Carolyn Bakich

Carolyn was born in Eustis, Florida and now lives in New York City after moving at the age of 17. She began her classical ballet training at the Mount Dora School of Ballet at age three, under the direction of Ms. Kathryn Wheeler and Ms. Nan Cogswell-Keating. Falling in love with the art form, Carolyn grew to attend the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive in Connecticut, Koltun Ballet Academy Summer Intensive in Massachusetts, and the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet Summer Intensive in New York City, before moving to NYC full time to dance pre-professionally. ​ 

Since then, Carolyn has interned and worked with American Ballet Theatre, the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, and Steps on Broadway. It was through her time of assistant-teaching young students at the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, and assisting in the ABT Education offices that Carolyn fell in love with Arts Administration.  

Carolyn graduated in December 2024 from the Columbia University School of General Studies. Throughout her time in school, Carolyn worked as the Associate Director of Student Life at a nonprofit student housing company, Educational Housing Services. Additionally, Carolyn was an Administrative Assistant in the Dean's Office at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health during her Sophomore Year. Following her graduation, Carolyn recently joined The Juilliard School as a Development Associate for Annual Giving and Membership.

She hopes her involvement in various nonprofit institutions – both in and out of the arts –can help others learn the importance of diversifying interests and in turn, recognize their own within themselves. As Executive Director of Second Act, Carolyn is so grateful to this growing community!