By: Yessi Galvan –

Many of you reading this may have heard of Heather Hillhouse, or have worked with her in the theater department, but may not know much more about her. Heather Hillhouse has been our theater technician for five years and counting. Before coming to Southeast, Hillhouse worked at different colleges around the U.S. for nine years. “At the college level, I worked with kids who specifically wanted to work in theater,” said Hillhouse. “Here I’m seeing everybody – so I’m seeing a much broader range of students.”

Hillhouse has been immensely influenced to pursue her present career by her co-worker Carol Svoboda. “When I ended up in her tech theater class for the first time it was a complete accident,” said Hillhouse. “I got freaked out the first day of orchestra class and I decided it was more than I wanted to do so I dropped it and I ended up in a theater class as an alternative.”

The irony of it all is that Hillhouse never expected to find herself loving the alternative, “It was a total fluke and I ended up spending the rest of my high school career doing theater.”

Svoboda has been a motivator for Hillhouse ever since their student teacher relationship began. “I remember Carol saying to me when I was feeling wimpy ‘I am woman, hear me roar.’ And I remember thinking it was ridiculous at the time and now it totally is my life now,” said Hillhouse.

The advice she wishes she can pass on to students in desperate need of motivation is, “Never be afraid to try new things,” said Hillhouse. “It may work, it may not work, but either way you will have learned something.”