Masters of Professional Writing Program

Alumni

MPW Alumni Association

The mission of USC MPW Alumni Association (MPWAA) is to encourage the continuing development of ideas among MPW alumni, to provide mentorship to current MPW students, to build a networking bridge for MPW alumni to the professional world of writing, and to enhance the image of the MPW Program and its graduates.

Board of Directors

President: Oversees all positions and provides direction for the association
James Ferrera (MPW '06, non-fiction) is a writer and film publicist. His work has appeared in Instinct Magazine and online for Premiere Magazine and AOL. He is currently writing a memoir about his father.

Vice President: Provides leadership and insight to help guide our organization and extend its growth and efficacy
Dustin M. Thomas (Fall '07) is a multifarious creative writer.  He has written for the screen, television, radio, commercials and video games. 

Treasurer: Maintains a budget and distributes funds for all activities and events
In 1985, James Gosline (MPW '87, fiction and screenplay) followed a lead from the MPW office for part-time tutors in the business school and discovered that his calling in life is teaching. Currently, as a clinical professor in the Marshall School's Center for Management Communication, Gosline teaches persuasive writing and public speaking to undergraduate and MBA students.

Secretary: Creates and maintains a record of correspondence, meetings and minutes for the group
Sneha Abraham (MPW '05, fiction) is a writer/editor at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif. A former journalist, Abraham received her bachelor's in African American History from ScrippsCollege.

Director of Interactive Communication: Creates and coordinates communication and networking solutions and resources for the group, including online and technical initiatives
Jenna Rose Robbins (MPW '06, non-fiction) works full time as an editor, ghostwriter, and webconsultant, but her heart lies in travel writing.

Director of Events: Researches, plans and executes special events and initiatives to extend MPW's reputation and influence
Lisa Miller (MPW '06) is currently the Officer of Marketing and Conference Planning for the Western Region of Northern Trust Bank.  She has over 15 years experience in fundraising, marketing and event planning in the corporate and non-profit sectors.  Ms. Miller is a Past President of the Junior League of Los Angeles and is on the Alumni Council Board of Directors for the Webb Schools. 

Director of Fundraising: Implements projects and events related to growing the funds and influence of MPW.  Works closely the Director of Research & Development and the Director of Events to ensure the success of MPWAA events
Stacy Davies (Spring '07) has been an arts, entertainment and  culture writer for over ten years, writing for the OC Weekly, Pasadena  Weekly, OC Register, OC Home Magazine, and Bust Magazine, and was the founding editor of the IE Weekly in 2006. Currently, Stacy is a freelance theatre critic  for the OC Weekly, an arts critic for the IE Weekly, a voice-over actor for Public Storage Inc., and a teacher of nonfiction writing at UCR. In 2008  she won the Excellence in Journalism award from the Society of Professional  Journalists.

Director of Mentorship: Matches MPW students with MPW mentors
Annlee Ellingson (MPW '08, fiction) has worked for more than a decade as a professional writer and editor with work appearing in Boxoffice Magazine, Los Angeles CityBeat, LA Weekly, Los Angeles Confidential, and DGA Quarterly. Most recently she oversaw the launch of MPW's literary journal, Southern California Review.

Writing Community Liaison: Serves as a bridge between the MPW program/alumni and the community in general to promote the MPW community
Kimberly Keilbach (MPW '08) is a freelance writer and author. She has written numerous articles on innovation and creativity as well as a non-fiction book entitled Global Warming is Good for Business (Quill Driver Books, 2008). Kimberly also writes fiction and received an award in the 75th Annual Writer's Digest Contest for her short story "Clueless."