Fairfield University John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences

Morgan Zickendrath '27, psychology major, spent the summer interning at The Inner You Counseling Center, working with children ages 6–13 at a therapeutic summer camp while helping promote the center's programs through social media. She facilitated activities focused on mental health, well-being, and healthy relationships, helping children build social and emotional skills in a supportive environment.

"During my internship at The Inner You Counseling Center, I had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience while supporting children in a therapeutic summer camp environment. It was incredibly rewarding to help foster social and emotional growth while continuing to learn and grow professionally." — Morgan Zickendrath '27

Assistant Professor of Art History and Ancient Mediterranean Studies Andrew Ward, PhD, and Fairfield University students Maya Jackman '27 and Ryan Walsh '28 spent the summer in Selinunte, Sicily, participating in an archaeological field season.

Working alongside an international team, they gained valuable hands-on experience in excavation, documentation, and archaeological research.

Through site visits, alumni networking, and career panels, Fairfield Meditz students are gaining firsthand insight into a wide range of industries while building valuable professional connections.

From Los Angeles to New York City, students connected with professionals at organizations including Warner Bros, The Walt Disney Company, Netflix, and more, preparing them for success beyond the classroom.

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Meditz Students Gain Professional Insights Through the Meditz College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of Career and Professional Development continue to connect students with meaningful, real-world experiences.

Fairfield University's Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program is one of the few programs in the country to offer students the opportunity to win a professional book contract through The Fairfield Book Prize.

Awarded every two years, the prize recognizes an MFA student or alumni who has entered an original and compelling book-length manuscript to its contest. The winning author receives a $1,000 prize, a standard royalty book contract, and publication through Woodhall Press, an independent publisher founded by three Fairfield MFA alumni.

Explore an MFA program where you’ll learn from renowned writers, join a supportive community, and refine your craft.

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Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing - Low-Residency Searching for one of the best MFA programs in New England? Fairfield University’s low-residency MFA degree in creative writing will make your dreams of writing a book a reality.

Lights, camera, career growth 🎬

Melina Silvestro ’27, a film, television, & media arts and French major in Fairfield Meditz, is gaining hands-on experience this summer with Versant Media’s Entertainment Creative team—editing promos for USA Network, SYFY, Oxygen, and E! Entertainment.

From collaborating across platforms to expanding her creative skillset, Melina shares that the experience has made a career in entertainment feel well within reach.

Fall semester is almost here, and we're still celebrating the excitement of Orientation when we welcomed the newest members of the Fairfield Meditz community to campus. 📚 🤘

Looking forward to a year filled with learning and creativity.

Mary Laughlin, PhD, assistant professor of English in Fairfield Meditz, is examining how generative AI can be ethically integrated into first-year writing courses.

Through her work, Dr. Laughlin is reframing AI policies to center it around writer responsibility and accuracy rather than detection.

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AI Showcase Inspires Discourse on Teaching, Learning, and Research Faculty members from across Fairfield University’s five schools gathered to share ways they’ve thought about, discussed with students, and implemented coursework made possible by emerging technologies over the past year.

Students in Fairfield Meditz recently gained a behind-the-scenes look at political reporting during a panel hosted by the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program.

Veteran journalists from leading Connecticut news organizations shared insights on storytelling, developing trusted sources, and navigating today's evolving media landscape.

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A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Political Reporting Veteran journalists visited students in the John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences to share tips on storytelling, tenacity, and developing sources.

Emily Orlando, PhD, professor of English and Corrigan Chair in the Humanities and Social Sciences, co-lead the first international Edith Wharton Summit held in four decades. Hosted at The Mount, Wharton's historic estate, the landmark gathering brought together nearly 90 scholars, readers, and enthusiasts from around the world.

The summit also featured Marice Rose, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, who presented her interpretation of a pivotal scene from Wharton's "The Age of Innocence."

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Professor Emily Orlando, PhD, Co-Leads International Edith Wharton Summit Edith Wharton scholars, readers, and enthusiasts gathered at The Mount for an international summit co-led by Emily Orlando, PhD, with talks, tours and events.