Photo Galleries

January 2013 Residency

New graduates Lauren Kelly & Alexis Miller

New graduates Lauren Kelly & Alexis Miller

New graduate Alison McLennan chats with Assistant Director Tanya Whiton

New graduate Alison McLennan chats with Assistant Director Tanya Whiton

Commencement Speaker Nancy Willard, Eric Lindbloom, and Director Meg Kearney

Commencement Speaker Nancy Willard, Eric Lindbloom, and Director Meg Kearney

Admiring the decorations...

Admiring the decorations...

The Class of January 2013!

The Class of January 2013!

Faculty presenters Steven Huff & David Yoo

Faculty presenters Steven Huff & David Yoo

Graduate Joanne Carota

Graduate Joanne Carota

Graduate Alison McLennan

Graduate Alison McLennan

Graduate Lauren Chartier

Graduate Lauren Chartier

The Class of January 2013 with Faculty presenters and Staff

The Class of January 2013 with Faculty presenters and Staff

Class speaker Gabriel Cleveland

Class speaker Gabriel Cleveland

The Class of January 2013 with President Ellen Hurwitz & Commencement Speaker Nancy Willard

The Class of January 2013 with President Ellen Hurwitz & Commencement Speaker Nancy Willard

Getting ready to march in...

Getting ready to march in...

Poetry students Jenifer DeBellis & Von Thompson chat with Kathi Aguero

Poetry students Jenifer DeBellis & Von Thompson chat with Kathi Aguero

Class speaker Gabe Cleveland with his fiancee, Brittany Bordeau, and his Dad

Class speaker Gabe Cleveland with his fiancee, Brittany Bordeau, and his Dad

Student Joyce McPherson & Nancy Willard

Student Joyce McPherson & Nancy Willard

Nancy Willard signing a book

Nancy Willard signing a book

Commencement speech by Nancy Willard

Commencement speech by Nancy Willard

Gabe Cleveland receives his diploma!

Gabe Cleveland receives his diploma!

PMC President Ellen Hurwitz, Ph.D.

PMC President Ellen Hurwitz, Ph.D.

Joanne Carota receives her diploma!

Joanne Carota receives her diploma!

About to start...

About to start...

Alison McLennan receives her diploma!

Alison McLennan receives her diploma!

Lauren Chartier receives her diploma!

Lauren Chartier receives her diploma!

Alexis Miller receives her diploma!

Alexis Miller receives her diploma!

President Ellen Hurwitz chatting with Class speaker Gabe Cleveland

President Ellen Hurwitz chatting with Class speaker Gabe Cleveland

Poets!

Poets!

Tanya Whiton with Alumni Coordinator Faye Snider & faculty member Amy Hoffman

Tanya Whiton with Alumni Coordinator Faye Snider & faculty member Amy Hoffman

Celebrating!

Celebrating!

Poetry students Jacque Brown & Jenifer DeBellis

Poetry students Jacque Brown & Jenifer DeBellis

July 2012 Residency

July 2011 Residency

Photo credits: Marvin Snider (Thanks, Marv!)

