A New Graduate Program Director<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Emerson College needed a talented, forward-thinking leader to spearhead this graduate degree program. The Graduate Program Director had to share the programs\u2019 values and aspirational goals. It is easy to see why they chose Lizzy Cooper Davis<\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong>Not only is Cooper Davis enthusiastic about theater, but her vast experience and knowledge makes her a passionate theater artist and leader. \u201cI always say I was a theater kid from basically right out of the womb. Theater fascinated by and thrilled me from a very young age,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cooper Davis studied theater as an undergraduate, then lived and worked in New York as an actor. After working and teaching acting for community groups, schools, and incarcerated people, her interest in social change deepened. She decided to use her acting and community work experience to focus on the role of arts and culture in Black social movements. To help accomplish this gloal, she enrolled in the PhD program in African American Studies at Harvard University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the arts for social justice is something that Cooper Davis and Emerson College believe make this master\u2019s program special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emerson\u2019s Theater Education Graduate program is for students looking for a close-knit, artistic community. Cooper Davis says that if you\u2019re the type of theater artist who believes in the power of art to make change, then the best choice is an institution that values arts and communications. \u201cA different choice might be at a place that offers all the things, and then the arts. But students who come here are here for a very specific type of experience and education,\u201d says Cooper Davis. She encourages performers and theater teachers to own and honor the talent they bring to the program. She believes it\u2019s important for them to spread that talent and passion to more people in the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cooper Davis highlights that Emerson has trained many of the theater teachers in Massachusetts\u2019 public schools. Emerson\u2019s Theatre Education & Applied Theatre<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>MA\/MFA programs produce highly sought after graduates. \u201cWe certainly have a lot of alumni working in the field. Plus, a lot of our current students do student teaching placements with our alumni,\u201d Davis says. \u201cThere is a network of Emerson theater educators and applied theater practitioners in the world who our current students also build relationships with.\u201d She also added that in the Boston theater scene, there are Emerson alumni in positions at all the major theaters in the area. \u201cWe’re everywhere,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both MA and MFA degree options allow students to choose between two tracks of study. Students choose between Theatre Education and Applied Theatre .<\/p>\n\n\n\n Students in the MA program study theories and practices in the fields of Theatre Education and Applied Theatre. Those with a background in theater who want to become a K-12 theater educators or use their theater expertise to work in the fields of community engagement, regional theaters, and community arts organizations would benefit from this graduate degree program. The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program is for artists who have a year or more of experience working with youth or in community settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Graduates of both the Applied Theatre and Theatre Education programs find themselves well-prepared to compose and direct theater programs in youth and community settings. Many graduates of these programs go on to hold leadership positions in educational and engagement offices at regional theaters. They also often participate in conference presentations and contribute to academic and industry publications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nathan Gagnon may still have a couple of years left to finish his MFA, but he is already well on his way to becoming a writer. When he decided to give his passion for writing some serious effort, he dove in headfirst and dedicated time to honing the craft. Gagnon began the Emerson College MFA in Creative Writing in the Fall of 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Gagnon was looking at programs, he knew he wanted to stay in Boston, where he and his wife work and live. Emerson College’s graduate programs<\/strong> <\/a>drew his interest because of their reputation as an institution focused on the creative arts. Gagnon wanted to be in an environment where he would interact with artists from other creative disciplines. \u201cEmerson is about the arts and telling stories,\u201d he says. He also found it appealing that Emerson\u2019s MFA Creative Writing program<\/strong> <\/a>didn\u2019t limit him to writing in just one genre. He writes poetry, nonfiction, and some fiction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before beginning the MFA program at Emerson College, Gagnon worked in the fitness field as a personal trainer, running a CrossFit gym. As an undergraduate at the University of Vermont, he double majored in Philosophy and Political Science and initially did not consider creative writing a path he could pursue. A pivotal moment came when he was in an English seminar. Professor Emily Bernard<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>taught this sminar.<\/strong> The class studied an essay she wrote which was published in American Scholar and received a lot of attention and praise. