Next fall 2026 deadline for remaining spaces in graduate studies is March 5.

Alumni-in-Residence

Beginning in Fall 2025, the Writing Department is excited to launch its new Alum-in-Residence series. Each semester, we will welcome an alum from our BFA or MFA programs to engage with the community through conversations, panels, events, and other gatherings. Through this range of programming, the series celebrates the creative and professional accomplishments of our alumni, fosters connections across generations of Pratt writers, and helps current students gain a clearer sense of the many paths they might pursue after graduation.

If you are a Writing Department alum interested in this program, or curious about other ways to get involved, please reach out to Alumni Coordinator Laura Henriksen at lhenriks@pratt.edu

Spring 2026 Alum-in-Residence: Sirena He

A young woman with shoulder-length, wavy hair sits comfortably with her chin resting on her hand. She wears a white, long-sleeved blouse with ruffle details. The background features soft green curtains and a small leafy plant, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Soft lighting highlights her gentle expression.

Sirena He is a writer, editor, and actress in Brooklyn, New York. She is an assistant editor at Esquire magazine, where she has been since 2022. She covers cocktails, food and is the resident horror movie expert at Esquire. She graduated from Pratt Institute in 2016 with a major in creative writing and received a Master’s degree from Columbia Journalism School in 2022. Her short stories can be found in Archway Editions and Hobart Pulp. Her substack, Doom and Delight, hosts essays on horror films and drinking culture.

Sirena’s Residency will feature a panel on the art of pitching, a field trip to the Esquire office, and more.

Fall 2025 Alum-in-Residence: Aarushi Agni

A smiling person with curly hair and glasses sits at a table, holding a smartphone in their hands. They wear a floral top under a puffy jacket. Colorful emojis, including a peach, rainbow, butterfly, flower, and a woman gesturing, are superimposed around them. The background features greenery and a softly illuminated sign.

Aarushi Agni (she/they) is a queer South Asian writer, poet, comedian, musician, educator, activist, and person. They enjoy walking on bridges, humming a little tune, reading about cognitive neuroscience, and holding joy and grief at the same time. Aarushi earned an MFA in Writing from Pratt Institute, where they wrote their thesis in fiction and received the Taconic Fellowship to compile As Told, an oral history archive of older Brooklyn residents with Pratt Writing alums Maria Baker and Luke Degnan. Find out more about Aarushi’s life/work on her website, and regrettably, on social media.

Aarushi’s Residency featured a performance of her award-winning solo show, Emoji: The Hieroglyphs of Our Time, or how I learned to stop worrying and send the risky, one-on-one conferences to discuss student work, and more.