Adam MacPhàrlain, ’05, Proves “If You Can Dream it, You Can Do it”
Adam MacPhàrlain, ’05, didn’t have to wish upon a star to secure his dream job as an Imagineer at Walt Disney World in Orlando in August 2024. He submitted his impressive résumé, reflecting his diverse background in clothing, textiles and art, which began by earning his undergraduate degree at EKU in apparel design and merchandising.
“It took a while for this position to open,” he says, but now, MacPhàrlain works on a team that coordinates changing exhibits in 12 galleries throughout Disney’s Florida parks, as well as art collections across its resorts. Building on the foundation he learned in his degree program at EKU, his curator position involves displaying and caring for art and artifacts.
MacPhàrlain gets to use his knowledge of historic fashion for the Hall of Presidents in Magic Kingdom, where clothing worn by various first ladies, like an authentic Rosalynn Carter suit and a reproduction of a dress worn by Dolley Madison, are displayed. Working with entities like the Presidential Libraries and Museums of the National Archives, he also tracks down objects for the gallery that speak to the personal lives of the presidents before, during and after their time in the White House.
At Animal Kingdom, MacPhàrlain manages an exhibit on dinosaurs and a gallery that talks about Disney’s conservation efforts to protect the planet.
As a child, MacPhàrlain wanted to be a paleontologist, fueled by the original Jurassic Park movie. While his career path shifted in high school, he was able to revisit his childhood fascination through a science elective taught by retired EKU biology professor Dr. Malcolm Frisbie. Despite being unrelated to his major, this course on dinosaurs was one of his absolute favorites at EKU.
“I still have that textbook on my shelf,” MacPhàrlain says.
A native of Richmond, MacPhàrlain basically grew up on the EKU campus. He attended Model Laboratory School and had earned a full year of college credits by the time he graduated high school and enrolled full time at EKU. His mother, Sherry Robinson, was a longtime English professor, director of the Writing Center, and later, retired as vice provost for the university.
MacPhàrlain realized he’d found his fit after taking the Introduction to Textiles course taught by retired instructor Susan Kipp. This experience came in handy in 2015 when MacPhàrlain returned to EKU to work with library staff to display exquisite gowns and fashion accessories from the university’s holdings of historic artifacts, including from the Elmwood Estate.
While earning his master’s degree in museum studies at the University of Leicester in England, MacPhàrlain also worked with costumes worn by notable British actors such as Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Sirs Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench during plays at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Before joining Disney, MacPhàrlain’s career took him across the country, working for various organizations such as the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort, the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, the Missouri Historical Society and the Cincinnati Art Museum.
While at the Missouri Historical Society, MacPhàrlain curated a collection of over 20,000 pieces of clothing and textiles.
Reflecting on where his career has taken him, MacPhàrlain is grateful for EKU in getting his start in textiles and clothing, as well as Dr. Diane Leggett, chair of the department at the time, whose fashion history course and mentorship led to his career in museums.
“I’m an eternal student,” he says, “and I’m excited to be working in new areas.”
For MacPhàrlain, what could be better than a job at Disney “that involves art, history and—dinosaurs!”
By Mason Smith