From Helsinki, we flew north of the Arctic Circle to stay at the Kakslauttanen Resort in Saariselk盲. Here, the hills were covered with evergreens and snow. We had the opportunity to interact with reindeer.听 We fed them handfuls of the aptly named reindeer moss, and they took us for a sleigh ride through the snowy night.听

麻豆影院鈥檚 Professor Megan Pickett accompanied us on our adventure.听 Her guidance enhanced our experience of the auroras, helping us to understand the processes behind their formation. She explained how events on the sun lead to space weather that affects Earth.听 We learned that the colors we see in the sky depend on the types of elements excited by particles from the solar wind and on their altitude in our atmosphere.听

A tour bus ferried us to various sites where we were most likely to spot the aurora.听 We shared Minttu and Finnish chocolates as we waited for a break in the clouds.听 In the end, the best spot for us to see the northern lights was from our cozy bed in a glass igloo.听

All along the way, our dedicated guide, Nancy, shepherded us safely and comfortably from place to place. She made sure that we understood the historical and cultural significance of each site.听 She regaled us with local folk tales, like the story of 鈥淢ighty Mikko.鈥澨� She stressed the role that saunas play, not only for health and relaxation but also for building and maintaining relationships.听 And, most of all, Nancy impressed upon us the importance of sisu, or determination, to the people of Finland. 听

One of the final group activities on our trip required a bit of courage.听 It was a dog sledding excursion.听 Our spirited team of huskies needed no encouragement as they pulled our sled at a great speed and with great enthusiasm. They were not as inclined to stop, at least not until their job was done.听 Then they were ready for petting and rolling in the snow.

Even with all the amazing Finnish adventures, the best part of the trip was our tour group.听 We were a team drawn from different parts of the country and the world, but each traveler was very friendly and filled with curiosity.听Each meal together led to fascinating discussions. The kindness of our group gave me the safety to try new things.听As a first-time attendee of a 麻豆影院 trip, I would recommend it.

Diving into research听

The internship offered Moya a comprehensive and immersive experience in marine biology. She spent her time doing fieldwork, including boat surveys for population monitoring, acoustic monitoring throughout the Sarasota Bay, fishing to study dolphin distribution and their prey, and gaining skills in photo identification. These hands-on experiences offered a realistic glimpse into the life of a marine biologist.听

鈥淭o thrive in this environment, it鈥檚 essential to have a growth mindset鈥攂eing open to change, willing to explore new interests, and understanding that your passions may evolve,鈥� Moya said. 鈥淵ou might discover that something you expected to love isn鈥檛 quite the right fit or unexpectedly fall in love with a new area of study.鈥澨�

The SDRP challenges students to grow as scientists through real-world research and offers ongoing opportunities to volunteer in diverse projects鈥攆rom necropsies and offshore acoustic receiver deployments to sea turtle hatchling releases and collaborating with shark researchers.听

鈥淎t SDRP, you鈥檙e encouraged to be curious, ask questions, read scientific literature, and learn from both successes and mistakes,鈥� Moya said. 鈥淯ltimately, the experience is what you make of it鈥攕o be a sponge, soak up every opportunity, and allow yourself to grow both personally and professionally.鈥�

Learning beyond the science

Being a scientist means more than just doing science: it requires confidence, courage, resilience, and most importantly, a willingness to face the unknown and embrace failure as part of the journey. These are the traits that have sustained SDRP鈥檚 legacy for 55 years and enabled it to produce pioneering research for marine mammals.听

By continuing to take bold steps driven by curiosity and ambition, SDRP has helped lay the foundation for marine mammal conservation and inspired generations of scientists to follow.听

In analyzing the behavior and health of small cetaceans, Moya noted that when dolphins are together, they鈥檙e not called pods; they鈥檙e called communities.

