This is the first in a series of monthly articles about people who support the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center.

Meet Jan Wheeler, one of the first employees at the new UGA Performing Arts Center in 1996.

When the Performing Arts Center opened, I was house manager, facility manager, and education and outreach coordinator. Those roles were all on my business card. I also did some development work. It was really exciting to be part of that first team. The opening of the Performing and Visual Arts Complex did more to improve my family’s quality of life than anything else that was going on in Athens.

The complex certainly changed the Athens community, including the School of Music students’ experience. When HHSOM alums returned to visit campus, they would tour the new facilities and emphatically express regret that they hadn’t been able to benefit from them as students. The Performing Arts Center and Hugh Hodgson School of Music have clearly made the music program more competitive in attracting students and faculty.

I give to the Performing Arts Center because more than 25 years later it continues to make such an important contribution to the community. One of my favorite duties as house manager was recruiting, training, and scheduling volunteers. And so, when I was looking at donation options I thought, well, it’s really obvious: I wanted to honor the Performing Arts Center volunteers.

Learn how you can support the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center here.