College of Liberal Arts
Deyanira Van Acker came to ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ looking for a place that felt like home and found a community that encouraged growth at every step. Through acting, stage management and hands-on experiences beyond the classroom, Deyanira built the confidence, leadership skills and resilience to pursue a career as a U.S. Navy officer. Read on to learn more about Deyanira's ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ journey.
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Deyanira Van Acker, and I'm studying film and performing arts with a minor in integrated arts. A fun fact about me is that I've been skydiving.
What brought you to ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, and what made you decide it was the right place for you?
The reason I came to ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ was because I'm originally from Fort Wainwright, so it was close to home. This is where I felt most comfortable. What made me decide it was the right place was the people. The faculty and staff were very nice and very welcoming.
Coming from a military background, the VA education benefits were also an important factor.
I think it was my first acting class, Introduction to Acting, that made me realize, "I think I like it here." Carrie Baker, who taught the class, was a very welcoming professor. She really taught me everything I know about theater. The students in that class were also wonderful. Everyone's just very nice here.
What has your experience in the Department of Theatre and Film been like, and what makes it special?
My experience in the Film and Performing Arts Department has been amazing. I've had a lot of eye-opening experiences here. Because I'm a theater major, I've had a lot of really cool opportunities.
One semester, I was able to work with the FBI on its crisis negotiation training as an actor, as well as with ski patrol training. I've also been part of the department's productions as both an assistant stage manager and an actor, and that's been a really fun experience for me.
Working with the FBI was a fun experience. I learned that FBI agents really look like normal people. I don't know why I thought they wouldn't. I guess it was because of all the different FBI shows I'd seen. We went to the Fairbanks International Airport fire department for the negotiation training, where I played a hostage in a negotiation scenario. It was all improv, so you just came up with things on the spot. Army CID personnel were there for their hostage negotiation training as well. It was really fun getting to work with so many different people from the government while doing improv with other students.
We even received certificates of appreciation from the FBI, which was really cool.
I believe what makes the Film and Performing Arts Department so special really is the people. The faculty is very supportive of the students. They want students to do well. They want them to learn, make art, make films and put on shows. The students want to do all of those things too, and they'll help you every step of the way to make sure you can put on the show you've always wanted to put on.
What’s a challenge you faced during your time at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, and how did you push through it?
A challenge I faced during my time at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ was Winter Shorts, which the Student Drama Association put on last fall. I was part of Late, a Cowboy Song by Sarah Ruhl, directed by fellow FLPA student Seamus Knight.
We put on that show in less than a month. I think it was about three and a half weeks. The show was an hour long, and I was on stage for about 98% of it.
That production was my biggest challenge. Learning all of those lines and learning the art of letting go as an actor—completely letting go of yourself and fully embracing the character—was hard for me. But I pushed through, broke down those barriers, and everyone involved put on a fantastic show.
I'm very proud of the work we did. It was challenging, but it was a very rewarding production for me.
What are you excited about next, and how has ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ prepared you for it?
What I'm most excited about next is graduation, of course. After graduation, I'll be attending the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School to become a surface warfare officer in the Navy.
ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ has prepared me for this next part of my life by being the stepping stone I needed. If it wasn't for the things I learned and experienced during my time here, I don't know if I would be in the position I am now.
I feel like ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ really gave me the confidence I needed to know that I could become an officer in the Navy. If I had gone somewhere else, I don't know if I would have had those same experiences that led me to apply.
What skills are you taking with you when you become a Navy officer?
Confidence and a lot of good organizational skills. As an assistant stage manager, you really have to be on top of everything. You have to be organized, and you have to make quick, last-minute decisions because the show must go on, no matter what happens.
I feel like those quick critical-thinking skills are going to help me a lot in the future.
What advice would you give to future ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ students?
The advice I would give to future ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ students is to put yourself out there. Get involved in what's going on in your department. What I wish I could have told myself at the beginning is to get involved right away, because if I hadn't, I don't think I would have had as great a time as I've had these past few years or gotten to experience so many cool opportunities.
It might sound really basic, but ask for help. I know it can be scary to ask people you don't know for help when you're not sure what you're doing, but you've got to ask. At the beginning, I was very nervous, and I didn't want to interrupt people, but asking for help is so important. I'm really glad I finally just said, "I'm going to ask for help," because it helped a lot.
Just ask questions. The faculty really do want to help, and you'll be better off if you ask.
Congratulations again to Deyanira on being recognized as an Outstanding Student. Learn more about the Department of Theatre & Film and the opportunities available to ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ students, and watch for more Outstanding Student spotlights from the College of Liberal Arts.
