Welcome to the inaugural episode of Assignment, the official podcast of the Mountainview MFA Program at SNHU. Your hosts Rebecca Dragon ‘23 and Gillian Kemmerer ‘24 discuss their unique roads to Mountainview and the highlights of the program. They finish with readings from the works of two prominent alumni—Keith Gave and Courtney Elizabeth Young.

Assignment S1E1: How We Got Here

Hosts Rebecca Dragon and Gillian Kemmerer get together with Phil Lemos, an alum of the MFA, Mountainview MFA and certificate program at SNHU, as well as an adjunct professor. Lemos discusses his motivations for pursuing an MFA, experience of the various programs and much more. He reads from his own work as well as an excerpt from faculty member Tracy O’Neill.

Assignment S1E2: Interview with Phil Lemos

Hosts Rebecca Dragon and Gillian Kemmerer read six submissions to the Assignment Magazine audio issue, the first of its kind. The poetry pieces range in topic from motherhood to New Year’s resolutions.

Assignment S1E3: The Audio Issue

Mountainview MFA alum and celebrated librettist David Simpatico sits down with Rebecca and Gillian to discuss his award-winning career. Simpatico shares the inspiration behind some of his most notable works, the libretto creation process and the role that Mountainview played in his journey.

DAVID SIMPATICO is a playwright, librettist and performance artist whose work has been presented at major theatres around the globe, including London’s Hammersmith Apollo, Lincoln Center, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the New York Shakespeare Festival. Career highlights include: the stage adaptation of High School Musical (Disney Theatricals); The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (full-length opera; Justine Chen, composer; commissioned by American Lyric Theatre); The Screams of Kitty Genovese ( music drama, Will Todd, composer); and the libretto for Pulitzer Prize-winner Aaron J. Kernis’ Garden Of Light (NY Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall, conducted by Kurt Masur).

Assignment S1E4: Interview with Librettist David Simpatico

Esteemed Mountainview faculty member and award-winning young adult/middle grade author Jo Knowles joins the podcast to discuss the experience of having books banned and the detrimental impact censorship is having on youth. She also touches on getting her start in writing and her latest venture, Revise and Shine.

Assignment S2E1: Interview with Jo Knowles

Welcome to our introductory episode Imposter Syndrome for our series Editor Round Tables where Savannah and Lauren talk about craft, being a writer, or anything else relevant to the creation of great literature.

Assignment Podcast - Editor Round Table Series - Episode 1: Imposter Syndrome

Assignment Podcast - Editor Round Table Series - Episode 2: Spotify's Terms and Conditions

Assignment Podcast - Author Interview Series - Episode 1: Justin Taylor

Assignment Podcast - Author Interview Series - Episode 2: Benjamin Nugent

Six authors from the "Renewal" Issue of Assignment Literary Magazine read their work.

Assignment Podcast - Author Reads Series - Episode 1

In this special episode of Assignment Podcast, join us at our Summer 2024 Residency as we chat with new students and veteran students and learn about their experience in the Mountainview program.

Assignment Podcast - Special Episode - Summer Residency 2024 Student Interviews

Assignment Podcast - Author Reads Series - Episode 2

Students chat about writing, the program, and life after graduation during the Summer 2025 SNHU Mountainview MFA Residency

Assignment Podcast - Dinner Conversations - Episode 2

Authors from ALM's summer 2025 issue "Emerge" read their work. The third episode in our "Author Reads Series."

Assignment Podcast - Author Reads Series - Episode 3

Writers on writing. | Assignment is the official podcast of the Mountainview MFA program at SNHU. Our students, faculty and special guests discuss elements of craft, the value of an MFA and so much more. Follow us on Twitter at @MountainviewMFA and @Assignment_Mag.

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