Buffy Hastings holds forth

Buffy Hastings holds forth

Laban Carrick Hill and graduate Joe Gannon catch up

Laban Carrick Hill and graduate Joe Gannon catch up

Steve Huff and poetry student Golda Solomon

Steve Huff and poetry student Golda Solomon

Assistant Hannah Goodman, and new grads Rick Carr and Seth Edwards

Assistant Hannah Goodman, and new grads Rick Carr and Seth Edwards

New grad Kate Schmitt and fiction student Heather Christie

New grad Kate Schmitt and fiction student Heather Christie

Alumni Coordinator Faye Snider and new grad Jim Kennedy

Alumni Coordinator Faye Snider and new grad Jim Kennedy

New grads Melissa Ford Lucken and Laura Jones share a chair

New grads Melissa Ford Lucken and Laura Jones share a chair

MFA graduate Melissa Ford Lucken

MFA graduate Melissa Ford Lucken

MFA graduate Kate Schmitt

MFA graduate Kate Schmitt

MFA graduate Rick Carr

MFA graduate Rick Carr

MFA graduate Seth Edwards

MFA graduate Seth Edwards

MFA graduate Angela Foster

MFA graduate Angela Foster

Fiction students Alison McLennan and Heather Christie

Fiction students Alison McLennan and Heather Christie

New graduates Angela Foster and Jim Kennedy chat with graduate Erin Lawler

New graduates Angela Foster and Jim Kennedy chat with graduate Erin Lawler

MFA graduate Suzanne Deshchidn

MFA graduate Suzanne Deshchidn

July 2011 class speaker Jina Simmons after her graduate reading

July 2011 class speaker Jina Simmons after her graduate reading

July 2011 Commencement Speaker Cornelius Eady

July 2011 Commencement Speaker Cornelius Eady

Suzanne Deshchidn graduates

Suzanne Deshchidn graduates

Carol Owens Campbell shows off her diploma

Carol Owens Campbell shows off her diploma

Rick Carr graduates

Rick Carr graduates

Seth Edwards graduates

Seth Edwards graduates

Angela Foster graduates

Angela Foster graduates

Laura Jones graduates

Laura Jones graduates

Melissa Ford Lucken graduates

Melissa Ford Lucken graduates

Kate Schmitt graduates

Kate Schmitt graduates

Jina Simmons graduates

Jina Simmons graduates

Teresa Sutton graduates

Teresa Sutton graduates

July 2011 graduation reception

July 2011 graduation reception

Program Director Meg Kearney and new MFA faculty member Robert Lopez

Program Director Meg Kearney and new MFA faculty member Robert Lopez

Young adult writers Colleen Shanahan, Lauren Kelly, and Alexis Miller

Young adult writers Colleen Shanahan, Lauren Kelly, and Alexis Miller

Commencement Speaker Cornelius Eady

Commencement Speaker Cornelius Eady

New graduates Melissa Ford Lucken, Laura Jones, and Carol Owens Campbell

New graduates Melissa Ford Lucken, Laura Jones, and Carol Owens Campbell

Dane Science Building

Dane Science Building

Annenberg Library

Annenberg Library

Haldan Hall

Haldan Hall

Campus entrance

Campus entrance

PMC campus

PMC campus

Seagull sculpture

Seagull sculpture

Graduates & Faculty, July 2011

Graduates & Faculty, July 2011

Graduates, Faculty, & Staff, July 2011

Graduates, Faculty, & Staff, July 2011

Commencement Speaker Cornelius Eady

Commencement Speaker Cornelius Eady

Robert Lopez presents Carol Owens Campbell

Robert Lopez presents Carol Owens Campbell

Carol Owens Campbell receives her diploma

Carol Owens Campbell receives her diploma

Seth Edwards receives his diploma

Seth Edwards receives his diploma

Angela Foster receives her diploma

Angela Foster receives her diploma

Jim Kennedy receives his diploma

Jim Kennedy receives his diploma

Jina Simmons receives her diploma

Jina Simmons receives her diploma

Melissa Ford Lucken teaching her graduate lecture

Melissa Ford Lucken teaching her graduate lecture

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January 2011 Residency

January 2011 Graduates with Commencement Speaker Jessica Hagedorn
"Life After the MFA” Panelists
MFA students Jim Kennedy and Angela Foster and graduate Erin Lawler
New mom and nonfiction writer Jina Simmons
Faculty member Anne-Marie Oomen and graduate Cindy Zelman
Faculty member Randall Kenan and graduate Ann McArdle
MFA students Jacque Brown, Melissa Lucken, and Laura Jones
MFA students Susan Lemere, Kassie Rubico, and Beth Grosart
MFA graduate Joe Gannon, student Gabriel Cleveland, and faculty member Anne-Marie Oomen
Faculty member Randall Kenan and graduate Faye Snider
Graduate Donna Coffey
Graduate Peggy Sue Dunigan
Graduate Joe Gannon
Graduate Jina Ortiz
Graduate Erin Lawler
Graduate and class speaker Mike Miner
MFA poetry students
Poetry students and faculty members
Nonfiction students and faculty members
Fiction students and faculty members
Writing for Young People students and faculty members
MFA faculty and staff
Graduate Kimberly Kreines
Graduate Alison Stone
Graduate Hannah Goodman
