MFA in Creative Writing

Austin LaVigne, 2026

Degree: MFA in Creative Writing

Coming from Northern Virginia, George Mason had always been on my radar. When I was applying to grad school, I wanted to return home, so I looked at George Mason. While looking, I saw so many good programs and extracurriculars that I could participate in while studying creative writing. I wanted a broad skillset and knowledge base, so these programs were very important to me.

I chose creative nonfiction writing because I have always loved journalism and research. Nonfiction allows me to combine those interests with narrative and experimental writing to tell stories in the best ways possible.

My thesis, “Service Report.” is a book of essays across forms such as research narratives, journalism, and narratives that discuss food service work and its intersections with urban planning, architecture, class relations, and history.

My most impactful class was Experimental Essays. I took this class during my first semester, and it really opened my eyes up to what possibilities there were within nonfiction. Every week we read a different book that broke boundaries and experimented with form.

Favorite George Mason memory:

One of my favorite memories was representing George Mason's creative writing programs at the AWP Conference in Baltimore! I was there representing Poetry Daily and Phoebe Journal, and I had so many wonderful interactions with people in the literary community, including former contributors and George Mason alumni from across the nation!

Advice for future George Mason graduate students:

George Mason is a big university in a very busy area. There will be organizations and programs you can take advantage of on campus that further your academic and personal goals. Furthermore, there are definitely local organizations off campus that focus on your interests who would for you to participate and are probably full of Mason alumni.

Future plans:

I plan on starting my career in editing and publishing.