Morgan Chad
Poetry (MFA)
What would you say has been the most surprising thing you learned at Columbia?
The most surprising thing I learned is how beneficial a diverse community of like-minded creatives could be to my personal and artistic growth.
What experiences or courses at Columbia do you feel have been most beneficial?
Although the workshops I attended as a poetry student were immensely beneficial in terms of helping me hone my craft and encouraging me to experiment across a variety of poetic forms and voices, it was a combination of the craft seminars and literature courses, in particular, Professor Trigilio's poetics seminar, that allowed me to contextualize my own work within a robust and ongoing poetic tradition.
What are your plans for after graduation?
After graduation I plan to pursue a career in academia, hopefully finding a position teaching literature and creative writing at a college or university. I also plan to seek out relevant fellowships, retreats, and residencies, and continue to publish.
Do you have any advice for current students?
As with anything, an education in a creative field is only worth what one puts into it. I've found this to be even more true during my creative education, where the onus falls on the student to produce the work that is the primary gauge by which student success is measured. The harder you work, and the more you push yourself, the greater the rewards.