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Gagnon felt moved by Bernard\u2019s essay and appreciated that she could write about her personal experience while also writing about larger, more important themes. \u201cThat was when it first clicked. It was like, \u2018Oh, personal essays are a thing that I really like, and it’s something that people do,\u2019\u201d recounted Gagnon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After graduating from the University of Vermont and working full-time for a few years, Gagnon\u2019s untapped creative side began to reveal itself in an unusual setting. While teaching in the Cross Fit gym he began a routine with his fitness students that grew into something unexpected. \u201cI used to do a thing called question of the day for my CrossFit classes. It was just an ice icebreaker to get people loosened up in class\u2026. I really got into being creative about what the question was and how revealing it could be without being too intrusive. I knew when I was getting more interested in coming up with a good question and hearing everybody’s stories and asking follow-up questions about that. Then I thought, \u2018I’m more interested in the story part of everyone in my gym\u2019\u2026I knew where my heart really was.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was during this time when he was a full-time fitness coach that his former professor published a book of essays called Black is the Body<\/em> and he saw that the essay she had written and published previously appeared in the collection. It had been 10 years since its original publication. That’s when he understood that his professor kept working on this essay and others over the past decade. He asked himself, \u201cWhat if I\u2019d been writing for those 10 years, what would have happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He started writing regularly and focused on improving. He understood that this new pursuit would take some time and work to develop, but he felt he wasn\u2019t progressing as much as he\u2019d like. That\u2019s when he decided his next step should be to enroll in a Creative Writing MFA program which would allow him to work on his writing full-time while working part-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m in the MFA program to develop myself and I want to put my work out there. I’m trying to do that now, too. But my priority is this period of development. I don\u2019t want to focus on the next step before I’ve completed the one in front of me,\u201d Gagnon says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This past year, Gagnon won two prizes in poetry and nonfiction, after submitting his work to the WLP Graduate Writing Awards. When asked about the theme of basketball that seems to appear often in many of his essays, and other writing, he explains, \u201cWhat I find just so beautiful about the game of basketball\u2026 is the social connections that you get with the people you play with. I want to capture that in my works of writing.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Right now, Gagnon is drafting some short stories and poetry. He\u2019s not sure what will happen with them, but if his diligence and dedication to craft are any indication, those drafts will likely appear in his future Emerson writing workshops. Gagnon says he has loved all the writing classes and the professors at Emerson so far. Having the opportunity to take two courses with award-winning faculty, Jerald Walker<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> has been a highlight. He says he also loved the multiple classes he has had with Professors Alden Jones<\/strong><\/a> and Dan Tobin.<\/strong><\/a> Gagnon is looking forward to taking more classes with some of the other members of the talented faculty who teach in Emerson\u2019s Creative Writing<\/strong><\/a> graduate program before completing his MFA next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Published short stories in Page Turner Magazine and Chapter House Journal and published a poem in Nowhere Girl Collective. Sky will work in a political science editorial summer internship with W.W. Norton. She will also be a graduate instructor in the first-year writing studies program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deejay won an EVVY for Outstanding Field Television Series for their work as a Producer on \u201cRoll For Reality.\u201d They also just successfully produced season five of another show produced here with Emerson Channel Hit Point Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tamar gained a new certification as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mallory accepted a position in the Rochester City School District as a Speech, Language, and Hearing Teacher starting September 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tariq\u2019s poetry will appear in two publications. \u201cWe Wait for Rainwater\u201d is in Oxford Magazine Issue #52, and \u201cWhen Melons Turn to Blood Oranges\u201d in the June issue of Rising Phoenix Review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the start of her first year of graduate school, Casey worked as Redivider’s Secretary and Page Turner Magazine’s Website Design Manager and an Editorial Assistant. By the end of the school year, she received a promotion to chief of staff at Redivider and editor-in-chief at Page Turner Magazine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jack is a writer for \u201cThe Gamer,\u201d having previously written for Comic Book Resources, specializing in video game-related articles. He has also written pieces covering movies, television, and animation. As a filmmaking graduate of Columbia College Chicago, Jack focused primarily on screenwriting and has written several scripts, one of which was submitted to the Science Fiction Screenplay Festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Daria has been working for SAGE Publishing, an academic publishing company, for the past year. She has also had a few articles published in her local magazines, the Evans, and Augusta City