Western Michigan University student Maya Narayan combined her studies in music theatre performance with appearances at New York Fashion Week, according to a March 11 announcement from the university. Narayan, who is also a Medallion Scholar, participated in three fashion shows and two photo shoots during the February event before returning to Kalamazoo for rehearsals.
Narayan’s experience highlights the opportunities available to students at Western Michigan University, which enrolls more than 17,000 students and supports inclusive excellence for all students according to the official website. She has walked in ten runway shows over the past year, appeared on a Times Square billboard, and landed on two magazine covers. “There’s been a lot of incredible opportunities, networking and doing all these things I never thought I would do,” Narayan said. “Little me would be screaming!”
Narayan credits her early exposure to various activities for her willingness to try new things. She said her mother encouraged her to participate in everything from soccer to ballet before she discovered musical theatre in middle school. Her training included acceptance into the Broadway Artists Alliance of New York City summer intensive and participation in international music competitions that led to college scholarship offers.
At Western Michigan University, Narayan quickly became involved in campus productions such as “The SpongeBob Musical,” “Legally Blonde,” “Utopia,” “Dreamgirls,” and an immersive version of “The Great Gatsby.” She said these experiences have helped prepare her for professional auditions: “All of the plays and musicals I’ve done here have been instrumental in setting me up for success, but Gatsby was incredibly unique… That opens up so many opportunities and really sets me apart when I’m auditioning for professional shows; casting directors love to see those things on your resume—and to have it as a student is incredibly rare.”
Narayan is also active outside of performing arts. As part of her Medallion Scholars cohort, she helped launch EcoBroncos, a student organization promoting recycling and composting at basketball games. She serves on the executive board of Circle-K International’s WMU chapter and has modeled for charity events benefiting infants in intensive care.
Western Michigan University fields 16 Division I varsity sports as a Mid-American Conference member according to the official website, promotes sustainability with LEED-certified buildings according to the official website, has earned top-100 rankings for several graduate programs nationally according to the official website, and emphasizes education that is learner-focused, research-oriented and globally involved according to the official website.
Reflecting on her time at Western Michigan University, Narayan said: “Coming to Western, I feel like I’ve changed in so many different ways. A lot of people come to college and change professionally; I think I’ve changed for the better in character as well.”