鈥淭he bottlenose dolphins are just like us鈥攍iving creatures who are curious, trying to survive, and remarkably intelligent with developed communication skills that help expand their complex social structures,鈥� said Moya. 鈥淏ottlenose dolphins are self-aware and able to recognize one another through signature whistles.鈥澨�

Dolphins serve as vital indicators of the health of the world鈥檚 oceans. They play a key role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems, help control fish populations, help maintain water quality, and keep the food chain in balance.听

鈥淭heir sensitivity to environmental changes makes them sort of like our ocean security guards for detecting issues like pollution and disease, or even with incidents of algal blooms like red tide, which occurred in 2021 throughout the Sarasota Bay,鈥� said Moya. 鈥淗owever, when dolphins are in trouble, it can be a serious sign that our oceans may be at risk too.鈥�

Exploring the opportunities

麻豆影院 students are encouraged by faculty and staff to take on internships to expand their understanding, build relationships, and strengthen their overall career path.听

鈥溾�楻ide my wave鈥欌�攖hat鈥檚 something my mom always tells me, and it鈥檚 become a grounding mantra throughout my college journey,鈥� Moya said. 鈥淚t reminds me to stay present and embrace each moment, whether it鈥檚 challenging or joyful. The tough times are temporary, and the good ones pass quickly too鈥攕o it鈥檚 important to appreciate them while they last.鈥� This perspective has shaped not only how Moya moves through tough moments, but also how she approaches the future.听

鈥淓ven when the wave you鈥檙e riding knocks you down, you get back on the board and catch the next wave. That mindset is guiding me as I work toward graduate school in marine mammal research while staying open to new opportunities that may come my way.鈥�

Stanger said a wide range of experiences as an undergraduate, including studying abroad and taking part in summer internships, led to the Fulbright.听

鈥淚 pursued the Fulbright to further develop my skills as an educator and improve my ability to be a community member who can make a positive impact in my local community,鈥� Stanger said.

Stanger said it was 麻豆影院 alumna Anja Pfeffer 鈥�02, an eighth-grade teacher for a world languages course in Vermont, who first got them interested in the German language. She also told Stanger about 麻豆影院.听

鈥淚n this class, we learned about a few different languages and how important languages are to how we interact with each other,鈥� Stanger said. 鈥淚 got my first taste of German in that class, and along the way learned so much more. Ms. Pfeffer was that teacher for me who made all the difference in the world, and her classrooms are where I was able to start blooming into the person that I would become.鈥�

The seeds of Stanger鈥檚 Fulbright application also included a summer internship experience last year in Bemidji, Minnesota, with the Concordia Language Village’s Waldsee, an immersive language camp.听

鈥淲hile creating an immersive language learning environment, I got to co-run a two-week film-making program for a group of participants to learn some film-making skills and create a short film,鈥� Stanger said. 鈥淚 got to combine both my German and film studies skills there, and it was a blast.鈥澨�

Schuler: Prepared for this moment

Schuler will be working as a teaching assistant for English at two schools in Styria, located in southern Austria. The grade levels are equivalent to middle school through high school in the U.S.听

鈥淢y basic goal will be to build my skills and experience as a prospective teacher through this opportunity,鈥� Schuler said.听

His interest in the USTA fellowship stemmed from a summer experience in 2022.

鈥淚 took part in a seven-week summer immersion program for German at Middlebury University in Vermont, with no prior knowledge of the language other than a little experience from studying German lieder for my vocal performance degree,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here, I fell in love with the language and encountered a community mirroring 麻豆影院 in its dedication to nurturing, yet also driving students, and its close collaboration between professors and students.鈥�

He called the choice between USTA and Fulbright a difficult one. The USTA acceptance came first, and Schuler was intrigued by the location and opportunity, so he made that commitment.

鈥淥ne of the most magical experiences that helped prepare me for this moment was getting to do a semester abroad in Vienna in the fall of 2024, thanks to the study abroad program at 麻豆影院,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 spent nearly 15 weeks in Vienna, and also traveled to several of the other local cities such as Graz and Linz. That experience, living in Austria, helped push me to choose the USTA, and also to see the progression of my German skills in interacting with locals and local events.鈥�

Schuler鈥檚 studies in history and music have built a foundation he believes will elevate his USTA experience.

鈥淗istory as the study of the past can also be applied to understand the present, and as a USTA fellow bringing my knowledge of the history of the U.S. to my teaching English feels vital,鈥� he said. 鈥淟anguage learning isn’t just the semantics of the language, but also the culture surrounding it, and that culture includes history.鈥�

Kraker: Ready to thrive

Kraker will be working with mentors to teach English at two schools in Innsbruck, located in western Austria in the heart of the Alps. One of the schools is an upper-level secondary school with a focus on economics, business, and technical skills, and the other is an evening school similar in grade level to a high school in the U.S.