Graduate Kathleen Ingraham
Graduate Estela Gonzalez
January 2011 MFA Graduates
January 2011 MFA Graduates with Commencement Speaker Jessica Hagedorn and Program Director Meg Kearney and Assistant Director Tanya Whiton
January 2011 MFA Graduates with presenting faculty members
January 2011 presenting faculty members and Commencement Speaker Jessica Hagedorn
Jan 2011 Class Speaker Michael Miner
Donna Coffey receives her diploma
Peggy Sue Dunigan receives her diploma
Joe Gannon receives his diploma
Estela Gonzalez receives her diploma
Hannah Goodman receives her diploma
Kathleen Ingraham receives her diploma
Kimberly Kreines receives her diploma
Erin Lawler receives her diploma
Mike Miner receives his diploma
Jina Ortiz receives her diploma
Faculty member Mark Turcotte and Program Director Meg Kearney
Commencement Speaker Jessica Hagedorn and MFA student James Anderson
Writing for Young People workshop
Mike Miner, graduate lecture
Creative nonfiction workshop with Amy Hoffman
Faculty member Sandra Scofield’s class on the novel
Writer-in-Residence Terrance Hayes’ class on Frank O’Hara & The Sympathetic Reader
Changing Lives Through Literature Panel
Faculty member Mark Turcotte’s class on poetry
Faculty member Laura Williams McCaffrey’s class on world building
Fiction workshop with Steven Huff
Poetry workshop with Mark Turcotte
Writing for Young People workshop with Laban Carrick Hill and Laura Williams McCaffrey
Fiction workshop with Venise Berry
Creative nonfiction workshop with Anne-Marie Oomen
Faculty member David Yoo’s class on beginnings
Faculty member David Yoo’s class on beginnings
Director Meg Kearney and Special Guest Marilyn Kallet

July 2010 Residency

Fiction faculty member Sterling Watson with students Mike Miner and Ann McArdle
Graduates Lisa Fiedlander and Laura Snyder
Hanging out on the Ferry veranda
Young-adult writers Kathleen Ingraham and Kimberly Wisneski
Angela Foster and Rick Carr chatting at the graduate reception
Graduate reception on the Ferry veranda
MFA student Seth Williams introduces faculty member Anne-Marie Oomen
Anne-Marie Oomen reads from An American Map
Multi-genre writer and faculty member Jaime Manrique reads from his work
Jaime Manrique reading
Writing for young people workshop with Laura Williams McCaffrey
Creative nonfiction workshop with Evelina Galang
Poetry workshop with Kathi Aguero
Creative nonfiction workshop with Anne-Marie Oomen
Fiction and creative nonfiction faculty member Evelina Galang in the classroom
Special guest Lesléa Newman in the classroom
Poetry workshop with Laure-Anne Bosselaar
Writing for young people workshop with David Yoo
Writer-in-Residence Mike Steinberg in the classroom
Special guest Kevin McLellan teaches a poetry collaboration workshop
Writer-in-Residence Dennis Lehane teaches a craft class on character
Special guest Josh Neufeld co-teaches a class on the graphic novel
Sari Wilson co-teaches a class on the graphic novel
MFA student Kassie Rubico
MFA graduate Jennifer Morrison after her reading
MFA graduate Lisa Friedlander, post reading
MFA graduate Jasen Sousa
After the first-half graduate readings
Fiction students and faculty members
Nonfiction students and faculty members
Writing for young people students and faculty members
Poetry students and faculty members
MFA faculty and staff
MFA students James Anderson and Carol Owens Campbell
MFA Writer-in-Residence Mike Steinberg
MFA student Rick Carr
Faculty-Student barbecue
Graduate Ann McArdle
Graduate Cindy Zelman
Graduate Mike Farrell
Graduate Kerry Beckford
MFA Alumni Coordinator Faye Snider
Faye Snider and Estela Gonzalez chatting
Kerry Beckford and Jasen Sousa chatting
Laure-Anne Bosselaar and graduate Jennifer Morrison
Graduates, faculty members, and commencement speaker Phillip Lopate
Graduates and commencement speaker Phillip Lopate
Presenting faculty members
Program Director Meg Kearney, Phillip Lopate, and Assistant Director Tanya Whiton
Commencement speaker Phillip Lopate
Kerry Beckford graduates!
Mike Farrell graduates!
Lisa Friedlander graduates!
Class speaker Ann McArdle graduates!
Jennifer Morrison graduates!
Jasen Sousa graduates!
Cindy Zelman graduates!
Graduate reception
Melissa Lucken taking a time out at the graduate reception
Mingling in the Moncrief Room
Cindy Zelman and Suzanne Deschidn enjoying the faculty-student barbecue
Anne-Marie Oomen and Kathi Aguero
MFA photographer and friend Marvin Snider
Tiki cherub
Graduates Jennifer Morrison and Cindy Zelman
Graduates and faculty members chatting before the ceremony
Graduates Mike Farrell, Jasen Sousa, and Lisa Freidlander
Presenting faculty and Phillip Lopate
Before the party begins
Ann McArdle begins her speech
Poetry students Jacqueline Brown and Jina Ortiz

