MIU student Collier Bickel was born in Russia and grew up in Tennessee. Acting and theater played pivotal roles in his life as a child, and he decided to pursue acting as a career.
He was looking for a non-traditional college when he saw an ad for MIU, and the block system drew him in. At the time, MIU was offering a degree program in collaboration with the Tom Todoroff Acting Conservatory in New York City, which convinced him to apply.
Once he arrived on campus, he fell in love with MIU, Fairfield, and the Cinematic Arts and New Media program. “The university allowed me to experience things at my own pace and discover my process to success; I found my love for writing, editing, and directing.”
Collier graduated in June 2022 with an undergraduate degree from MIU and an acting diploma from the Tom Todoroff Acting Conservatory, which he attended for two years. Collier is now pursuing his MFA in creative writing at MIU.
Last year Collier became passionate about improving the communication between students and the MIU administration, and his friends encouraged him to run for MIU Student Government. He ran for Student Government president and won.
He is enjoying the challenge of his new leadership role and loves working with other members of the Student Government. He is dedicated to creating a safe place for students to communicate their concerns and having their questions answered.
He found the Transcendental Meditation® technique helpful for managing the pressures of his various responsibilities in his studies and his position on Student Government. “I tend to stress over the smallest things in the world,” he said. “TM chills me out.”
Collier is now writing a book as part of his master’s program, and his goal is to work in the entertainment industry as a writer, director, and producer.
