On Thursday, April 9, the P.A.C.E Board– the University’s programming and campus entertainment board– announced on Instagram that the guest speaker for their “Behind the Scenes” event is actress and singer Liz Gillies, who is known for her television and Broadway career. Gillies starred in the 2010s Nickelodeon show “Victorious,” along with other movies, television shows and musicals.

The Instagram post from P.A.C.E. Board announced that the event will take place in One Pace Plaza’s Student Center on Thursday, April 16 at 8 P.M. Tickets, which are now completely sold out, went on sale on University Tickets on Friday, April 10. 

P.A.C.E. Board is known for holding events, having guest speakers and concerts like “Unleashed,” allowing University students to have these experiences for little to no cost. Nathan Burrell, Vice President of P.A.C.E. Board, commented on the process of having Gillies come to the University.

“Liz Gillies was a name we had both brainstormed and gotten suggested from group members pretty early on and when availability and budget factored in, she was one of our top contenders. Luckily, she was interested and her team helped make it happen,” Burrell said. “It came down to the wire a little with legal aspects and being able to announce, but now it’s official and we’re all really excited about it. [Gillies] is a huge name, especially for our generation and what we grew up watching.”

Gillies is well-known among many Gen Z students as Jade West from the Nickelodeon television show “Victorious,” which aired from 2010-2013. The show followed a group of high-school students who went to a performing arts school. It aired on Nickelodeon alongside shows like “iCarly” and “Big Time Rush.” While not known to everyone, Gillies is a very big name among University students, with the announcement post being met with excitement both in-person and online.