PMA Class 2024 Graduate Spotlight

Area of Study/Research
Broadly, I study forms of queer and trans performance. Specifically, my dissertation, Mincing and Screaming: Male and/or Masculine of Center Femme Performance examines performances of what has often been called effeminacy in the 20th Century U.S.

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
The opportunity to work with such exceptional theatre makers while directing three times in the department. The faculty, staff, and students I got to collaborate with are talented theatre artists and it has been such a pleasure making theatre with you all during my time in the department.

What are some favorite memories of PMA?
The three plays I have directed, Two Truths and Allie, An Evening at the Caffe Cino, and Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England. Also, the three FWS courses I have designed and taught for nine semesters, including a course on Drag Performance. Most importantly, meeting my finacee and partner of seven years, Jonah, in the first show I directed in the department.

If you could talk to your first-year grad self now, what would you say?
It is going to be a long journey.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?
My fellow graduate students, the many undergraduates I have taught and made theatre with, and my special committee: Sara Warner, Debra Castillo, Nick Salvato, and David Feldshuh.

Anything else you'd like to include?
Many thanks to everyone in PMA!

Area of Study/Research
Queer, feminist, Indigenous, environmentalist theatre; ghosts

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
10-Minute Play Festival (RIP), Climates of Change, The Loneliness Project, Tartuffe, Feminist Directions, eTRASH Lab, Virtual Vibrance, Haunted Natures Hidden Environments, The Ithaca Department of Arts and Futures

What are some favorite memories of PMA?
Playing Koosh in Godfrey Simmon's Intro to Acting; full festival sing along to the Schuyler Sisters during 10MPF tech; running the board for the Feminist Directions' Bad and Nasty Cabaret; reading Moliere in french as preparation for Beth Milles' Tartuffe; acting in David Feldshuh's Fundamentals of Directing projects; writing my pandemic play in Aoise Stratford's Playwriting 1; building a model box replica of the whole Schwartz Centre first floor for Jason Simms' Scenic & Lighting Design; seeing Sarah Bernstein's costume designs for Haunted Natures Hidden Environments for the first time; attending performances directed by my graduate colleagues; working with the amazing students of Spectacular Science, Rehearsal & Performance, Global Stages, and American Drama

If you could talk to your first-year grad self now, what would you say?
Enjoy every creative opportunity that comes your way. Believe that you are already an artist just as much as you are an academic.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?
My committee (Sara Warner, Ellen Gainor, Beth Milles, Arnika Fuhrmann), my professors, my fellow grads, my students, and my family.

Area of Study/Research
Femslash fandom and sapphic media representation

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
I am grateful for my experiences being involved with various PMA student film productions. I was able to hone my craft as an art department crew member, mainly focusing on set dressing and design.

What are some favorite memories of PMA?
My favorite memories of PMA involve being active in a community of my fellow PMA graduate students, whether through PMAPS or other events. I am thankful for the support I received from GRMPA (Graduate Researchers in Media and Performing Arts) throughout my time at Cornell.

If you could talk to your first-year grad self now, what would you say?
I would tell myself that I should always remember that I am capable of achieving anything I set my mind to.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?
I want to thank my special committee (Dr. Nick Salvato, Dr. Sabine Haenni, and Dr. Samantha Sheppard) for their support and guidance.

Area of Study/Research
Early Modern American Popular Culture

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
My early years, being involved in graduate student reading groups, proseminars, and various experimental productions.

What are some favorite memories of PMA?
Commiserating with other graduate students, hosting amazing visiting scholars, throwing myself into Freshman Writing Seminars.

If you could talk to your first-year grad self now, what would you say?
Don't lose your momentum! Take every opportunity you can; go to every lecture, visit with every professor. Soak it all in - without delay.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?
Too many to list! Most of all, my committee, for helping me see this through, and my wife, Maggie, for believing in me.

Major(s)
Performing and Media Arts, Math

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
One time I stayed in the editing room for 8 hours straight working on a 5 minute video project and I think I developed a headache that will never go away.

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
My favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell was when I met all of my friends and got involved with the community and we had a beautiful time enjoying our youth and feeling carefree. This was my favorite memories of my time at Cornell was when I did that.

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?
Enjoying the thriving media industry with its burgeoning professional opportunities.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?
Take advantage of all the opportunities at Cornell and listen to the advice of your elders, because in this timeline you did neither. I’d also give myself a copy of Oppenheimer and Barbie so I could direct the movies myself and make a bajillion dollars. I’d steal Olivia Rodrigo’s career too while I’m at it. Why not?

