Taking Stock and Moving Forward with the Class of 2026
They curated art exhibits, created a magazine, and interned with a child advocacy organization. They made films, planned events, ran marketing campaigns, and wrote. And rewrote. And naturally, they hung out.
As their Emerson journey comes to a close, Emerson Today talked to students in the Class of 2026 about what they learned, what they’ll miss, who they’ve become, and where they’re headed. Interviews have been edited for length.
Tucker Gold
Major: Musical Theatre
Hometown: Burlingame, California
What was the best class you took at Emerson?
One of, if not THE best, classes I have taken at Emerson is the Professional Orientation seminar I’m in right now. We talk a lot about the business logistics of being an actor, have master classes with industry professionals, and work on our artistic performance skills.
What song has been on repeat for you during this last semester?
“Spit on a Stranger” by Pavement
What advice would you give your first-year self? (Or, your younger self?)
Try everything you can and always say yes. It’s easier to regret having done something than never having done it at all.
What will you be doing after graduation? What are you most excited for after graduation?
Directly after graduation, I will be moving to New York City to make my off-Broadway debut as the understudy of Ross in a new musical, A Walk On The Moon. I’m most excited to start that process and continue making connections and developing my career in New York.
Nia Harmon
Major: Journalism
Minor: Media Studies
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
What was the best class you took at Emerson?
Inside the Music Industry with [affiliated faculty] Nina Webb! As a music fan looking to work in the creative industry, this class was super helpful as far as learning what jobs are out there and what goes into building successful artists.
Is there a moment from your time at Emerson that redefined you as a person? How did it change you?
Creating my capstone has been a super special experience. It is a physical and digital magazine about the future of music with a hyperlocal lens on Boston. Everything from the photography, writing, and design was all done by me! This was the biggest solo project I have ever worked on, and I am incredibly proud that I executed my vision at an even bigger scale than I imagined. I came to Emerson to create, and this magazine is a reflection of that passion.
What advice would you give your first-year self? (Or, your younger self?)
Never limit yourself! You are capable of so many amazing things, so always think big.
What will you be doing after graduation? What are you most excited for after graduation?
I will be working with TEDxBellingham Square as their creative services intern! I’m really excited to help the team build their social media presence as they prepare for their inaugural event in Spring 2027.
Jordan Marshall
Major: Media Arts Production
Minor: Art History
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
What was the best class you took at Emerson?
[Affiliated Faculty] Leslie Brown’s Curatorial Practice seminar was hands down my favorite class. It was such a great group of students, and Leslie is so passionate and supportive. Our show we curated last year, MOVEMENT/s, was an exhibition at the Emerson Contemporary Media Art Gallery focused on various interpretations of movement(s) – socially, politically, artistically. I had a film featured in this year’s exhibition for the same course, so it felt really full circle, and I’m so grateful for both opportunities.
What hangout spot will you miss the most? Be as specific as possible!
I just discovered Jaho Coffee this semester. I will deeply miss getting an iced hanoi and egg and cheese sandwich with mayo on a jalapeno cheddar bagel every morning.
Is there a moment from your time at Emerson that redefined you as a person? How did it change you?
I transferred to Emerson during 2020 after attending community college, followed by two years at UMass Boston. I struggled to acclimate to a new school during COVID, and I ended up taking a two-year leave of absence. I’m so glad I listened to my own needs and made the decision to take time off, and for the work experiences and people I met during my leave. Being an older student, I can’t help but feel ‘behind’ sometimes, but I think my experience is, in a way, its own skill, and I’m grateful to have had the path I took.
What will you be doing after graduation? What are you most excited for after graduation?
I’ve been volunteering with Queer History Boston in their archives, so I’m excited to keep working with them. I shot a short film with them this semester about queer spaces in Boston, and I’m hoping to polish it up and share it with folks. Also… because I work outside of school I haven’t had a day off all year, so I’m pretty excited to rest, travel with my partner, and see old friends.
Matt Albren
Program: Creative Writing MFA
Hometown: Newburyport, Massachusetts
What was the best class you took at Emerson?
Julia Glass’s Fiction Workshop will always have a special place in my heart. I took Julia’s workshop in my first semester and my last semester before working with her on my thesis. Not only have some of my closest friends come out of those workshops, but Julia’s emphasis on revision really shaped me into the writer I am today. If someone wants to be pushed to be the best writerly version of themselves, then Julia’s workshop is the one to take!
What hangout spot will you miss the most? Be as specific as possible!
