Summer Intern Team 2025
Meet our summer interns!
Anita Preuss
Development Intern
I am a rising senior at Ithaca College student from Queensbury, NY, majoring in Television and Digital Media with minors in Communication Management and Design, Live Event Management and Design, and Spanish. Outside of my academics, I serve as a Student Leadership Consultant, Logistics Producer for a ICTV show, and treasurer of the Japanese Learning Club. This past academic year, I had the opportunity to work with various non-profits in Ithaca, planning fundraising events and creating donor communication plans for them. I’ve really enjoyed this work and am excited to work with a nonprofit that is closer to home! I am very grateful for this opportunity to grow as a communicator and leader in the Development Intern position.
Samantha Kaplan
Development Intern
Hi! I’m Samantha and I’m so excited to be joining the SPAC team this summer. I’m from Queens, New York and I’m a rising senior at Skidmore College. At Skidmore, I’m a Business major with an Arts Administration minor and I’ve been a part of acapella and theater on campus. Growing up I was very involved in music and dance, and I’m excited to stay close to the arts as I move into my professional life! I spent the past four months studying abroad in Florence, Italy where I was able to take classes, travel, and escape the brutal upstate New York winter. I’ll be interning in the Development department and I can’t wait to meet everyone and get started!
Lily Rich
Programming Intern
I am so excited to join the team at SPAC and immerse myself in the performing arts for the summer! Originally, I am from Baltimore, MD, and I grew up training and performing in all styles of dance. I am a rising senior at Washington University in St. Louis double majoring in Dance and Religious Studies with a minor in Business of the Arts. My goal is to work in the arts in some capacity, and I am hoping that this summer will give me some guidance on my exact path, whether it be arts admin, law, business, or something else. At school, I am involved in a few dance performing companies, I am the vice president of a pre-law fraternity, and I teach dance classes in elementary schools around the St. Louis community. I spent the last four months studying abroad in Dublin but am so excited to get to work in Saratoga Springs this summer, learning more about SPAC and the arts.
Gavin Gilooly
Communications Intern
I am from Latham, NY, and am a rising senior at Marist University in Poughkeepsie, NY. I study Communications with a concentration in Public Relations, and a double minor in Fashion Merchandising and Graphic Design. On campus, I am the President of our Student Programming Council and a student worker in the Office of Marketing and Communications. I am excited to spend my summer with SPAC — it’s especially meaningful having grown up locally! After this summer, I look forward to starting my master’s in integrated marketing communications at Marist and enjoying my senior year. I am so excited to begin working with such an incredible crew!!
Vanessa Bionda
Marketing Intern
As a rising senior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, I am pursuing a degree in Music with a concentration in Composition and Production and a second degree in Communication, Media, and Design. On campus, I have been involved in a variety of activities such as the Audio Engineering Society, Weightlifting Club, GZ Basement where we host basement concerts and open mic nights, and The Rusty Pipes A Cappella where I am our newly elected Music Director. I have always been immersed within the performing arts since I was in kindergarten, so I cannot wait to explore my passions within the Marketing Department at SPAC. Since last summer, I’ve been a Marketing Intern with Sodexo for Rensselaer Dining Services—it has been a lovely experience that has really helped kickstart my professional journey. With a lifelong connection to the performing arts and a growing foundation in marketing, I’m thrilled to continue this journey at SPAC this summer and dive deeper into its history, vibrant community, and all that goes into bringing music to life.
Maeve McDermott
Executive Intern
I am honored to be a part of SPAC for their 2025 season as the Executive Intern. I just finished my sophomore year at the University of New England majoring in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Business Administration, Marketing, and Writing. At UNE I am a member of the women’s swim team and Student Athletic Advisory Committee communications chair. I previously interned at Empire Live in Albany where my love for live events began. I can’t wait to integrate my schooling and aspirations into one with the SPAC team this summer!
Nayah Reagans
Education Intern
I’m so excited to be part of SPAC this summer and to both contribute to and be inspired by the incredible talent and art here! I recently graduated from Skidmore College with a B.S. in Dance Choreography and Performance and a minor in Education Studies. During my time at Skidmore, I wore a lot of hats: I was a Residential Assistant for three years, served on the E-Board of the Stompin’ Soles Tap Crew as Social Media Manager and later Co-President, and co-chaired the Dance Department’s Student Committee. I also worked at the Career Development Center for two years as a front desk manager and marketing assistant. My connection with SPAC began two years ago—first as an Education Intern, then as a Teaching Artist for our Adult Tap class with SPAC SOTA, which has been such a meaningful experience. Outside of dance and education, I love writing, watching true crime documentaries, solving word searches, taking naps, and getting hooked on good Netflix shows.
Madeline Lutz
Education Intern
Hello! I am a rising senior at Skidmore College majoring in Anthropology with minors in Sociology and Education. I’m originally from Medfield, MA, and currently spending the summer in Saratoga Springs. On campus, I serve as a Peer Health Educator, where I focus on promoting mental wellness and inclusive health programming. I am also a tour guide as well as play on our Ultimate Frisbee team. I have a passion for community engagement, education, and the power of the arts to bring people together. I am beyond excited to be joining the SPAC team this summer to contribute to meaningful work while learning more about the impact of Arts Education!