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank? 
I’d like to thank all of my family, friends, staff, professors, and etc. Special shout-out to all the PMA 2024 grads! 🥳🥳 I look forward to mooching off all of your future success because we went to college together!

Anything else you'd like to include?
Peace and love and I hope I get to stay in college forever.

Major(s)
Performing and Media Arts

Minor(s)
Game Design

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
I really loved having the opportunity to direct three of my own short films during my time here: It Lives With Me, MOLD, and DOOMSCROLL. I'm really proud of these projects and grateful that I had to the opportunity to make them.

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
The community and friendships I made from Cornell's Film Fraternity, Delta Kappa Alpha, will always be important to me. Additionally, seeing the Melodramatics perform in the Flex Theatre for the first time in a decade was thrilling! Can't wait to see what they do in the future.

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?
I'm so excited to be working on set professionally! The world is so open, which is scary and exciting!

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?
Keep breathing!

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank? 
Thank you Jason Simms and Austin Bunn for bearing with my sporadicalness and bearing with me as my advisors! Daniel Pfeffer, for always rooting for me! My Mom and Dad, for being my whole world and giving me more than I can ever return. And to Nick, Noëlle, Angel, Katherine, Kristen, and Liv for being incredible friends and shoulders to lean on so so so many times. Thank you for being in my life <3

Major(s)
Performing and Media Arts

Minor(s)
Creative Writing

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
Winning the 2023 Heermans-McCalmon award

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
Doing sound on lost of people's film shoots

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?
Writing a lot without needing to balance a class schedule, and looking into jobs in the industry.

Major(s)
Performing and Media Arts

Minor(s)
Psychology

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
The short film Facade this past winter and acting with Carolyn Goelzer and Theo.

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
2 am film shoots with the most amazing people. I would be frozen any time of the night with those people.

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?
I graduated in the winter and have built my own educational consulting company while working on my first album! Next year, I will be attending a post bacc program from Premed studies before Med School!

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?
Life isn’t anything life you imagined, but it might just be even better. Man plans and God laughs!

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank? 
A huge thanks goes out to Ellen Gainor. Without her continued support academically and personally, I do not know where I would be. Not only has she supported me through my recent career change epiphany, she has had nothing but sincere faith in me throughout the last three years and has had such a large part in all my success! So much love! And to my friends who made my Cornell experience what it is, especially those looking down from heaven 👼, I can never thank them enough!

Major(s)
Performing and Media Arts

Minor(s)
Latina/o Studies

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
While there are many memories I treasure from my time at Cornell, this most recent one would have to be one that will forever stay with me. This semester, I worked alongside a graduate student, Isabel Padilla Carlo, and Profe. Aldape Muñoz to lead workshops based on NAKA Dance Theatre and Mujeres Unidas y Activas’ (MUA) collaborative project known as, ¡Y Basta Ya! In collaboration with immigrant and indigenous women in Ithaca and surrounding areas, we created a safe and empowering space for vulnerability and visibility. By April, we had visiting artists from NAKA Dance Theatre, Jose and Debby, join us along with women from MUA to rehearse and stage a trilingual performance piece at The Kitchen Theatre. The result was an entire stage of folks dancing unapologetically to reggaeton, salsa, cumbia, and more. This was followed by a powerful trilingual performance that touched on issues of domestic violence, immigration, and indigenous healing. I will forever be grateful for the joy, care, and tenderness I experienced during the entire production process, final performance, and community event. To be a part of Cornell is to know and cherish the communities that exist beyond the hill.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank? 
I am deeply grateful for Profe. Aldape Muñoz's incredible presence as both a professor and mentor. This semester, being a student in his PMA 3215: Performance and Immigration course and collaborating in various artistic projects within the PMA Department and Ithaca community has been immensely fulfilling and enlightening. His guidance and support have been invaluable to my creative journey, and I admire the authenticity and genuineness he approaches both his artistic work and teachings. I extend my gratitude to the entire PMA staff and faculty for their contributions to my academic growth, as well as to my parents, siblings, and chosen family for their unwavering encouragement and belief in me.

