MFA Programs

MFA Writing Alumni

MFA Writing

MFA Writing Alumni Profiles T Kira Mahealani Madden, MFA ’12 Arriel Vinson, MFA ’19 Moncho Alvarado, MFA ’15

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T Kira Mahealani Madden

Hometown: Boca Raton, Florida
Job title: Visiting Professor at Sarah Lawrence College, Editor-in-chief of No Tokens
Employer: Sarah Lawrence College
Master's degree: MFA Writing
Master's class year: 2012
Advice for current students: Sincerity can't be taught. No matter what genre you're working with, no matter how stylized or conceptual, always trust in what's sincere.
Three words to describe the program: Nurture, Ritual, Community

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Arriel Vinson

Job title: Marketing Coordinator
Employer: Catapult, Counterpoint Press, and Soft Skull Press
Master's degree: MFA Writing
Master's class year: 2019
Advice for current students: Figure out why you want to attend this program. Is it for connections, for community, to learn more about the craft of writing? Knowing your reason will guide you to the right classes, the right craft talks, the right people. And build a community! Latch onto the classmates whose work you absolutely adore,, or whose work frightens you in a good way. My friend group was my friend group because we loved each other's writing and we cared to see it grow.
Three words to describe the program: Lively, Challenging, Comfortable

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Moncho Alvarado

Hometown: Pacoima, California
Job title: Operations Associate
Employer: The Laundromat Project
Master's degree: MFA Writing
Master's class year: 2015
Advice for current students: I learned to believe in words, that they have power, that they can be inspiring, and life changing.
Three words to describe the program: Intellectual, Rigorous, Discovery