Image caption: Interim Dean of Humanities James Allard (left) presented Alana Perri (BA ’13) with the 2025 Faculty of Humanities Distinguished Graduate Award on Sept. 21 during the University’s recent Homecoming celebrations.

Friday, October 10, 2025 | by Gillian Minaker

Alana Perri (BA ’13) is on a mission to ensure creative expression is accessible to all.

Perri, who recently received the Faculty of Humanities Distinguished Graduate Award during Brock’s 2025 Homecoming celebrations, is dedicated to fostering inclusivity, accessibility and empowerment by harnessing theatre for non-traditional uses.

A performer at heart, Perri began her journey at Brock in 2009 as a Dramatic Arts (DART) student.

Through her studies, and a pivotal course exploring “drama therapy,” she found her true calling in expressive arts therapy. She also gained co-op experience at RAFT, an organization aiming to reduce youth homelessness in St. Catharines through attachment-based programs.

“We brought drama into a place where feelings of joy and fun were often scarce. Together we created a book together filled with poems and art called I Just Need to Let This Out. This experience showed me how the arts for everyone; I still have the book, and every day it reminds me of the power of expressive art,” she said.

Now the Executive Director and Owner of Purple Carrots Drama Studio, an Toronto-based organization offering innovative drama and expressive arts programs for neurodiverse youth, teens and adults, she has had profound impact in the lives of others.

When Perri took the helm of Purple Carrots in 2020, she was driven to keep the arts programs running when much of the world was shutting down during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We work with the disability community and with people of all abilities, so it was not possible or beneficial for everyone to participate virtually, but our community is incredibly strong and passionate and rose to the challenge, and we’re still here,” she said.

The drama studio now serves approximately 300 participants across Canada, providing inclusive, expressive arts programs and workshops that encourage emotional regulation and self-awareness.

“We use different art forms to help build social and communication skills and work towards a final production or performance to share with family and friends. We also provide one-on-one coaching and other community services; it’s a really beautiful purple world we’ve built,” she said.

Perri often collaborates with fellow alumni at Purple Carrots, with more than half of the Purple Carrots team comprised of DART graduates.

“Being part of the DART community was a totally different way of learning, steeped in community. Everyone — faculty, staff and students — support each other, during and beyond graduation. I am grateful to have been given the space to create and find my path and continue working with my Brock community,” she said.

Perri’s professional practice previously extended beyond the drama studio as an Expressive Arts Therapist, using creative expression as a therapeutic tool to support diverse communities through life transitions, including grief and palliative care.

Perri has also empowered the next generation of creative leaders through education, teaching students at Mohawk College how to integrate the arts into treatment for individuals living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and instructing DART students at Brock on how to leverage movement in education and theatre applications.

She said being recognized as a Distinguished Graduate is an honour.

“The University has always been there to support me. I am so grateful, and I try to pay it forward everyday through the work that I do. I’ve made it this far, and I will keep going.”