Jenn Dugan ’16

Business Administration (A.A.S. degree), Owner of The Makeup Curio

Jenn Dugan was inspired to open her own business after completing SUNY Schenectady’s Business Plan Development course during which she participated in the Capital Region Chamber’s Entrepreneur Boot Camp. She launched The Makeup Curio in 2016 and opened a storefront in downtown Schenectady in 2017. During the pandemic, she pivoted by rebranding to focus exclusively on “Creating Characters For Stage.” The Makeup Curio ‘s new mobile studio, “Charley’” now allows on location services to schools, community theaters and colleges across the country.

Jenn specializes in professional hair and makeup design for theater, educational courses, and wig rentals. Since 2016 she and her team have designed 38 theater productions, taught seven weeklong summer camps for ages 12 and up, and created dozens of customized lectures/workshops about theatrical makeup, wigs, business, and more.

“As an artist, working in the theater industry is often going from gig to gig. Without the program from SUNY Schenectady I wouldn’t be running a successful business that enables me to have more consistent work all year round.”