home, but I’m pretty equal-opportunity with both.
What’s one way in which you believe your day-to-day work is better now than it has been in the past? Is there something you do now (or don’t do) that has made a big difference? 
Once you say “yes,” INVEST, but be selective about “yes-ing.”
It took me about 30 years to realize that I couldn’t say yes to every project that came across my desk. Being an essentially one-person communications department, I get an often overwhelming amount of emails and requests and it’s easy to get bogged down if you’re not clear on what’s paramount. Without clearly defining priorities, you can end up wasting a lot of time.
I’ve been much more effective and efficient at work after operating on the fact that you have to be more discerning and guard your own time, which means I (politely) say “No” a lot more often.