NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study

Meet YA author, musician, screenwriter, game designer, and Gallatin alum Tommy Wallach (BA '05)!

💜 What was your concentration at Gallatin?

My focus was on writing novels, so I created a novel-writing clinic for myself. Some of this involved literature classes, but the core of it was an independent study with a professor who read large portions of my novel-in-progress every week and provided crucial feedback.

💜 How did your time at Gallatin shape your personal path?

I started in the Dramatic Writing program at Tisch, but the education there felt too limiting, so I left NYU and enrolled at Trinity College in Ireland, where I studied English literature. Unfortunately, I didn't love it there either, so I transferred back to NYU, into Gallatin. Unsurprisingly, I was happiest in a program where I could specify exactly what I wanted to be studying.

💜 Your projects move across so many different mediums and genres. What excites you most about exploring new creative forms?

The joy of working in less traditional media, such as immersive theater or tabletop games, is that so much of the map remains unexplored. For example, I co-created a 15-hour narrative puzzle game based on the life of Mary Shelley. The game attempts to elicit emotion by marrying the mechanics of the puzzles to the narrative. As an artist, it's exciting to attempt something no one has attempted before—even if you end up failing in the end!

💜 Later this month, you’ll be presenting a workshop of your new musical "Vicky & Frank" in NYC. What are you most excited to share with audiences?

Vicky & Frank is a very loose adaptation of Frankenstein (I know, I know, I've got an obsession!) centered around a 17-year-old girl in the 1950s who dreams of being a scientist and attempts to reanimate the dead. I wrote the book, music, and lyrics for the show—what's more "individualized study" than that?! The workshop in June, which is a of fundraiser and audition for the folks who will help get us to a production, represents the culmination of about five years of work. If any folks in the Gallatin community are interested in supporting us, I hope they'll reach out!

Applications for the 2026–2027 Gallatin Mentorship Program are now live for alumni mentors!
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Are you an alum interested in supporting the next generation of Gallatin students? We’re seeking Gallatin BA alumni who graduated at least years ago (Class of '23 or earlier) and Gallatin MA alumni from any graduation year to serve as mentors to current undergraduate and graduate students during the upcoming academic year.

Mentors help students navigate topics such as career exploration, interview preparation, industry-specific advice, networking, and communicating the value of a Gallatin degree.

🗓️ Learn more and apply at https://nyu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3mITLCE7q1M1GSi?mkt_tok=MjUwLUxWRy0wNzYAAAGiCIi3GOX4GHpDyQBy9Hp49SyD8FeGaPohQcAhdRzKHtdBB8R2_AD9OuMVl0Vi8Q35-MOeF8xg-Mmk1veLIRgH by Friday, June 26!

P.S. Current students: mentee applications will open in the Fall—stay tuned 👀

June is Immigrant Heritage Month, and we are proud to spotlight these powerful pieces published in the latest issue of The Literacy Review, an annual collection of writing from adult literacy programs across New York City. These stories reflect the richness, resilience, and lived experiences of immigrant communities, and the transformative power of storytelling 💜

Head to https://sites.gallatin.nyu.edu/literacyreview/ to read the full issue and celebrate the voices featured in this year’s publication 📚

Yes, we are still glowing from NYU Commencement at the iconic Yankee stadium 💜

What a joy to celebrate our Gallatin graduates alongside family, friends, faculty, and the entire NYU community. The pride, excitement, and love in every hug, smile, and happy tear made this a day we won’t forget.

Congratulations, Gallatinos! We are so proud of all you’ve accomplished, and we can’t wait to see where you go next 🎓

📷 Photos courtesy of NYU Photo Bureau

We're excited to share the launch of the all-new NYU Gallatin website! 🎉

Designed with our community at its center, the new site better reflects who we are, what we do, and what makes Gallatin such a unique place to learn, create, and collaborate. From student stories and interdisciplinary scholarship to the ideas and experiences that shape our community, the site showcases the people and work that define Gallatin.

This project would not have been possible without the students, faculty, staff, and alumni who bring Gallatin's mission to life every day. Thank you for helping make this community what it is 💜

We invite you to explore our new digital home at www.gallatin.nyu.edu 🔗

A beautiful day celebrating the Gallatin Class of 2026 at the New York City Center 🎓

From crossing the stage to cheering each other on, the room was filled with so much energy, pride, and excitement for what comes next. We loved celebrating this incredible milestone with our graduates, their loved ones, faculty, and friends!

📷 Photography by Island Photography

Honoring the Class of 2026 at this year’s MA Hooding and Awards Celebration ✨

It was a beautiful evening celebrating the work, insight, creativity, and community our graduates have brought to Gallatin. Congratulations to our MA graduates and award recipients–we can’t wait to see where your paths lead next! 💜

Photos ©Sorel: Courtesy of NYU Photo Bureau

A few moments from this year’s BA Awards Celebration ✨

It was such a joy to come together and recognize the creativity, curiosity, care, and hard work of our graduating students. Congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients, and thank you to everyone who helped make the evening so special.

We’re so proud of you, Class of 2026 💜

Photos ©Greenberg: Courtesy of NYU Photo Bureau

We’re celebrating Cave Week with "Exploring the Underground: An Interactive Cave Experience" by Takato Ikeda (BA ’29) 🪨

Originally created in Professor Karen Holmberg’s First-Year Interdisciplinary Seminar, “Caves: The Science, Art and Metaphor of the Subterranean Earths,” the project invites users to journey through a dark digital cave using their mouse as a torch, uncovering animals, minerals, and hidden discoveries along the way.

Curious what lies beneath the surface? Explore the interactive experience for yourself at https://xkzkxh.github.io/gallatinconfluence/ 🔦

Have you read the Spring 2026 issue of Gallatin Today yet? 💜

This issue celebrates the bold, interdisciplinary work happening across the Gallatin community, from students connecting environmental science and children’s literature to alumni bringing empathy and creativity into public defense work. We also honor the faculty and staff whose lasting impact continues to shape Gallatin every day.

Read the full issue at https://gallatin.nyu.edu/about/gallatin-today/spring-2026.html 🔗