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January 2010 Residency

Jina Simmons & guest Mary Collins engaged in discussion
Dorothy Allison reading
Ray Gonzalez workshop, poetry
Melissa Varnavas receives her diploma
Graduating students with Commencement speaker Louise Meriwether
Dzvinia Orlowsky, poetry workshop
Faye Rapoport DesPres receives her diploma
Commencement speaker Louise Meriwether
January 2010 class speaker Karima Grant
Soon-to-be graduate Karima Grant & alums Sara Cameron and Erika Sanders pose for Oprah
Krystal Oh receives her diploma
Steven Huff, fiction workshop
Karima Grant receives her diploma
Towana Wright & Helen Elaine Lee chatting
Amy Hoffman workshop, creative nonfiction
Special guest M.L. Liebler performs
Anthony Kaczynski accompanies special guest M.L. Liebler
Venise Berry, fiction workshop
Mike Miner introduces Randall Kenan
Donna Coffey & Joe Gannon sharing ideas
Meg Kearney & Tanya Whiton receiving gifts from graduating class
Graduating student Krystal Oh
Graduating student Melissa Varnavas teaching a class
Graduating student Faye Rapoport teaching a class
Special guest Melissa Stewart showing picture book illustrations
Graduating student Melissa Varnavas
Graduating student Faye Rapoport DesPres
Graduating student Laura Snyder
David Yoo reading
Laban Carrick Hill, writing for young people workshop
Jina Ortiz & Lisa Friedlander in class
MFA Director Meg Kearney & Commencement speaker Louise Meriwether
Creative nonfiction workshop
Dean Nia Lane Chester hobnobs at the graduate reception
Dorothy Allison workshop, fiction
Kerry Beckford introduces Amy Hoffman
Commencement speaker Louise Meriwether
Special guest Ira Sadoff
Graduating student Karima Grant
Randall Kenan workshop, fiction
Laura Snyder receives her diploma
David Yoo reading, Founder's Room
Ray Gonzalez & Mike Farrell chatting
Anne-Marie Oomen reads
Our poetry students
Another special guest
Carol Owens Campbell introduces Steve Huff
Randall Kenan reading

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January & July 2009

Writing for Young People workshop with An Na
Fiction writing workshop with Venise Berry
Helen Elaine Lee, graduate Richard Anderson, and Dean Nia Lane Chester
January 2009 group photo
Graduating student Liza Kollman gives a reading
Special guest Naomi Shihab Nye gives a talk
Special Guest Naomi Shihab Nye gives a talk
Graduating student Kimberly Mitchell gives a reading
Guest Matt O'Donnell of From the Fishouse
Presenting faculty, January 2009 graduation
Program Director Meg Kearney and Commencement speaker Donald Hall
Randall Kenan teaches a class
Graduating student Bob Miller gives a reading
Poetry workshop with Terrance Hayes
Venise Berry gives a reading
Graduating student Danielle DeTiberus gives a reading
Graduating student Richard Anderson gives a reading
Laure-Anne Bosselaar, graduate Danielle DeTiberus, and Dean Nia Lane Chester
Jacqueline Woodson, graduate Maryann Jacob, and Dean Nia Lane Chester
Fiction writing workshop
Special guest Naomi Shihab Nye gives a reading
Creative nonfiction workshop with Amy Hoffman
Steve Huff teaches a class on line breaks
Terrance Hayes gives a reading
Laban Carrick Hill and graduate Kimberly Mitchell
Graduating student Faye Snider gives a reading
January, 2009 graduates
Randall Kenan's class on the personal essay
Presenting faculty member Dzvinia Orlowsky
Michael Steinberg and graduate Faye Snider
Graduating student Emily Van Duyne gives a reading
Special guest Naomi Shihab Nye gives a reading
Steven Huff and graduate Christina Irace
Terrace Hayes gives a reading
Laban Carrick Hill gives a reading

