Tom Wallace, College of Arts and Sciences, Class of 1984

A current photo of Tom Wallace. Permission to use photo granted by Tom Wallace through Creative Commons. 

Tom Wallace graduated from the School of Arts and Sciences in the year 1984 with the expectation of using his hard-earned degree in Political Science. During his college career, he had the intention of going to law school. He started out in New York City as a futures analyst for a large textile company, but, with the encouragement of an old Tulane friend and member of the current reunion committee, Lisa Twill, Tom considered pursuing a different path–musical theatre and his passion for singing.

Tom’s father tragically suffered a cerebral hemorrhage around this time, and miraculously survived, spurring Tom to make this life-changing decision that would prevent him from looking back and saying “I should have.” However, Tom would not have discovered his talent for singing in the first place if it had not been for his time spent at Tulane University.

Tom loves the city of New Orleans, and found himself visiting the French Quarter frequently during his college years. He enjoyed the architecture of the city, and was “fascinated” by beautiful New Orleans’ landmarks such as the St. Louis Cathedral located in historic Jackson Square.

He also used to go on runs through Audubon Park, his favorite place to go in the city, and would wait until the sun went down in order to avoid the scorching midday heat with which every Tulane student and New Orleans native is all too familiar.

However, Tom’s favorite Tulane tradition, Campus Night, which unfortunately is no longer held, first inspired him to get involved in the world of theatre. Campus Night was a totally student-run theatre event that consisted of one musical a year, and was separate from the theatre department itself. Tom first became involved with Campus Night his sophomore year, and was able to participate in such productions as Anything Goes, Hair, and Once Upon a Mattress his senior year. Although Tom was not necessarily interested in theatre when he came to Tulane, he ended up becoming president of the event alongside his good friend Lisa Twill, who served as vice president.

From left to right: Mark Cox (’86), Lisa Truly (’86), Tom Wallace (’84), and Dara Altshuler (’83) from “Hair” at Dixon Hall-1983. Permission to use photo granted by Tom Wallace through Creative Commons.

During the first production Tom saw at Tulane his freshman year, an actor urinated in a bucket onstage, but this did not stop Tom from pursuing his theatrical interest. He has now been active in the world of theatre since 1990, and still performs but is primarily a director at this point in time. During his career at Tulane, he was strongly influenced by his voice teacher. She urged him to utilize his vocal talents, and would hold recitals in the Rogers Memorial Chapel located near Josephine Louise Hall. One of these recitals marked the first time that Tom performed in front of an audience, and since then he has been making a living using his voice for nearly fifteen years. He has traveled all over the United States and Europe performing for audiences much larger than those at his professor’s recitals. It took the influence of a wonderful Tulane instructor and a well-organized theatrical event like Campus Night to set Tom on a track that would later lead him to great successes.

Tom’s time at Tulane and in the city of New Orleans truly impacted his life in a positive manner. He comes back to the city every other year for Jazz Fest, and frequently brings events and conferences to such hotels as the JW Marriott and The Roosevelt. The last time Tom was on campus was in 2013, and he commented that it has changed a lot, especially with the increased security and the absence of such dorms as Zemurray, one of the halls in which he served as the head resident advisor.

Tom has friends all over the country from his time at Tulane, and remembers such influential professors as Dr. Stella Theodoulou, who taught him political theory. Although he currently resides in New York City, Tom loves New Orleans and is enamored by its culture, its history, and its status as “the best food city in the country.” He believes that Tulane is a school that allows students to “beat to their own drum,” and remembers that “no one is looked down upon.”

[Editor’s Note: This article was captured as part of the class “Media Histories” taught by Vicki Mayer in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Affairs at Tulane University.]