Master Classes Program Brings Industry Experts to Emerson

 
over the past year, a number of luminaries from the arts and communication industries have visited the College’s Boston and Los Angeles campuses as part of the new Emerson College Master Classes program. This series of facilitated opportunities gave students and community members the opportunity to learn from professionals who’ve found success in fields including acting, film and television, marketing, and publishing.

Emerson College Master Classes support a goal outlined in the College’s strategic plan, Extraordinary Emerson 2030, to cultivate strong relationships between Emerson and industry, and build a vibrant campus experience for the community.

Bobbi Brown smiles while holding a microphone on stage during a talk.
Bobbi Brown ’79, LHD ’12, visited the Boston campus on October 27.
Dawn Steinberg (right) and Amanda Richards (left) sit on stage in armchairs presenting to an audience at Emerson College.
Dawn Steinberg ’83 (right) was interviewed by Amanda Richards ’11 (left) at Emerson LA on September 9.
Jane Leeves holds script pages while coaching four students standing at music stands.
Jane Leeves, P ’27, (far right) worked with Boston students during a weeklong visit in March.
Four people pose together for a picture on stage in front of a dark backdrop.
Ari Conte ’15 (far right) moderated a panel discussion with Alex Lonati ’14; Todd McNeel Jr., MA ’21; and Piper Phillips ’23 on the Boston campus on March 25.
Two men sit in leather armchairs on a rug during a stage interview.
Trustee Seth Grahame-Smith ’98 (left) was interviewed by Jared Bowen ’98 (right) on the Boston campus on September 25.

2025–2026 MASTER CLASS EXPERTS

Bobbi Brown ’79, LHD ’12, cosmetics maven
Ari Conte ’15, Broadway producer, moderator; Alex Lonati ’14, Todd McNeel Jr., MA ’21, Piper Phillips ’23, panelists
Seth Grahame-Smith ’98, Emerson Trustee, screenwriter, producer, and author

Bunny Kinney ’07, filmmaker and creative director
Michael Mendenhall ’84, global executive
Dalan Musson, screenwriter and actor
Jane Leeves, P ’27, actress, and her husband, Marshall Coben, P ’27

Jenny Molberg, professor of Writing, Literature and Publishing and editor-in-chief of Ploughshares, moderator; Abigail Beckel, MA ’05, Tamara Grasty, MA ’18, Rebecca Morgan Frank, MFA ’03, Rebecca Podos, MFA ’13, Shuchi Saraswat, MFA ’10, panelists

Dan Perrault ’09, actor, television writer, and film producer
Hadeel Reda ’90, film producer
Dawn Steinberg ’83, casting executive
Alex Tse ’98, screenwriter

Cathy Weiss, Emerson Trustee and philanthropic advisor
Ali Woodruff, television executive
Chloé Zhao, film director

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