First Creative Writing MFA Cohort Celebrates Graduation

Hood College’s 129th Commencement ceremony marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another for the first graduating cohort of the low-residency creative writing MFA program. The group of eight students joined the inaugural cohort in 2024 for the first-ever summer residency. Now, they’re poised to graduate after writing and editing manuscripts of original poetry and prose, attending workshops and readings with award-winning guest writers, designing and launching the new literary magazine “Pergola,” and, for some, studying abroad with the Prague Summer Writers Program.

The first cohort includes Nicole Abuhamada ’22, Johnathan Prentice Alexander ’23, Jacqueline Douge, Emily Elizabeth Holland, Sullivan McGee ’24, Isabella Peroni ’20, Maui Smith and Laurie Anne Ward. During their time in the program, the students convened on campus in June for a two-week intensive residency, where they workshopped their writing, collaborated with visiting guest writers and Hood faculty, and immersed themselves in the writing life.

Several of the graduates are undergraduate Hood alumni. The cohort also includes Hood employees, such as Laurie Anne Ward, vice president of marketing and communications, who found that the program’s low-residency format lent itself well to the life of a working professional.

“Being able to work independently, while under the support of my faculty mentor, made the program both accessible and sustainable,” said Ward. “Plus, having a rotating group of incredible guest writers to work with during each residency kept things fresh and allowed us to engage with diverse perspectives, challenging us to try new techniques in our own writing.”

Following Commencement on May 16, 2026, the cohort will complete one last summer residency. They will present their final projects and participate in a farewell celebration to mark the occasion.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this first graduating class,” said Aaron Angello, Ph.D., professor of English and interim director of the creative MFA program. “They are an extraordinary group of writers, and the growth I’ve seen them experience over the course of these last two years is extraordinary. I expect to see great things out of these writers in the future. And, thanks to their willingness to help us shape and develop this program, the future of the MFA program is indeed bright.”