PMA Class 2026 Graduate Spotlight

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?

The Family Copoli '23, Love and Information '23, Orlando's Gift '24, Directing 1 & 2, and every student film I've worked on!

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?

Filming Top of My School, Bringing The Family Copoli to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Waking up in the Green Room to find all of my favorite people pacing with varying levels of urgency

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?

I'm looking forward to enjoying an Ithaca Summer and eventually making the big move to LA.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?

Just keep doing the next right authentic thing for yourself, and it will all pan out. You are doing enough. It's better to do less really well than burn yourself out trying to give a little energy to everything.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?

I'd like to thank more people than I could possibly write out in one sitting. My family, my girlfriend Cece, Liv Virginia Licursi, Jeff Palmer, David Feldshuh, Ellen Gainor, Andy Colpitts, and so SO many more!

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?

making my thesis film

taking courses like film 1 and 2, directing, acting 1 and 2, screenwriting, playwriting, cages and creativity with bruce levitt where we learned about the arts and how they impact incarcerated individuals -- having  the opportunity to take so many different courses and becoming a more well rounded artist and person because of it

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?

definitely making my thesis film this year and collaborating with my peers in the pma community and seeing everyone come together to make my vision a reality  

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?

i am looking forward to continuing to make art and use everything i learned in PMA to continue creating

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?

i would say don't try to fit into any kind of mold that you think you should or other people think you should. do what you love and stay true to that because that is what will make you happy and fulfilled.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?

jeff palmer, aoise stratford, my advisor ellen gainor, my parents brad and suzanne, and all of my peers in pma who I have collaborated with

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?

Being able to work in different forms of arts such as film, acting, stage management and set design

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?

Working with a diverse group of students who all share a passion which is producing and creating art to entertain individuals

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?

What I look forward to do after graduation is gain hands on experience through my work as a paralegal and chase my dream of becoming an entertainment lawyer

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?

I would say to never be afraid to put boundaries because at the end of the day you want to use your energy for events and projects you rather use towards rather than commitments you feel uneasy about. Also, never be scared to put yourself out there, you never know who you may encounter and become friends with and share memories with for the rest of your life.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?

I want to thank everyone who I've ever encountered on campus and who have helped me become the person I am today. Every interaction I have with someone has always allowed me to learn something new, have a new creative idea, or just have a pleasure moment with them. However, a huge thank you goes to everyone in the Department of Performing & Media Arts for being caring, loving, and supportive of one another. I could not wish for anything better from a community.

Anything else you'd like to include?

Always remember to follow your heart, passions, and ambitions because no one else knows you better than yourself. Takes those chances, risks, and opportunities because one day you will look back and say to yourself and say "I am glad that I did that because its a story I can always remind myself about my true authentic character "

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?

This year, I've had the privilege of working on my Honors Senior Thesis, which has served as the culmination of all my work in this department, so I'd consider that one of my strongest highlights.

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?

A favorite memory of mine at PMA is working on Orlando's Gift with Professor Feldshuh and some of my closest friends at Cornell.

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?

Taking it easy for a bit.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?

It'll all work out in the end.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?

Shoutout to my professors, friends, and families.

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?

What is truly valuable and unique about PMA as an undergraduate program is its breadth: you can be involved in both theatre and film, learn theory alongside practical skills, and gain understanding into both the artistic and business sides of production. And, obviously, the depth of knowledge you acquire once you choose your focus. Anytime I stepped into the “real entertainment world,” I felt confident that PMA had equipped me with the skills and professional language needed to bring value to projects.

I began my journey knowing very little. I didn’t know what terms like AD or script sides meant. Don’t let that stop you - PMA students and faculty are there to support you at every stage of your journey!

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?

Taking PMA 2800 was a truly transformative experience. We had students from all kinds of majors, and that brought very creative ideas into our acting pieces. Also, if you haven’t taken a course with Dr. Warner yet but want to learn more about the industry itself, run to take it!

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?

I graduated in December. Currently, I’m taking a gap year before attending graduate school and working as a Casting Assistant at Magnet Originals.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?

Start majoring in PMA as a freshman, not a sophomore. Make sure you gain professional experience in the industry as early as you can. It will inform your approach to classes, and you will have more specific questions to ask (your ROI will get higher and higher), helping you get the most out of your PMA experience.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?

To be honest, there are so so many people to thank! I especially want to thank Prof. Gainor, Prof. Palmer, Prof. Angelopoulos, Prof. Warner, Prof. Goelzer, and Alexa Alfonsi. And this list is far from complete.

Anything else you'd like to include?

Have fun! Have fun! Have fun! And get used to hundreds of rejections, because once you get your “yes,” there’s no better feeling. Don’t limit your learning to classes. Find passionate peers on campus and outside of school. Festivals, student films, fellowships, mixers - the world’s your oyster!

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?

My biggest highlight was definitely taking the PMA 3000 Independent Study course for the Sundance Film Festival! I was able to travel with a group of students to Park City for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and watch so many great films while also meeting industry professionals. It was such an amazing experience and I recommend it to anyone even potentially interested.

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?

