student/alumni news

MS in Professional Writing student, Suzanne El Khechen, publishes “The Power of Pronouns” in Medium

March 2, 2020 by em4356

Suzanne El Khechen, a student in the MS in Professional Writing program (MSPW), recently published “The Power of Pronouns: “He” Versus the Rest of Us” in Medium. The article is a personal reflection about the impact of pronouns on readers. Suzanne explores the history of debate over third person pronouns and interrogates options for modern writers, ultimately advocating for the use of “they” as the optimal choice.

Suzanne developed “The Power of Pronouns” as part of her Style and Rhetoric course, a core course she completed last spring. “At the end of the Style and Rhetoric course, Dr. Gerben asked us to write two articles about subjects of interest that were covered in the class,” Suzanne recalls. The assignment led her to think about pronouns, and the dynamics of inclusion/exclusion that pronoun selection can create or reinforce.

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To learn more about the MS in Professional Writing, visit sps.nyu.edu/mspw or email sps.mspw@nyu.edu.

CALA MS in Translation and SPS Wasserman Partner with TransPerfect for a Virtual Resume Review Day

February 28, 2020 by em4356

CALA’s MS in Translation and the SPS Wasserman Center recently partnered with the global employer TransPerfect for a virtual resume review event open to students interested in careers in translation, marketing, and project management. TransPerfect is among the largest language services companies in the world, with offices in over 100 cities and specialities including translation, media localization, and e-discovery. Representatives of the company spoke with 12 SPS students on Friday, February 21, to discuss their resumes and career goals.

“The SPS Wasserman Center had been working with TransPerfect for a number of years,” says Stephanie Cziczo of Wasserman, who helped to spearhead the event. Cziczo and her contacts at TransPerfect devised the virtual resume review session “to deepen relationships with students in Translation and Project Management, but also other SPS programs.” Each student submitted a resume in advance of the event and spent 15 minutes with a TransPerfect representative receiving feedback and discussing relevant roles at the company.

“I was really excited when Stephanie told me that TransPerfect was going to hold a resume review day with us,” recalls Lu Liu, a Translation Society member who helped to coordinate the event. “I had a great time talking with Darya and she gave me valuable feedback on my resume. She also shared with me the translator’s daily responsibility and how different departments work together as a team at TransPerfect.”

Given the high level of student interest in the first resume review day, Cziczo is hoping to set up another session in the coming months. “Lu and the Translation Society jumped on the opportunity and really brought the event together,” she says. “The feedback I have received from both the employer and the students was that the event was very beneficial, and we hope to hold another in the future!”

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A translation degree can help you to take charge of your career, whether you are new to the field or already working in the language professions. Apply for CALA’s M.S. in Translation, a fully online, 36-credit graduate degree.

MS in Professional Writing Student, Christinne Govereau, Selected as 2020 Judge for the Center of Plain Language

February 25, 2020 by em4356

Christinne Govereau, a student in the MS in Professional Writing Program (MSPW), will serve as a judge and evaluator for two programs at the Center for Plain Language in 2020. Christinne will be returning as a judge for the ClearMark awards. Last year, she judged the Digital: Apps and Microsites competition. This year, Christine will also serve an evaluator for the Federal Plain Language Report Card.

In addition to being a part-time MSPW student, Christinne currently works as the Senior Technical Editor for the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), a sub-agency of the US Department of Energy. In her full-time role at EIA, Christinne works with subject matter experts on energy-related forecasts and projections. She also manages a team of two editors, working to oversee all agency communications. She built her career in government communications after 11 years as a stay-at-home parent.

“I have learned so much about digital content in the MSPW” writes Christinne. “I also appreciate how well the classes are preparing technical writers for what they will face in the ‘real’ world…the professors at NYU are doing a fantastic job of preparing MSPW students to deliver right out of the gate.”

To learn more about the MS in Professional Writing, visit sps.nyu.edu/mspw or email sps.mspw@nyu.edu.

Achieving Work-School-Life Balance? M.S. in Professional Writing Student Vaia Trittas Publishes Her Suggestions for NYU’s Wasserman Center for Career Development

January 30, 2020 by em4356

In a piece recently published by the Wasserman Career for Career Development, MS in Professional Writing (MSPW) student Vaia Trittas describes her own journey towards achieving a work-life balance that includes graduate coursework. Trittas, who works full-time as a Program Administrator at NYU, identifies time management, organizational skills, and empathy as key to juggling multiple priorities. Trittas also notes that support structures within the program were essential to welcoming her back to student life. Trittas writes: “The NYU School of Professional Studies (SPS) grants working professionals – like myself – the flexibility to absorb a full course load at our own pace. The online program offerings at SPS made my return to school a possibility.” Read the full article on the Wasserman site here: https://www.sps.nyu.edu/homepage/careers/Balancing-Work-School-Life.html

To learn more about the M.S. in Professional Writing, visit https://www.sps.nyu.edu/homepage/academics/masters-degrees/ms-in-professional-writing.html or email sps.mspw@nyu.edu.

