Extraordinary
Emersonians
Everywhere
Students pass by alumni portraits installed along the Little Building’s main staircase. Photo by Derek Palmer, MA ’20
Comedian and Actress
Author
President of Production for Amblin Entertainment
Actor
President and CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership
Photographer / Author
Reporter for WABC-TV
Reporter / Anchor for NBC10 Boston and NECN
Talent and Casting Executive
Author
Executive Vice President and COO of the Seattle Mariners
Washington Wizards
General Manager
General Manager
Producer and Creative Strategist
coast to coast and around the world, Emerson alumni are shaping our culture and our society—in film, theater, journalism, entertainment, education, marketing, sports, advertising, and much more.
The industries they work in are diverse and varied, but they share one important attribute: they are Emersonians.
To be Emersonian is to be bold and take creative risks. To be Emersonian is to create change.
To be Emersonian is to be a leader.
This spring, Emerson began an initiative to identify alumni who exemplify what it means to be Emersonian. The result is a curated collection of portraits that are displayed on the Boston campus in the Little, Tufte, and Walker Buildings.
The pages that follow highlight just a sampling of the alumni who are included in this ongoing project.
Iliza Shlesinger ’05
Comedian and Actress
Iliza Shlesinger has cemented herself as one of the world’s premier stand-up comedians. She has seven specials across Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, most recently including A Different Animal and Hot Forever. On the big screen, Iliza wrote and starred in the romantic dramedy Chasing Summer directed by Josephine Decker, which premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Additional credits include Good on Paper, Spenser Confidential, and The Righteous Gemstones, among others.
Steven Rowley ’94
Author
Steven Rowley is a New York Times bestselling author and winner of the 22nd Thurber Prize for American Humor. His most recent novel, Take Me With You, has been selected by editors of Amazon, People magazine, and The New York Times as an Editor’s Pick. His novel The Celebrants, a Today Show Read With Jenna Book Club selection, was inspired by his time at Emerson. His other work includes The Guncle and The Guncle Abroad, The Editor, and Lily and the Octopus. His books have been published in twenty languages.
Holly Bario ’89
President of Production for Amblin Entertainment
As president of production for Amblin Entertainment, the storied company co-founded by Steven Spielberg in 1981, Holly Bario oversees the studio’s film releases, working closely with Spielberg. Since joining Amblin in 2008, she has worked on some of the era’s most celebrated films—which have earned 56 Academy Award nominations and 9 wins in the past decade alone. Holly is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
Miguel Cervantes ’99
Actor
Miguel Cervantes is the acclaimed actor known for his long, impactful run in the title role of the musical phenomenon Hamilton, in both the Chicago and Broadway productions. (2,013 performances!) He has also appeared on Broadway in American Idiot, If/Then, and on the television series Madam Secretary, Royal Pains, and The Blacklist, among others.
Alyse Nelson ’97
President and CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership
Alyse Nelson is president and CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership. A co-founder of Vital Voices, she has worked for the organization for more than 28 years, serving as vice president and senior director of programs before assuming her current role in 2009. Under her leadership, Vital Voices has directly served over 49,000 women leaders across 195 countries.
Gray Malin ’08
Photographer / Author
Gray Malin is a modern-day fine art photographer and New York Times bestselling author based in Los Angeles. Shooting from doorless helicopters, Gray has been a trailblazer in aerial beach, ski, and park photography, and has photographed conceptual collections at historic properties including The Beverly Hills Hotel, The Plaza Hotel, Plaza Athénée, and The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach. Gray transports his audience to breathtaking destinations around the world with his distinct visual style.
Sonia Rincón ’01
Reporter for WABC-TV
Sonia Rincón tells the stories of New Yorkers as a general assignment reporter for WABC-TV. Prior to joining WABC, Sonia spent 15 years as an anchor and reporter on 1010 WINS, New York’s all-news radio station. Before returning to her home state of New York, she reported for radio stations all along the East Coast, including KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia. She has earned numerous awards throughout her career, including an Edward R. Murrow Award.
Glenn Jones ’99
Reporter / Anchor at nbc10 Boston and necn
Glenn Jones is an Emmy Award–winning reporter/anchor at NBC10 Boston and NECN. A veteran of local news in markets in Florida and Massachusetts, he returned to the Boston market in 2021 after 14 years in Bermuda. There, he held communications positions in government, tourism marketing, and media. He served as press secretary to Bermuda’s Premier and was also interim CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority.
Dawn Steinberg ’83
Talent and Casting Executive
Most recently, Dawn Steinberg oversaw global talent and casting for Sony Pictures Television, spanning both U.S. and international productions. Joining Sony in 2003, she championed inclusive casting and helped bring diverse stories to the screen, including Breaking Bad, Outlander, One Day at a Time, and PLUR1BUS. Dawn started her career in New York City, casting off-Broadway theatrical productions and operating a theater company, before moving to Los Angeles and working in casting at Big Ticket Productions, Artists Television Group, and NBC Studios.
Taylor Jenkins Reid ’05
Author
Taylor Jenkins Reid is the New York Times—bestselling author and screenwriter known for immersive novels exploring fame, love, and complex female characters. She got her start in film production before becoming a prolific writer of hits like Atmosphere; Carrie Soto Is Back; Malibu Rising; The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo; and Daisy Jones & The Six. Many of her novels have been released as screen adaptations or are in development. They have also been selected by Reese’s Book Club, GMA Book Club, and Read with Jenna, and have landed on several “best of” lists.
Trevor Gooby ’98
Executive Vice President and COO of the Seattle Mariners
Trevor Gooby is the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Seattle Mariners, a team he helped lead to the American League Championship Series in 2025. Trevor rose to COO after heading up ballpark operations for the Mariners and spring training for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He began his career as a public relations intern for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1998, while participating in the Emerson College LA Program.
Will Dawkins ’08
Washington Wizards
General Manager
Will Dawkins is the general manager for the Washington Wizards franchise, overseeing operations for both the NBA pro team and its G League team, the Capital City Go-Go. Prior to being named Wizards GM in 2023, Will spent 15 years with the Oklahoma City Thunder, most recently as vice president of basketball operations under fellow Emersonian Sam Presti ’00.
Eric Cornell ’05
Producer and Creative Strategist
Eric Cornell is a two-time Tony Award–winning Broadway producer and a creative strategist working across live entertainment, television, and digital media. He has worked in more than thirteen countries across three continents, producing and managing new and classic Broadway shows and more. He was a company manager at 321 Theatrical Management and then vice president of production and executive producer at Stage Entertainment USA. He currently has his own production company and teaches the Business of Theater at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee.