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My Story: Karlyn Leander

Karlyn Leander’s journey is one of faith, creativity and perseverance. A Colorado native, she is passionate about two things: serving God and building enchanting worlds like those she marveled at in Disneyland when she was a child. Drawn to the creative aspects of the craft, she chose to pursue theater in college.

A series of divine coincidences led Karlyn to Jessup’s vibrant theater program. The department proved to be the right fit for Leander, quickly immersing herself in the program and seizing every opportunity that came her way. “On my first day, our scenic designer handed me a paintbrush and said, ‘Go paint a wood grain,’” she recalled. Her first lesson involved the power of saying “yes” to challenges, even when unprepared. As Theatre Professor Jennifer Jackson often told students, “The possibility of yes is infinitely more interesting than the certainty of no.”

At Jessup, Leander thrived, attending production meetings, designing sets, even engineering a massive two-man hound puppet! She was surrounded by mentors who believed in her, pushing her to work harder and refine her values. By her senior year, she was juggling a whirlwind of responsibilities: designing for a local theater company, taking 16 credit hours, dancing in “Beauty and the Beast” and serving as wardrobe master for the production. Her days were packed with classes, homework, rehearsals, and late-night laundry sessions that encompassed readying costumes for productions.

As she became better equipped, Leander’s dual passions for serving God and building worlds only grew stronger. Two years post-graduation, she set her sights on her dream graduate program at the University of Central Florida. During her initial meeting, the department head asked her to share her unique vision for themed entertainment. This resonated deeply with Leander, who spent time at Jessup cultivating her “why” both as a creative and a Christian. “Jessup taught me that my life and art were meant to serve God, to highlight what is true, good and beautiful,” she shared.

Leander’s mentors at Jessup helped to lay the foundation for her current success. “All this preparation landed me at the University of Central Florida, where I earned my Master of Science in Themed Experiences this spring,” she said. Every project she pursued in her graduate program was anchored in the purpose she learned at Jessup. She believes that theme parks can glorify God, especially when they reflect His nature as a creator, artisan and builder. 

Currently employed with Universal Studios Resort as a figure finish artist, a typical day might have her start the morning working on a project in the warehouse or fabrication lab, usually painting or building something awesome. Afternoons might involve meetings with engineers or project teams to discuss creative vision and strategy. A special perk recently allowed her early access to the new Epic Universe section of the popular amusement park. 

Leander is thankful to the Jessup community for setting the stage for her career. “Thank you Jesus, thank you Jessup, and thank you to all the donors who made it possible for me to call a4yy��ҹ���� my home,” she expressed gratefully.