Interview With Madhvi Ahuja, Author of Cupidity—Ping Me, Love and Former SPS Writing Student

June 27, 2016 by Cayla Delardi

We are pleased to announce that one of SPS CALA’s former writing students, Madhvi Ahuja, has recently published her first book! After taking a few of our writing courses with Professors Robert Black and Chet Kozlowski in 2012, Madhvi began working with her friend, Kiren Rai, to author Cupidity—Ping Me, Love. Set in New Delhi, India, this fun, engaging work of fiction tells the story of 3 close friends, Naina, Tara, and Nihal, and their search to find fulfilling relationships and an outlet for personal exploration. They delve into the vast, unfamiliar world of online dating in the hopes of making emotional connections, liberating themselves from the constraints of social conventions, and shaking up the mundanity of their everyday lives.

Read our interview with Madhvi below.

When did you decide that you wanted to become a writer?

To find peace in chaos, some people meditate, some cook, I write. I don’t think it was something I decided, writing found me. It became my go to place when I was little. It helped me skim through my thoughts. Over time, I found that I had to build on structure and style. I consciously pursued writing much later in life.

Tell us about your experience with our courses. How did they impact your writing?

In 2012, I found NYU SCPS had a few courses that could help sharpen my writing skills. The entire experience was exhilarating, to say the least I soaked it in like a sponge! The teachers shed so much light on how to improve. And the course structure and assignments helped me identify and fix the gaps and errors.

Were there any standout moments for you in the courses?

It was all very technical. I remember asking, after a second version on an assignment, ‘does the editing ever stop?’ I got a smile and a very composed, ‘no’ in return. In that frenzied internal moment of will-I- ever-get- it-right!?! I found the calm. I was ok, and that was a writer’s epiphany, of sort.

Who are your favorite authors? Why?

When I was younger, it was all about mysteries and drama, to be honest. However, over time, it’s not about one person or a story, it is about what captivates me as a narrative. Not the story but the way the story is being told. Somewhere along the way, I stopped reading purely for story, and more for how words are beautifully woven together for me to enjoy what is written.

What was the inspiration for Cupidity? Were any of the characters or events based on real people?

Three years back, Cupidity- PING me, love came as an opportunity through a friend, my co-author. In India, the online dating universe was new, but the need for love and void of loneliness were age-old, world- wide, relatable spaces. This light- fiction genre was easy for me to fall into, so I picked elements from the research, and flew with creating stories around them. It has been a fantastic experience!

Is there a particular message or lesson that you want you readers to take away from the story?

The story has three main protagonists. Each of their stories has been written in a relatable manner. I think what is significant as a take away is that it doesn’t matter where you are or who you are, these are human emotions, we all feel them. It is ok; you are not alone.

What is your writing process like? Do you have any strange or interesting habits?

As I was warned by professors and other writers, everyone has a unique process. Co- authoring a book showed me that because we had very different processes. I wrote at odd hours, and every draft was written as if it were a final paper assignment! Chapter wise, from beginning to end with no gaps, no room for error, correct spacing, indenting, and spellchecked. I wrote as if it were my last draft.

What was the biggest challenge in creating the book?

The many, many, many, MANY edits the manuscript saw over the span of three years. As we evolved in our lives and as writers, so did the storyline and narrative.

What was the most fun aspect of the process?

The conversations of where the story was going. I am glad I co- authored my first book; it gave me immense confidence. I was able to discuss my ideas and play out the plot with someone as invested in it as me.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

The same I got from my professors, write. It is the only way you will improve. Just keep practicing. Also, make sure you keep learning from other people’s writing.

Do you have any more writing projects in the works?

I need my creative mind to process and enjoy the reviews of Cupidity- PING me, love. Currently, I am thinking about my next book, but I still have to start laying the foundation of it. However, the writing has not stopped. I have my own content solutions firm, ‘the writer’s web.’ We write for businesses across different writing platforms.

Finally, where can readers get in touch with you?

Readers can get in touch with me via my Facebook pages:

https://www.facebook.com/cupidity.in

(Please review the book on Amazon!)

https://www.facebook.com/thewritersweb.in

Or my website: www.thewritersweb.in

Or my email: contact@thewritersweb.in