At the start of her freshman year at the University of Iowa, Paris Sissel attended a job fair not knowing what to expect. She then spent her first two years at the UI as an usher at Hancher Auditorium.

Now a junior, Sissel is the house manager at Hancher and a scenic painter for the theatre department.

“My talents lie more in the fine arts than the performing arts… But I grew up in a home where all of the arts were always appreciated,” Sissel said.

Sissel was encouraged to engage in the arts at school as well. She attended a K-12 school, where she formed a bond with her art teacher.

“She recognized I had a little bit of natural talent and pushed me to explore that,” Sissel said. “She was also in charge of the set design for our high school’s musicals so she got me involved with painting those, and that was something I really enjoyed in high school and wanted to carry into college.”

Sissel said she enjoys set painting because it’s relaxing, and adds some variety to her life.

“It’s really relaxing to just pick up a paintbrush and paint,” Sissel said. “It really clears your head.”

Sissel said she discovered her love for painting because of her art teacher, but she wasn’t the only one who influenced Sissel’s career path. After she began working at Hancher, she found her next mentor.

“I was really inspired by the person who previously had the management job,” Sissel said. “They really promoted an amazing work-staff culture. It made it such a great time at work and I wanted that to continue.”

When Sissel was hired as the new house manager, she tried to recreate that atmosphere by making her co-workers see her as more of a friend than a manager. With this change, many of them started to and still spend time together outside of work.

“I’ve had some really influential people in my life and it was such a positive experience for me,” Sissel said. “I recognize that not everyone has that, and I wish everyone could, so I’m trying to be the person that others can look up to.”

Sissel said fostering a welcoming work environment isn’t the only thing she brings to the table. Sissel is a marketing major with a minor in art, which gives her a unique perspective.

“[Hancher and set painting] are dominated by people that are majoring in the arts, whereas I’m a business major,” Sissel said. “I have a background in the arts, but I also bring that different insight from the business school into their world. It’s a completely different point of view.”

After graduation, Sissel said she plans to pursue marketing for the arts. She’s interested in working for marketing teams such as Hancher’s or marketing for touring shows.

Wherever her future takes her, Sissel said she’s sure the skills she learned from Hancher and scenic painting will help her get there.