I’m such a big fan of the library — which both my friends and students can attest to. Is it a traditional “hangout spot”? No. But I specifically like working in the area to the left when you walk in with the rectangular tables, because you’re allowed to talk over there, so I can get work done while waiting for friends to pass through and catch up with them.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Young Matt was a quiet, nervous dude. I still get nervous sometimes, but rarely quiet. I think I’d tell him to think about the answer to a question I frame my entire Research Writing class around (my students hear me ask them this over and over and over again): ‘Who are you?’
It might feel like a really large question, and I won’t belabor explaining here why I think it matters so much, but it’s in spending time answering that question (really answering it — not simply in the icebreaker kind of way) that I think we become our most authentic selves. Answering it — and continuing to think about it — is how I became mine.
What will you be doing after graduation? What are you most excited for after graduation?
I’m off to the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts, this summer, as a summer program administrative assistant! I’ll be living on-site there and supporting the hundreds of writers and visual artists from around the world coming through for weekly workshops and programming. I’m absolutely stoked! After the summer and my time at FAWC ends, I hope to work in publishing and/or continue teaching writing, all so that I can keep supporting writers and their work!
Oliver “Ollie” Katz
Major: Political Communication
Minors: Peace & Social Justice and Health & Society
Hometown: Walpole, Massachusetts (but I always say I’m from Boston…)
What was the best class you took at Emerson?
It’s hard for me to just pick one class that was my favorite. Overall, I’ve taken some incredible classes. I think the course that was most personally impactful was PL222: Human Rights with [Associate Professor] Mneesha Gellman. I took it my second semester and it really solidified my career path.
That class has a service learning component, so in lieu of a final paper, you were able to do community service. I was a policy intern at Citizens for Juvenile Justice. That internship introduced me to child advocacy as a viable career option, and here I am three years later on the path to doing that. My supervisor emailed me a few weeks ago that he submitted the report I worked on to a few law reviews!
What hangout spot will you miss the most? Be as specific as possible!
Those who know me will know my affinity for the couch on the 8th floor of Walker. The 8th floor is home to the Department of Communication Studies, so if you steal the spot, do be respectful of the faculty working up there. There is a fantastic community on the 8th floor and I’ll really miss it. I’ve learned so much by just hanging out up there and talking to faculty
Is there a moment from your time at Emerson that redefined you as a person? How did it change you?
I can’t say there is one single moment that has redefined me, rather it’s been the culmination of a lot of different things. I’ve been afforded incredible opportunities that have truly impacted me. I’ve been able to have a good degree of proximity to school leadership. I’ve really learned what it means to be diplomatic. I’ve built relationships where I’m able to comfortably disagree with people while maintaining positive relations. I’ve learned to see the humanity of people in power. Ultimately, we’re all just people. We make mistakes, we learn, and we grow.
What will you be doing after graduation? What are you most excited for after graduation?
I’m going to grad school! I’ll be studying Human Development and Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education. I feel like I’ve found a calling over the last few years. I’m really excited to be one step closer to my future career.
Carlson Jones
Major: Film Production
Minor: Creative Writing
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
What was the best class you took at Emerson?
[Assistant Professor] Mike Brown’s Civil Rights PL332 course.
What hangout spot will you miss the most? Be as specific as possible!
The Max after late-night practice with my team [women’s tennis].
What song has been on repeat for you during this last semester?
“Tulsa Time” by Don Williams
What will you be doing after graduation? What are you most excited about after graduation?
I’ll be attending the University of Alabama and pursuing an accelerated master’s in Strategic Communication. I will also be taking the LSAT this October and attending law school. I plan to go into entertainment law and immigration law. I refuse to stand by and watch fellow humans be stolen in the middle of the night, separated from their families. I am excited to help people.
Christina Sanchez
Major: Communication Studies
Minor: Marketing Communications
Hometown: Cranston, Rhode Island
What song has been on repeat for you during this last semester?
“Young Hearts Run Free” by Candi Staton
Is there a moment from your time at Emerson that redefined you as a person? How did it change you?
As a Creative Circle Scholar, Emerson changed my life the second I arrived. I was able to run a marketing agency with real clients, make advertisements used by local Boston businesses, throw events for Hispanic Heritage month, and learn from some amazing mentors. I can confidently say Emerson College gave me opportunities that made me a competitive applicant, career-wise, but also creative on a personal level.
What advice would you give your first-year self? (Or, your younger self?)
I would tell little Christina that the first step is showing up. Jumping into new orgs or taking on new roles can feel extremely daunting, and I sometimes felt like I was behind. After taking many (many) first steps sophomore year, I found that my college experience became much more vast and exciting!
What will you be doing after graduation? What are you most excited for after graduation?
I will be working for LEGO on the campaign marketing team in Boston!
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