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January & July 2009

Graduate reader Alison McGrath
July 2009 graduates
Graduate Deborah Wood Holton
Joy Castro reads
Grace Lin's class on the pacing of a picture book
Poetry Students
MFA graduate Erika Sanders
Writing for Children and Young Adults workshop with Laura Williams McCaffrey
Poetry workshop with Anne-Marie Oomen
Sterling Watson reads
MFA student Laura Jones
Graduate reader Debbie Holton
Creative Nonfiction workshop with Joy Castro
Graduate reader Charles Boisseau
Special Guest Jeffrey Thomson reads
Helen Elaine Lee, Karima Grant, and Faye Snider
MFA students Jasen Sousa and Rick Carr
Anne-Marie Oomen's class on ekphrastic writing
Fiction workshop with Ray Gonzalez
Dzvinia Orlowsky reads
MFA student Donna Coffey
Graduates with PMC President Gloria Nemerowicz and Director Meg Kearney
Randall Kenan and MFA student Angela Foster
Graduate Linda Alcorace
Creative Nonfiction workshop
Writing for Young People students
Graduate Sara Cameron
Class speaker Erika Sanders
Kathi Aguero chatting with students
MFA students Sara Cameron and Cindy Zelman
MFA faculty, staff, and special guest Bruce Bennett
Fiction workshop with Sterling Watson
Fiction students
July 2009 graduates
Anne-Marie Oomen
Faculty/Student barbecue
Creative Nonfiction students
MFA faculty and staff
Graduate Charles Boisseau and his daughter Katherine
MFA graduates with faculty and Commencement speaker Walter Mosley
PMC President Gloria Nemerowicz
Commencement speaker Walter Mosley
Writing for Children and Young Adult workshop with Laban Carrick Hill and Grace Lin
July 2009 graduates with Commencement speaker Walter Mosley

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First Graduation Ceremony

July 19, 2008

The graduates and their faculty mentors
The graduates await their diplomas
President Nemerowicz addresses the graduates
Director Meg Kearney, speaker Nina Crews, and PMC President Gloria Nemerowicz
Poet Laure-Anne Bosselaar holds court
Commencement speaker Nina Crews
Snapping photos of the graduates
Director Meg Kearney and Trooper
Kirsten Blocker receives her diploma and a hug
Kirsten Blocker shows off her diploma
Asa Antoine and Ava LaRusso meet
Kathleen Aguero speaks on behalf of Kirsten Blocker
An Na speaks on behalf of Adam Eisenson
Our poets
MFA student Alison McGrath and baby Ava
Adam Eisenson shows off his diploma
Nina Crews and YA writer An Na chat
Fiction students
The graduates
MFA students Bob Miller and Charles Boisseau
Writer-in-residence Mike Steinberg offers some parting advice to graduate John Theo Jr.
Nina Crews and YA writer Laura Williams McCaffrey chat

