Class of 2029 Begins ‘Act 1, Scene 1’ of Emerson Stories

The curtain opened on new students’ educational journeys on Wednesday, August 27, when they were officially welcomed to the Emerson community by fellow students, faculty and staff, and President Jay Bernhardt.

“You’re now part of a community and a culture that values and supports independent thinking, respectful dialogue, learning from diverse perspectives, and utilizing your talents to craft your own story,” Bernhardt told first-time and transfer students. “Because at our heart, all of us here, we are storytellers, and here in Emerson’s amazing Cutler Majestic Theatre, you get to embark on the first chapter of your Emerson story.”

To help make students’ debut as smooth as possible, Bernhardt, college leaders, and fellow students had some profound and practical words of wisdom:

Just ask

“As you find your place in our community, don’t be afraid to ask questions, ask for help, ask for advice. Curiosity is one of our seven core values, and so is collaboration. You’ll receive support from fellow students, from our dedicated and caring faculty and staff, and from all the campus leaders. We want to get to know you better, so when you see me, or you see us around campus, please don’t hesitate to say hello and help share your Emerson story.” –President Jay Bernhardt

Use Boston at every opportunity

“Boston is a city of students, and you have an opportunity to join the … tradition of academics and creatives. Use the city, as well as the classroom and the stage. Boston rewards curiosity, so go to museums and shows and concerts. Cheer for the Sox. You are part of what makes the city remarkable, and half of it is free with your Emerson ID.” – Georgia Winn ’26, SGA president

‘Discomfort is not the enemy’

“Here, you’re going to meet people who you instantly connect with, but you’ll also meet those who see the world in ways that challenge you. Different perspectives, backgrounds, interests, life paths, political leanings, and more all live side-by-side here. That can be uncomfortable, but discomfort doesn’t mean that you erase someone else’s existence so you can be at ease. It’s in those moments that you get to choose. Listen. Ask good questions. Give grace and model unity in a world that too often pushes division.” – Christie Anglade, Vice President, Student Affairs

Handshake is your friend

“I found my first internship on a marketing and communications Boston internship list, and the internship was specifically looking for Emerson students because they’ve had positive experiences with us in the past. I got to work with a marketing agency that’s kind of down the street called the Gold Group, and I got to work on a lot of really cool live events there. I think that helped me get my foot in the door, and helped me a lot with getting my current position, which is at Red Bull.” – Jackie Weyker ’26, Marketing Communication major

Make connections, it’s worth it

“Take the risk of making connections. Join the club, ask the question, make the film, run for student government … Emerson is a place where people will root for you. They’ll cry with you, they’ll laugh with you, and of course, help you write your thesis at 2 am.” – Georgia Winn ’26, SGA president

You don’t need to have it all figured out

“When you hear someone tell a story of a time that they succeeded, it always sounds so smooth, but in the middle of it, the rise of success doesn’t feel easy. It feels messy and frustrating. Growth happens in those messy middle moments when you feel like you can’t see how it’s going to work out. So if you don’t have a plan, or your path feels a little uncertain, just know that you are right where you’re supposed to be.” – Christie Anglade, Vice President, Student Affairs

Study abroad is life-changing

“I’m a different person than I was before I went [to Kasteel Well]. I was able to visit 13 cities, 11 different countries, and really feel grounded in the people of Well. I identify as a city girl … but somehow that little speck on the map called Well in the Netherlands is now this big huge chunk of my heart. And the people I went with are now my 90 best friends. I learned to be a writer there, I never identified as a writer… [I learned] ‘You are ready for this, and you’re doing it thousands and thousands of miles away from everything you’ve ever known,’ and that kind of confidence I’ve never experienced before.” – Maria Anzalotti ’27, Interdisciplinary Studies major

Don’t be surprised by how fast this year goes by

“Part of why things go so fast here at Emerson College is because we’re always having a lot of fun. And that doesn’t just apply to your life in your dorms or what you’re doing out in the city of Boston, but it happens right here inside your learning experience. I spent a lot of time in my first year at Emerson visiting classrooms and tech rehearsals and taking class visits to the galleries, and what I saw at every turn was the incredible curiosity and creativity of the Emerson community. You are in for such a treat, as this is a place where teachers teach differently and students learn differently. Where you are going to be making things from day one, and where you’ll be engaging each other in the kind of problem-solving that will build a better world.” – Provost Alex Socarides

Let your professors transform you

“[Associate Professor] Jaime Tanner, who taught my Interdisciplinary first-year seminar, and then [Associate Professor] Amy Vashlishan Murray, who taught my second-year Honors seminar … between the two of them, they convinced me that I’m more than the kind of art I make. They made my brain grow in a way where I was paying so much attention to what’s happening in the world, how that connected to our readings in class … how that connected to the people I surround myself with. And they expanded my brain in a way that I never would’ve gotten to without them.” – Maria Anzalotti ’27, Interdisciplinary Studies major

Be curious, collaborative, brave

“I challenge all of you to seize every opportunity to be curious, to curate your best ideas, respectfully learn from different perspectives, and bravely create, collaborate, and innovate. The world needs you to demonstrate the power and potential of the arts and communication to advance society. So enjoy these first days of getting settled, making friends, getting to know your new home in Boston. And remember, you’re starting Act 1, Scene 1, of your own story, right here, right now, today.” – President Jay Bernhardt