Dawn G. McKesey served as The Theatre School's Draper/Cutter, Costumiere, and Assistant Costume Shop Manager for 35 years. She started working for the school while it was located at the Art Institute of Chicago and, at the time of her retirement, represented the last active staff member to have made the transition from the Art Institute to DePaul. She previously worked for the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the costume/wardrobe department, and for New York Costume Company as Draper/Stitcher until the company closed. Dawn is extremely proud of the work that she accomplished alongside Virgil Johnson and Janet Messmer when the school came to the DePaul University campus in 1978, as they were instrumental in ensuring the school’s future at DePaul. She has quietly but firmly shared her exquisite professional skills with generations of students and has enjoyed watching them grow and mature over the four years from their time as freshman until graduation.