Jillian Green (MT, ‘97) has used the valuable arts skills she learned during her time at Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) to make a difference in her world. Green’s journey has been filled with learning opportunities, growth and change, as she has held many different roles in various industries; from pursuing a career in politics to mastering the world of public relations. Green ended up finding her place in serving others after working in corporate social responsibility and corporate philanthropy, eventually making the switch to nonprofit work. Today, making an impact at the Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles (CHLA) as the associate vice president of corporate partnerships.
Green discovered OCSA through a family friend, which at the time was still a small after-school program held on the Los Alamitos High School campus.
She said she still recalls the incredible experience that gave her the confidence and strong communication skills to pursue her passions beyond the arts. The arts instilled confidence in her that she has carried with her throughout the years, ultimately contributing to her success in all of her career aspirations.
Beyond the technical and practical skills she learned as an arts student, Green said her arts education also fostered an appreciation and love for the arts that were important to her overall growth as a person.
“It allows you to participate in cultural conversations, be empathetic, be well-rounded; even though I didn’t necessarily go into a career in the arts, a lot of the stuff I do is related to what I learned at OCSA,” she said.
After OCSA, Green graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree in political science and government, before deciding nonprofit work was the right field for her. She continued to find success in public affairs, community relations and public relations before moving into philanthropy and development.
In her role at CHLA, Green is able to combine all of her skills and experience to build relationships and create partnerships with large companies that can help support the needs of the organization, allowing her to fulfill her aspirations of giving back to a good cause.
She said she is currently working on CHLA’s Make March Matter, an annual campaign that Green has built up over the past seven years that serves as a platform for companies to support the hospital. This is one of many events and campaigns Green manages throughout the year that requires her to work with the public, celebrities, corporations, media, and the amazing staff at the hospital. She said she loves her work and working with great people — including the patients and their families.
Green said current OCSA students and her fellow alumni should continue to follow their hearts and cherish the opportunities they have received from their education.
“Just because you were a political science major in college, doesn’t mean that you have to be a lawyer. Do what makes you happy. The skills that you learn along the way will help guide you in the right direction, they’ll prepare you. Don’t pigeonhole yourself. Open your eyes to all the different opportunities that come to you. If it’s a career in the arts, that’s great! If it’s not, that’s great too because what you have from your background is still extremely valuable,” she said.