One thing Joel McKissick wants to point out is that he is not a replacement for Kristi McKay; former manager of the Performing Arts Center.

“I’m the Operations Manager of the Visuals and Performing Arts department,” McKissick said. “If it’s an event at the chapel or something off-campus, it’s still my responsibility.”

After McKay left last fall, the Visual and Performing Arts department began looking for candidates to fill the position of Operations Manager. However, this time around, the person hired would look over the entire department, not just the PAC. McKissick, a long-time fan of Le Moyne, decided to apply.

“I’ve always admired Le Moyne and I thought it would be a nice place to work at,” he said. “I love the small, tight-knit community and the college’s mission statement aligns with how I feel the education experience should be. I also enjoy the theater program.”

McKissick has had plenty of experience with visual and performing arts. Before coming to Le Moyne, he served as the executive director of the Stanley Performing Arts Center in Utica and the entertainment manager at the Turning Stone Casino.

“I was also the lighting designer and master electrician for a number of different tours and artists,” McKissick noted. “My area of expertise crosses from the back-of-house to the front-of-house sides of venue management.”

McKissick hopes to use this background in order to create a more professional environment for students interested in the arts.

“I’d like to make sure that the things we do here are compatible with industry-standard professional practices,” he explained. “I want the experience students get to be similar to regional theater, especially from the technical and front-of-house services side.”

One of the first aspects of the department that will undergo a dramatic change under McKissick’s watch is the box office.

“I’ve been tasked to start a new box-office system,” he said, “which will allow us to sell tickets online. Shortly, we’ll have print-at-home tickets and soon, virtual ticketing, like a widget on a smartphone that you show when you come to a show.”

Above all, McKissick is excited to work with the students and faculty in the department.

“I love the energy from the students in the first week,” McKissick said. “They’re excited to be back and eager to work on their first projects.

“I learn something new every day,” he added. “And I hope to continue learning about the past, present and future.”