Erin is passionate about "making media that matters." As an undergraduate in the Media Arts program in the Department of Art, Erin has studied with Professor Laura Kissel and Professor Karla Berry, both of whom she regards as her mentors. With their encouragement, Erin has sought opportunities to create media projects that educate and enlighten. She is currently working with two projects that explore subjects of social and scholarly significance. In the first, Erin works with the Consortium for Latino Immigration Studies in visually documenting aspects of Mexican culture in South Carolina, creating an important tool for understanding and serving a rapidly expanding population in this state. In the second, Erin assists Dr. Al Goodyear, an archaeologist in the South Carolina Institute for Archaeology and Anthropology, in recording stock footage of the Topper site in Allendale County, contributing to the wealth of information about who the first Americans may have been.

While Erin is not yet certain about her ultimate career goal, she knows that filmmaking will be her life's work. She is considering graduate study as preparation for a career in university teaching where she can both make films and teach others about the craft. The daughter of Arlene and Robert Wilkes of Lexington, SC and Mike and Tonya Curtis of Irmo, SC, Erin has used her considerable talents and skills for the betterment of the community beyond the University. She has volunteered with Riverbanks Zoo and the Columbia Film Society's Nickelodeon Theatre. Recently, she developed a video for Oak Grove Elementary, informing parents and citizens about programs and opportunities at the Lexington County school.

As a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, Erin has become a contributing member of a community that both encourages artists and supports collaboration among individuals in diverse fields across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. She is an exceptional student, representing the best of what we value: creativity, intellectual curiosity, and appreciation for the human experience in all its dimensions. We are proud to name Erin Curtis as our student of the month.

Back to Archive