I’ve loved being in PMA because of the unique classes that are offered. My favorite memory from PMA was taking PMA 3503 - The Writer’s Room. This class gave me the opportunity to write my own original TV show series bible, and showed me that writing and development was a part of the entertainment industry that I could be successful in.

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?

After graduation I will be working in New York City as a reporting intern for Page Six. I’m really excited to be in NYC and to start working closely with the entertainment industry! I’m also excited to live close to my brothers and my friends post-grad!

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?

Take lots of PMA classes, even if they’re not exactly the topics that you’re interested in. There are so many interesting classes, and you might love something completely unexpected.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?

I want to thank my parents and my brothers for all of their support during my four years at Cornell. I also want to thank my PMA professors and my advisors, Austin Bunn and Samantha Sheppard for all of their guidance.

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?

My biggest highlight from my involvement in PMA was collaborating with Sid Martis to create the short film Athlete, which explores the pressures of playing football at the Division I level. It was incredibly meaningful to bring my experience as a Cornell football player into my love for PMA and everything it has taught me about film and acting. Another amazing experience was performing as Orlando in Professor Black’s "Shakespearian Ecologies" production of As You Like It. I loved the chance to perform outdoors and offstage, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Cornell Botanic Gardens.

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?

Looking back, I have so many fond memories from my time in PMA. Making short films and experimental films in Media Production Lab with Professor Doo Rim Kim was a blast. My first theatrical performance in Introduction to Acting with Theo Black freshman year was incredible. Learning the history of cinema with Professor Sheppard and Professor Warner in Global Cinema I and II was amazing. Exploring how New York and Los Angeles shaped cinema, and how film shaped the images of those cities, in Edge Cities: Celluloid NY and LA with Professor Haenni was eye-opening. Learning the ins and outs of sound design and Pro Tools with Professor Cross was extremely fun, and learning how to write screenplays with Professor Stratford was awesome. Looking back, it amazes me how many different courses and subjects I was able to explore through PMA, and I am forever grateful to have been a part of this major.

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?

I am looking forward to playing another year of football at Central Michigan University.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?

If I could talk to my freshman self now, I would tell him that everything worked out the way he hoped it would. I would tell him to be ready for the wide range of experiences he would have and the people he would meet, and to stay grateful for every opportunity Cornell gave him. More than anything, I would remind him to be grateful every day to be a part of Cornell.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?

I would like to thank my family for always believing in me and encouraging me to take on life’s challenges. I would also like to thank my roommates for always being there for me throughout my time at Cornell. Finally, I want to thank all of the professors and teachers I had the pleasure of working with in the PMA department for making my experience so unforgettable.

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?

Every film class I have taken has been great. While I have largely been a film person interested in directing and writing, this year I pushed myself to get more involved in theater as I become more aware of the great overlap: writing one festival 24 play and directing another this year, acting in the play Rope, and attending some of the wonderful work other students have been making, writing Sun reviews about Sunset Splatter and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. I also produced one DKA film and directed another this year, and proposed the idea and then spearheaded the addition of a screenwriting workshop to the org. By now, I have directed 13 short films.

What are some favorite memories of PMA or of Cornell?

Film 1 was probably my favorite experience. Starting with like 0 experience and believing you can be something like the next Aronofsky can be a very invigorating delusion. Writing something really overambitious and just ripping through on the shoot with no regard to proper practices is a great joy of youth. After becoming more experienced and self-aware, I think it's really important to try to hold onto that same spirit.

Workshopping my feature script with Professor Stratford in Playwriting 1 and in Senior Studio with Professor Obadike was very encouraging.

Producing our semester film for DKA, Repent at Leisure, this spring was a lot of fun. Seeing everyone on set as we're shooting this movie and seeing this strange ephemeral collaborative family materialize out of a vision on paper for the hours of that production is a very fulfilling kind of answer to existential doubt and solitude.

What are you looking forward to doing after graduation?

I'm feeling the fire under me, I need to get out and direct my first feature. I have a strong script I am proud of, Wail On, about long distance running and my life's purpose right now is getting it made. That's the mission, and now I have to figure out the road to how I get there.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?

I think the most important thing I should've realized earlier is that the source of everything good in life is just doing what you want, giving yourself completely to the thing that you actually have passion for. I was trying to figure out how to be more likeable, attractive, strategize a better and secure future. I had a lot of insecurity and I thought that if I kind of hedged all my bets, if I eliminated my weaknesses, if I conformed and pursued the most job-secure thing like finance and if I could get myself drunk enough to where I kind of talked like a normal person, pretended to like the music everyone else did, then my life would get better. But once I decided that I didn't care anymore and if I fail horribly, am unemployed, and a loser, ironically is when things started to change.

By letting go of awareness to things like social hierarchy and only listening to the things inside yourself will funnily enough edify you past even the people who are at the top of those things, and you will become that attractive person that you were trying to carve violently out of yourself as you threw parts of yourself away; because you were trying to match all the external circumstances of whoever you happened to be aware of that was admired, but the outer specific facts had nothing to do with that peace and confidence you saw in them.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?