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July 2008 Residency

MFA Students, July 2008
YA novelist An Na reads
Laura Williams McCaffrey leads a workshop
Fiction writer and poet Steven Huff leads a workshop
Adam Eisenson in class
Dennis Lehane in workshop
Writer-in-residence Michael Steinberg reads
MFA student Joe Gannon reads
MFA student Alison McGrath reads (with interpreter Adam Eisenson)
MFA graduate John Theo Jr. teaches a class on religious allegory in Tolkien
Fiction writer Helen Elaine Lee leads a workshop
MFA student Deborah Wood Holton reads
Laure-Anne Bosselaar in workshop
Bob Owczarek teaches a class on reading for performance
YA novelist Laura Williams McCaffrey reads
First-half MFA faculty and staff
MFA student Ann McArdle reads
Roland Merullo gives a talk on the demons that keep us from writing
Peter Wood teaches a class on form
Laure-Anne Bosselaar leads a poetry workshop
A panel on publishing with guests David Replogle, Esmond Harmsworth, and Mary Lee Donovan
MFA graduate Adam Eisenson teaches a class on scene writing
Graduating student John Theo Jr. reads
Mike Steinberg and guest Lad Tobin on teaching composition and creative writing workshops
Elizabeth Peavey gives a talk on writing about place
MFA poetry students
Peter Wood's class on form
Fiction writer Dennis Lehane leads a workshop
MFA creative nonfiction students
MFA students, July 2008
Kathleen Aguero leads a poetry workshop
Second-half MFA faculty, guests, and staff
Fiction writer Sterling Watson leads a workshop
Poet Laure-Anne Bosselaar reads
Kathi Aguero in workshop
MFA Director Meg Kearney reads
Multi-genre writers Ray Gonzalez and Randall Kenan lead a workshop
MFA student Jasen Sousa reads
MFA student readings
MFA student Towana Wright reads
MFA fiction students
MFA student Michael Farrell reads
Multi-genre writer Laban Carrick Hill leads a workshop
MFA student Karima Grant reads
MFA students and faculty, July 2008
Ray Gonzalez reads
Special guest Roland Merullo reads
Agent Esmond Harmsworth and editor Mary Lee Donovan

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January 2008 Residency

Laban Carrick Hill teaches a class on the critical essay
Sheree Renee Thomas' class on magical realism
MFA students Erika Sanders, Richard Anderson, and Laura Snyder
Sheree Renee Thomas teaches a class on magical realism
Randall Kenan and MFA student Karima Grant at the opening reception
Laban Carrick Hill's class on the critical essay
Kathleen Aguero at the opening reception
MFA Program staff, faculty, and students
Jacqueline Woodson gives a reading
Randall Kenan at the opening reception
MFA program intern Tiara Marchando hosts the student readings
Sheree Renee Thomas' class on magical realism
Joy Castro and MFA student Faye Snider at the opening reception
MFA students Laura Snyder and Karima Grant having a chat
Dzvinia Orlowsky's class on prose poems versus flash fiction
MFA Program faculty and staff
Sandra Scofield in workshop
MFA student John Theo Jr. and Kimberly Mitchell in workshop
MFA student Charles Boisseau at the mic
MFA student Melissa Varnavas and Kirsten Blocker chatting
Laban Carrick Hill and Kathleen Aguero at the opening reception
MFA student Adam Eisenson at the mic
MFA student Debbie Holton at the mic
Laban Carrick Hill's class on the critical essay
Dzvinia Orlowsky reads
Sheree Renee Thomas giving a reading
Dzvinia Orlowsky teaches a class on prose poems versus flash fiction
MFA student John Theo Jr. at the mic

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July 2007 Residency

Faculty member Randall Kenan
Faculty member Dennis Lehane
Faculty member Laura Williams McCaffrey
MFA student Kirsten Blocker from Massachusetts
Faculty member Sterling Watson
Faculty and students, July 2007
MFA student Maryann Jacob from New York
MFA student Adam Eisenson from North Carolina
MFA student Kimberly Mitchell from Arkansas
Faculty member Helen Elaine Lee
MFA student Emily VanDuyne from California
MFA student Faye Snider from Massachusetts

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January 2007 Reception

MFA faculty Terrance Hayes and MFA student Bob Miller
Faculty, students, and staff
Faculty, students, and staff
Faculty, students, and staff
Faculty, students, and staff

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July 2006 Residency

Our inaugural class and a few founding faculty members
Fiction students during a workshop conducted by Dennis Lehane (far right)
Guest Jean Trounstine (far left) conducts a session titled "Changing Lives Through Literature"
Fiction students listening to Roland Merullo's session titled "The Demons that Keep You from Writing"
Faculty member An Na (right) during a writing for children and young adults workshop
Our workshops are intimate with plenty of time for individual attention
An Na in workshop
MFA student Maryann Jacob in workshop
Faculty member Kathleen Aguero (left) leads a poetry workshop
Faculty, staff, and students from our inaugural class
Novelist and creative nonfiction writer Roland Merullo teaches a fiction workshop