By Belo Miguel Cipriani
Six years ago, celebrated historical fiction writer Nomi Eve was hired by Drexel University to develop a master of fine arts (MFA) program for the institution. “I decided on a low-residency format because of the flexibility it offers,” said Eve. “Most of the instruction is delivered remotely, but students and instructor still meet in person three times during the program.”
The Drexel MFA degree is comprised of 45 credits, which most students can complete in about two years. It also has the distinction of being only focused on fiction writing, with electives in young adult (YA), historical fiction, and science fiction. During the three residencies, students have the opportunity to meet accomplished writers, as well as meet literary agents in a low-pressure environment.
Another hallmark of the program is its civic engagement mission, which is woven through all courses. Eve said, “We believe that writing is your superpower. And so we really ask our students to figure out how they can use their writing to make the world a better place.”
“They’re coming to us,” she continued, “not only to learn craft, not only to learn professional development, but also to learn how they can use their writing to push a needle on an issue that’s important.”
Inspired by the social justice mission of the program, the first MFA cohort, which graduated in spring 2021, donated a total of $1,300 to start a scholarship. The program also received an anonymous $50k donation that was combined with the contribution from the students to form the Drexel MFA Gift Fund for Marginalized Writers. The scholarship will fund the entire degree program for a writer with chronic illness or disability, as well as provide the student with a one-year mentorship with iconic disability writer and poet Kenny Fries.
“When I rolled out the MFA,” said Eve, “I really made a pledge to myself that I would find ways to provide opportunity and pathways for people with illness or disability to become part of our degree.”
Since its inception, the Drexel MFA has been gaining momentum and the number of applicants has grown every year. The program only admits 24 students each fall, and, according to Eve, the admissions rate is 60% — with that figure dropping as more writers apply annually.
“My goal is to fund the fellowship so that we can matriculate two students from the MFA Gift Fund for Marginalized Writers every single year in perpetuity,” said Eve.
For more information about the MFA program and scholarship, please visit: Low-Residency MFA Creative Writing Degree | Drexel Online