I want to thank my family for supporting me when I made the decision to switch majors to PMA, which felt like a risky decision, and for receiving my dream of wanting to be a director with encouragement. I want to thank Professor Stratford and Professor Sheppard in particular, as some of my first classes in PMA were taken with you and meeting you helped me realize that I wanted to commit to this dream. All of the classes I've taken have been greatly inspiring, especially with Professor Palmer, Bunn, Obadike, both Warners, and Aldape Muñoz. He doesn't go here, but my friend Philip Arrajj has been an anchor for me after college and his feedback and interest in my work made me realize my stuff was actually kind of good and that I should keep developing it.

Area of Study/Research

Theatre & Performance Studies. Specifically, I study the way rural identity and space is constructed and understood in and through theatre.

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?

There have been so many! Directing The Family Copoli was absolutely a dream come true-- I learned so much with and from the actors, designers, and crew. I loved TAing The American Musical and teaching FWSes. I also have deeply appreciated taking pedagogy studies in Acting, Directing, and Playwriting with Theo, David, and Aoise, respectively. Across the board, I have so appreciated being supported to think as both an artist and a scholar.

What are some favorite memories of PMA?

Dancing to Motherwort at the Ithaca Department of Arts and Futures. Wandering through Kelly's incredible set for Haunted Natures, Hidden Environments. Getting together with the other grad students after PMAPS. Opening night of The Family Copoli.

If you could talk to your first-year grad self now, what would you say?

Get involved with artistic projects ASAP. Meet everyone in the department: they rock!

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?

Gosh. So many people! First and foremost, my committee: Ellen, Sara, and Beth. Also Gerard Aching from Romance and Africana Studies for jumping in last minute. My artistic mentors: David, Aoise, and Theo. The many staff members who have helped me with creative projects: Chris Riley, Chris Christensen, Fritz, Andrew, Savannah, Katt, Tim, Youngsun. The wonderful students!

A special thank you to Debra Castillo, who was a member of my committee until her sudden passing last fall. She was a brilliant and caring mentor, and she is deeply missed.

Anything else you'd like to include?

Arriving in 2020 at the height of COVID, when everything was online, it was hard to get a sense of PMA. Events were all virtual and the future of live theatre in the department seemed incredibly precarious. In the years since, however, I have been so bouyed to see students in the department bringing live theatre back with tremendous passion and skill.

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?

Designing music and projections for the SHED dance presentation in Spring 2025 and editing last year’s PMA Studios film, Milkshake Kiss.

What are some favorite memories of PMA?

The red armchair in the Schwartz Center basement, late-night film editing, and getting to know all of the kind, wonderful people here who make everything tick.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?

Follow what drives you forward! The rest will fall into place.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?

Thank you so much to Professor Cross for sharing a small sliver of his seemingly-endless knowledge on sound, soldering, and everything else.

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?

Writing, directing, and producing my own show Saving for 17 at the Schwartz and being a part of the first cast/crew of PMA Studios.

What are some favorite memories of PMA?

Dressing the set of Milkshake Kiss, the entire HumaNatures show, and just being around the shop staff in general.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?

Spend less time stressing over deadlines, and go audition for more shows.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?

A special thanks to Tim, Savannah, and Fritz in the shop, yall are a special group <3

Anything else you'd like to include?

The university needs to put more emphasis on PMA, it’s a wonderful group of people, and an incredibly accepting and talented cohort every year.

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?

Milkshake Kiss was one of my favorite involvements in PMA. It was the first time I was on a set where I played a prominent character. I also enjoyed learning about directing, lighting, sound, and all the other key aspects of bringing a film together. We made magic and it reignited my love for acting and helped me remember why I wanted to become an actor in the first place.

What are some favorite memories of PMA?

Some of my favorite memories of PMA was having to be on set all day for Milkshake Kiss and just watching movies and talking with the cast and crew in the green room. Also singing in the stairwell with Katia was a highlight for me. Lastly, I would say being able to watch all the short films together at the end of each semester.

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?

I would tell Freshman Amere to never give up on what he wants to do. Acting has been your dream since you could remember now you get to go do it. Have fun, break out of your shell, take up space, take time to learn. You belong just as much as everyone else, and just enjoy it.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?

I would like to thank Carolyn Michelle Smith she was the first black professor I've had on Cornell's campus and it just happens to be in the thing I love the most. Carolyn was so caring and kind. She care so much about the process we made and you could feel it. Carolyn wasn't only a teacher but a guide, not just in the acting world but in life. She is an amazing mentor and I thank her so much for helping me on my path in acting and in life.

Anything else you'd like to include?

PMA IS MY HOME FOREVER!!!

What are some highlights of your involvement in PMA?

I performed in the ecology showcase which was so much fun to bond with my 4801 class. I was also a part of a movie for the directing class, which was an awesome experience.

What are some favorite memories of PMA?

I really loved learning from Carolyn before she retired!

If you could talk to your Freshman self now, what would you say?

I would tell her to try new things and to not be scared.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank?

I would like to thank Theo Black for his guidance in putting on a show.

Anything else you'd like to include?

Thank you PMA for all of the memories!