Clara Collins ’20: Following a Poet’s Path
Drawn to Whitman College for its strong liberal arts education and close-knit community, Clara Collins ’20 transferred to Whitman in her sophomore year to pursue her passion for literature and creative writing. She immersed herself in campus life, engaging in various artistic and volunteer programs that fueled her growth as a writer and human—and allowed her to refine her craft and connect with a network of creative peers. Her experiences at Whitman, including studying abroad in Florence, Italy, where she explored art and film history, laid the foundation for her pursuit of a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry. Today, she channels her passion for literature into a career as a poet and teacher.
“The English and Creative Writing departments at Whitman were really instrumental in pursuing a career in the arts. The classes I took empowered me as a reader and gave me a tool kit for understanding literature and theory that continues to be useful and important to my thinking now.
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Clara’s Pathway
as a transfer student with a keen interest in literature and community engagement
where she went on to serve as Vice President of Panhellenic and on the Honor Board
including Adopt-a-Grandparent and Whitman Friends
an arts-focused initiative
focusing on art history and film history
Whitman’s literary magazine
at News Bling and Lucky Jefferson Literary Journal
with a Bachelor of Arts in English, completing a creative thesis under the guidance of Katrina Roberts VanKouwenhoven, the Mina Schwabacher Professor of English, Creative Writing and Humanities
from the University of Oregon
in the Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival Poetry Contest
at Cascade Montessori Middle School
in Qu and Radar Poetry literary magazines
“As part of my senior year, I wrote a creative thesis under the guidance of Professor Roberts, which taught me multitudes about crafting a body of work and which I used as my writing sample in my graduate applications. That experience solidified my confidence as a writer and thinker.
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Upward Pathways. Our alumni’s diverse student experiences and career paths showcase the transformative power of a Whitman education. Find other Upward Pathways.