Major(s)
Performing and Media Arts

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank? 
To Prof. Aoise Stratford, my endlessly supportive playwrighting professor and thesis chair, thank you for taking the time to figure me out. You taught me to channel my nervous energy into taking creative risks, without your encouragement and patience, I would not even have a thesis. Prof. Sara Warner and Prof. Feldshuh, in your classes I became a storyteller. Thank you for all your support with Peerless. Prof. Jeff Palmer, your lessons have changed my art as well as my life. Thank you to Prof. Doorim Kim, Randy and my classmates in Film I and II for a transformative senior year. I'm very grateful to Prof. Beth Milles, whose mentorship and trust made me a braver artist. To all the friends I’ve made in the last year, through Peerless and Melos and late nights in the editing room, I love you and please text me back. Finally, thank you of course, to Mom and Dad, without whom I would not be an artist.

Major(s)
Performing and Media Arts, Music

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
2024 Annual Spring Dance Presenting Series (for PMA 1611)

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
The collaborative and supportive environment of the PMA that allowed me to follow my dreams and passions.

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?
I am looking forward to continue to pursue my passion in my career.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?
"Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful"

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank? 
Dr. Sheppard & Professor Beth Frances Milles

Anything else you'd like to include?
I am grateful to my family, friends, staff, and professors for their support throughout my college, allowing me to create unforgettable memories that I will cherish forever. Thank you!

Major(s)
Performing and Media Arts, CSP (College Scholar Program)

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
I have cherished being able to crew on all of my colleagues' film sets. I've taken up so many different roles over the years, and it's helped my understanding of production immensely. Additionally, being able to write and direct my own titles with the help of PMA staff and students has been a pleasure. My filmography is thanks to the community within PMA.

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
I was given the opportunity to work as a 2nd AC and G/E Swing on a UCLA thesis feature film the spring of my sophomore year. The relationships I made on that set will last far into the future. It was thanks to Sarah Nixon, the director, who reached out to PMA for student volunteers, as she went to Cornell for her undergraduate education. Every day on set was a crash course on production and it was so fun. I wouldn't trade those memories for the world.

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?
I'm looking forward to being able to dive head first into the film industry. It's been hard balancing my creative pursuits with my studies at Cornell, but I am all the better for it. I now have my Cornell education in my tool belt.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?
I would tell myself to trust the process of what you are doing. It took a lot of courage to commit fully to filmmaking after being rendered unfit for Track & Field due to an injury and changing my major from Environment & Sustainability. It felt like a complete reset of my goals. I would talk to that freshman who was unsure of how to go forward, and I would tell him to take every opportunity that was made available to him.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank? 
I want to thank former Assistant Professor Daniel Pfeffer. He stoked a fire in me that gave me the courage to produce my first short and pursue filmmaking in general. I was teetering the line between theory and practice, and Daniel made it clear what direction I wanted to go in.

Major(s)
Performing and Media Arts, Psychology

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
Acting in over 15 short films and in “Love and Information”, writing and directing a short in Fim I, and working on my senior honors thesis, “Stupid F***ing Bird”.

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
Acting in and directing short films, being a part of DKA, working on my honors thesis, and finding a close knit community of theatre and film lovers.

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?
I’m looking forward to continuing to hone my acting and directing skills, through working for film development companies and casting offices, auditioning full time in NYC and LA, and going to grad school for film directing down the line.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?
I’d say to be open to any opportunities that come your way. I came into PMA solely with a theatre background, and could not have imagined that I would devote my last three years to studying the performance, theory, and technical sides of film, while delving even deeper into the world of theatre.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank? 
I’d love to thank my thesis chair, Carolyn Goelzer, for the unwavering support with my thesis and beyond. I could not be more grateful for the countless nights you spent in the rehearsal room with me, observing and providing feedback. I’d also like to thank my thesis committee members, Ellen Gainor and Beth Milles - it was a joy and inspiration to have you both as professors and such dedicated advisors. A huge thank you to David Feldshuh, who solidified my passion for directing, Jeff Palmer, who inspired me to continue studying film post-undergrad, and Austin Bunn, who taught me the essentials of screenwriting and believed in me as an actor.

Major(s)
Performing and Media Arts, Psychology

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
Any time I got to work backstage for a show was always so special. A few of the shows that I was able to work on were "Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England", "HumaNatures", and "The Family Copoli".

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
Some of my favorite memories come from the shows that I worked on, as well as becoming a producer for Festival 24 and working with the Melodramatics for my last two semesters!

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?
I am so grateful to be able to continue my work in technical theater after graduation, I am excited to see where it takes me!

