1:30 – 2:00 p.m. Alumni Gathering, Brown Hotel, 2nd floor, Bluegrass Room
Gather, say hello to old friends, and receive an official “Welcome Home”  from Sena Jeter Naslund 

2:00 p.m. Afternoon programming

Catch up with us at any point on the trail between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Text Marjetta at 305-695-9619 for the group’s current location.

5:15-6:15 p.m. Spalding’s Festival of Contemporary Writing. Readings by MFA Faculty, including program directors Sena Jeter Naslund and Kathleen Driskell (Brown Hotel, 16th floor, Gallery Ballroom) 

7:30-9:30 p.m.  Alumni Film Festival (hosted by Laura Morton Mattingly) and Alumni Play Festival (hosted by Justin Dobring) (Brown Hotel, Secretariat B)

FRIDAY, MAY 29

9 a.m.-11:15. Alumni Workshops.

11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. A Literary Chat. Alumni gather to discuss a close reading of short pieces of work. Facilitated by Nancy Long. Readings to be distributed at Homecoming Registration. 

12:15- 1: 15 p.m. Lunch. (The ELC deli now serves subs, pizza, and salads.)

1:30-2:15 p.m. Alumni Faculty Lecture. (ELC Lectorium) Silas House. The Transformation of Beauty Into Action

“I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken…even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood,” Audre Lorde once wrote.  This lecture will expand on that notion and explore the ways that writing must seek to transform and be activist in its many ways, by telling one’s truth, by standing up for what one believes in, by observing and preserving. We will look at examples from writers like Marilynne Robinson, Larry Brown, Zora Neale Hurston, and others.

2:30-3:15 p.m. Cathy Medwick, magazine publishing. (ELC Lectorium) 

3:45-5:00 p.m. Celebration of Recently Published Books by Alumni. All students, alumni, and faculty welcome. (Brown Hotel, 1st floor, Citation Room) Book signing with Celebration authors to follow at SPLoveFest book expo. 

5:00-6:00 p.m. SPLoveFest. Alumni and students display their books, journals, and anthologies and/or bring promotional material regarding any artistic endeavor such as plays, movies, podcasts, literary services, blogs, websites, and more. Hors d’oeuvres and cash bar. (Brown Hotel, 1st floor, Secretariat)

6:00-7:00 p.m. MFA Moth: oral storytelling by students (cross-genre follow-up session). Alumni welcome. (Brown Hotel, 1st floor, Citation)

9:00 p.m. Alumni After-Party Literary Reading (hosted by Teneice Durrant) A slate of alumni will be reading from their work. (Brown Hotel, 1st floor, Citation)

SATURDAY, MAY 30

9:00-10:15 a.m. Breakfast Mixer for alumni, Spring 2015/Fall 2015 graduates, faculty and staff. (Mansion Drawing/Dining Room)

10:30-11:30 a.m.  Regional Alumni Breakout Sessions. Alumni meet together, then breakout by region to discuss possible regional events. 3rd floor, Library 

11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.  Concurrent Panel, Presentation, and Agent Pitch 

According to the Babson Survey Research Group, about 7.1 million college students take online classes (Chronicle of Higher Education, 2015).  Good news for writers seeking faculty positions that offer flexibility, income and time to write. Sounds great? Not so fast.  Online schools are big business, and traditional schools are following the money trail.  Whether you teach for a private liberal arts school, or a mega for-profit institution, online teaching is a demanding, challenging and frustrating endeavor.   This session will examine the different schools and options available to potential online instructors, and the expectations, exaggerations, and exasperations related to online teaching.  Welcome to the E-lagoon!

2:15-3:15 p.m. Spalding’s Festival of Contemporary Writing. PGRAs read from works-in-progress. (ELC Lectorium)

3:30-5:30 p.m. Alumni Workshops.

6:00 p.m. Graduation. (Brown Hotel, 16th floor, Gallery)

After-graduation reception. All welcome. (Brown Hotel, 1st floor, Citation)

7:30 p.m. Champagne Toast and Farewell Dinner. (Purchase ticket from Katy to attend.) (Brown Hotel, 1st floor, Secretariat Room.

SUNDAY, JUNE 1

Have a safe trip! Put the next Homecoming on your calendar now. June 2-5, 2016.