Lifestyle, while also running their social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On April 3, 2024, the first cohort of Transformational Leadership Fellows hosted a Leadership Symposium for the Emerson Graduate Community. This event included engaging activities designed by the fellows to elicit discussion about leadership and how it manifests in our everyday lives. As the first group of Transformational Leadership Fellows, this year\u2019s cohort carved a path for future Fellows and the program hopes to continue to grow in its scope and reach. Graduate student applicants from all disciplines are invited to apply to the yearlong fellowship. In addition to receiving a stipend and partial scholarship, Fellows work directly with the Graduate Studies Dean and are paired with a Board of Advisors\/Trustees Mentor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Emerson College Department of Professional Studies<\/strong><\/a> provides a breadth of opportunities for those looking to advance their careers, train to enter a new field, earn new skills, or explore their passions.The Department of Professional Studies also oversees the programming for Summer Sessions and can answer any questions for Graduate Students who wish to take a summer course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More information about the dynamic programming and courses offered in the Department of The <\/strong>Graduate Student Association (GSA)<\/strong><\/a> is dedicated to helping you advance your goals and interests. The GSA oversees eleven active graduate student organizations. Students can join as many organizations as they want, can start a new one, or revive a dormant one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below is a list of current graduate student organizations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n – PopFic GSO (NEW!)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n – Page Turner Magazine<\/p>\n\n\n\n – Redivider<\/p>\n\n\n\n – Writers of Color<\/p>\n\n\n\n – BLLING (Bilingual Language and Literacy Investigative and Networking Group)<\/p>\n\n\n\n – TEGA (Theatre Education Graduate Association)<\/p>\n\n\n\n – Film & Media Art GSO<\/p>\n\n\n\n – Media Design Consortium<\/p>\n\n\n\n – IGSO (International Graduate Student Organization)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click here<\/strong><\/a> for information on how to join and where to contact these organizations. Besides overseeing the graduate organizations and hosting grad student events, the GSA facilitates professional development and mini-grant applications. These are one-time grants offered to students for a professional development opportunity. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, click here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> For questions, concerns, or to inquire about the process to start a new GSO or other ideas, please contact gsainfo@emerson.edu.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Makes Emerson’s Program Special?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
MA vs. MFA Tracks<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Student Spotlight: Nathan Gagnon, MFA Creative Writing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Nathan](\"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/Nathan-Gagnon.jpg\")
His First Interest in Writing<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Finding Creativity in Personal Training<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Going Back to School<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Successes So Far<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Graduate Student Accomplishments!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sky Allen, MFA Creative Writing, Dec \u201925 <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Deejay Castillo, MFA Writing for Film and Television, May \u201926 <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Tamar Gaffin-Cahn, MA, Business of Creative Enterprises, Dec \u201925 <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Mallory Hale MS, Speech Pathology, Aug \u201924<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Tariq Karibian, MFA Creative Writing (Fiction), May \u201826 <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Casey McCarthy, MFA Creative Writing MFA (Fiction), May \u201926 <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Jack Nachwalter MFA Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing, May \u201926 <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Daria Terry, MFA Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing MFA, May\u2019 27 <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Transformational Leadership Fellows Spring 2024 Symposium<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/tlf5-scaled.jpg\")
Professional Studies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Professional Studies can be found on their web page: https:\/\/professional.emerson.edu<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nGraduate Student Association<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Book Club<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Four](\"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/Book-exchange-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"Five](\"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/Book-xchange-1024x683.jpg\")
Emerson Grad Night at Fenway, Boston Red Sox vs. Chicago Cubs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/Fenway-field-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"Students](\"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/Grad-students-at-sox-1024x683.jpg\")
Grad Magazine Redivider Celebration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/redivider-cake-768x1024.jpg\")
Graduate Hooding Ceremonies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Speech@Emerson Graduate Hooding Ceremony – April 21, 2024<\/h5>\n\n\n