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?
Take a breath and cherish every moment. It goes by way too fast!

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank? 
First I would like to thank my sisters and parents for always supporting me and showing up to my opening nights, everyone in the scene shop and the costume shop for teaching me so many new things, and to the melodramatics for being the best group of people that I know!

Major(s)
Biomedical Engineering

Minor(s)
Theatre

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
Working with Professor Carolyn, Dr. Levitt and Dr. Ella. Finding a break from engineering courses.

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
Writing a full length play and having a reading production PMA 2800 class PMA 4801

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?
I know it was stuff at first but taking that PMA 2800 class class opened your mind to your artistic side.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank? 
Dr. Carolyn, Dr. Bruce, Dr.Levitt. My amazing PME 4801 class. Micheal, Jalaal, Lucas and Pam.

Major(s)
Communication (Media Studies Concentration)

Minor(s)
Film

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
The most rewarding aspect of my college experience was engaging with fellow artists and actively creating within a creative community. Involvement with film in PMA has been instrumental in guiding me to discover my niche within film/TV-making, particularly in the stories I choose to tell.

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
Every project I've been part of at PMA has been incredibly meaningful, regardless of my role on or off set. Bringing my brain babies 'Comfy Silence' and 'Going Home' to life was truly gratifying. Equally unforgettable was the opportunity to assist others in realizing their first shorts, advanced films, and thesis projects.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank? 
I would like to thank my friends and family for their constant support. I'd like to express my gratitude to all the faculty and staff at PMA, especially Dr. Samantha Sheppard and Professor Daniel Pfeffer, for their invaluable knowledge and support. And, thank you to my film friends and fraternity Delta Kappa Alpha. You inspire me to be a better filmmaker and friend, and I am better for it.

Major(s)
Economics

Minor(s)
Media Studies, English

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
I first got involved in PMA my freshman year when I took PMA 1700: Laughter with Professor David Feldshuh and Professor Sara Warner. I was immediately hooked by the way the studio class completely deconstructed what humor, laughter, and comedy was. I decided to minor in Media Studies, which has taken me across PMA and other departments and has taught me so much about myself, others, and the world. Everything has been a highlight.

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
All of my PMA classes and professors have embraced the creativity of their students. I am constantly taken out of my comfort zone and am inspired by the work of other students who do so as well. I have very fond memories of class discussions and office hours with my professors. PMA also has so much education to offer outside of its traditional coursework. The department’s events are amazing and inspiring, and other students are always presenting their own work.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?
I would encourage myself to go to as many events as I could, and to not be afraid to take academic risks!

Major(s)
Hotel Administration

Minor(s)
Dance, Real Estate

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
I participated in almost all of the dance performances including Mini Locally Grown Dance and Locally Grown Dance. In addition, I worked closely with guest teacher Miles Yeung which was a very influential experience in my time in the dance department.

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
I really enjoyed performing in Locally Grown Dance. The experience from the choreography, costume design, and lighting was amazing. It also was an opportunity for me to become closer to other dancers in the department.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?
Don't be afraid to try something new!

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank? 
Thank you to Byron, Miles, Olive, Sarah, Savannah, Fritz, Lisa, Tim, Michael!

Major(s)
English

Minor(s)
Film

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
Learning about production design and film marketing, attending Sundance Film Festival, doing projection for CIFF and my time in Delta Kappa Alpha Cinematic Society!

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
I’ve loved all the time I’ve spent on set getting to collaborate with other filmmakers :)

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?
There are so many exciting ways your major (English) and minor (Film) will intersect!

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank? 
All my PMA professors! And the DKA, CIFF and Cornell Cinema communities!

Major(s)
Biology & Society

Minor(s)
Anthropology, dance, Spanish

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?
Performing in Locally Grown Dance

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?
Working in the production lab alongside friends and faculty was a hidden gem in my experience with the PMA department, from learning how to sew to building a (miniature) saloon.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?
I look back fondly at my time spent in Schwartz my freshman year, plastic dividers in the studios and all. I was so happy to continue dancing during COVID, even if it was alone through Zoom in the studio, and I’m happy that I was able to watch the rooms fill up and create a community within this department over the course of four years.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank? 
Thank you to Olive Prince and Byron Suber for their mentorship and for providing me with a creative outlet that was a highlight of my time at Cornell. Also a big thank you to Charlotte Hee, my dance minor partner in crime!