“When I saw an open position as coordinator of arts programs at Union, I knew it was made for me,” said Victoria Rotondi.

That was in 2016, and the renovated Feigenbaum Center for Visual Arts was new. The building, where Rotondi maintains her office, is part of the College’s vibrant arts corridor, along with the Taylor Music Center, Yulman Theater and Henle Dance Pavilion.

Rotondi immerses herself in all facets of the Union arts experience, helping to ensure everything runs smoothly in the departments of Music, Visual Arts, and Theater and Dance.

This includes assisting with studio spaces and exhibition curation; overseeing details for music concerts, theater productions and dance performances; and attending to the academic administration of courses.

“We have a lot going on, and I love all of it,” Rotondi said.

A resident of her native Troy, Rotondi previously worked in donor relations and on presidential events at RPI. She holds a bachelor’s degree in photography from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and a master’s of science in education from the College of Saint Rose in Albany.

While at St. Rose, she ran an after-school science program for grade school children and tutored adults in reading and test-taking skills. She is a longtime literacy volunteer for Rensselaer County and has also coached high school students studying for Regents and SAT exams.

“What can I say? I’m good at taking tests.”

FIRST APP YOU LOOK AT IN THE MORNING:

Overcast, my Podcast app. I have a 40-minute commute. I listen to a lot of podcasts.

ONE BOOK YOU HAVE READ MULTIPLE TIMES:

I am not a re-reader. There are too many books to read the same one over and over. But when I was a kid I read “Little Women” four or five times. There are a lot of books inspired by “Little Women” and I read them all.

BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED:

A friend once told me that “nothing is forever.” This is simply just a fact, but it really freed me up to make decisions and try new things. Remembering this also makes the harder things in life more bearable.

FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS:

Jackson’s Garden. It’s such a lovely place to begin and end a walk. I love seeing what the Facilities crew has added or changed about the garden from year to year. It’s the most beautiful during the summer, and I always think it’s a shame that the campus is the quietest at that time of year and there aren’t more people around to appreciate it.

GO-TO BREAKFAST:

Oatmeal and coffee from Dutch of course.

FAVORITE PODCAST:

“Strong Sense of Place.” It features book and travel recommendations, one country or U.S. city each episode. It’s so interesting and combines two of my favorite things.

ONE SKILL YOU WISH YOU HAD:

Most of my daydreams involve me singing my favorite songs on stage to an adoring crowd. So I’ll say singing.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT YOU:

When I was younger I was fascinated with aviation. I read a lot about its history and famous earlier aviators, especially female pilots. I watched “The Spirit of St. Louis” too many times. At some point reading about it wasn’t enough, and I got my private pilot’s license, flying mostly out of the Schenectady airport.

3 DINNER PARTY GUESTS YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE (living or deceased):

My paternal grandmother because I never got to meet her, and my older brothers assure me that she was the best grandma ever. Steven Martin because I grew up with his comedy, feel a strong connection to his plays and novels, and I can ask him about his art collection. Julia Child because I was obsessed with her when I was a kid; she had such an interesting life and seems like she was a great conversationalist.

FIRST CONCERT:

The Moody Blues at SPAC when I was in middle school. I have no explanation for this; I was just a kid!