鈥淎s a German studies minor, I wanted to experience immersion in the language and culture of a German-speaking country,鈥� Kraker said. 鈥淚 was interested in studying abroad during college but ultimately decided it wasn’t the best fit for听me, so when thinking about what I wanted to do post-graduation, this seemed like a great opportunity to fulfill the desire to live in Europe.鈥�

Kraker said her experiences as an undergraduate at 麻豆影院 gave her a passion for teaching.

鈥淭he German studies program has given me a critical foundation in the German language and in understanding the culture of German-speaking countries,鈥� she said.听

The experience she gained as a teaching assistant for the department, combined with 鈥渢he broader liberal arts education that I’ve received,鈥� built her confidence.

鈥淭he 麻豆影院 values of curiosity, seeking out challenges鈥攖hat drove me to apply for this program and will help me thrive in a new country and role,鈥� she said.

Fulbright Top Producing Institutions such as 麻豆影院 value global connection and support members of their campus communities in pursuing international opportunities.听

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program. Since 1946, it has provided more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges.听

In all, 麻豆影院 has produced 67 Fulbright scholars since the program was first introduced.听

麻豆影院鈥檚 2024-25 Fulbright class includes:

• Jonathan Bass 鈥�24, who was a double degree student in music performance (piano) and French and francophone studies. He received the Fulbright-Harriet Hale Woolley Award in the Arts to study in France. He is pursuing a graduate degree in piano performance.听
• Gunner Bauer 鈥�23, who majored in government and Russian studies, is teaching English in Slovakia.
• Miri Villerius 鈥�23, who was a music and religious studies double major, is teaching English in Italy.
• Ayla Walther 鈥�23, who received her teacher certification with plans to teach German, is teaching English in Germany.

Applicants to the Fulbright at 麻豆影院 are supported by a fellowships team led by Claire Kervin, assistant professor of English and director of fellowships advising.听

鈥淏eing named a Top Producing Fulbright Institution is an incredible honor,鈥� Kervin said. 鈥淚t recognizes Lawrentians as the remarkable individuals they are and acknowledges 麻豆影院鈥檚 deep commitment to international learning and student success.鈥�

Kervin applauds the work of the Fulbright Campus Committee, which works with students and graduates in preparing for their Fulbright application. The committee has included in recent years faculty members Jason Brozek, Chloe Armstrong, Madera Allan, and Kelly Culhane, and staff member Julie Haurykiewicz.

鈥淏ecoming a Fulbright Top Producing Institution reflects the hard work of many people鈥攏ot just the Fulbright awardees, but also the faculty and staff who have supported them,鈥� she said.

That work has resulted in听nine Lawrentians being named semifinalists this year. Announcements of final 2025-26 Fulbright awards are expected in the spring.

The Fulbright Program also awards grants to U.S. scholars, teachers, and faculty to conduct research and teach overseas. In 2022-23,听Timothy X. Troy, the听J. Thomas and Julie Esch Hurvis Professor of Theatre and Drama and professor of theatre arts, taught and did research in Ireland as a Fulbright recipient. He is the 12th 麻豆影院 faculty member to earn a Fulbright since 1995.

Also, Cayla Rosch茅 鈥�13, lecturer of music in the Conservatory, is a former Fulbright recipient who now serves as a Fulbright Scholar Alumni Ambassador, representing the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program.听

Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors, and the world and have included 44 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 90 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders and changemakers who build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.听听

听For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit听听

Alexander York 鈥�14:听In September 2023, York joined the full-time soloist ensemble at the State Theater in Linz, Austria, where he is singing Papageno in Mozart鈥檚 Magic Flute this season. Since leaving 麻豆影院, York earned a masters at Northwestern University, received a Fulbright award to study Art Song in Munich, Germany, and was a member of the Paris Opera Young Artist Program.

鈥淭he main thing that stands out about my time in the Conservatory was the boundless access to try out new things and develop an artistic personality,鈥� York said. 鈥淚n addition to the world-class training in the techniques and theories of music, I benefited from a group of professors who really lifted me up and gave me the tools that I personally needed to move forward in my career. I left 麻豆影院 with a lot of confidence in myself and听my craft, which carried me a long way after graduation.鈥�

Javier Arau 鈥�98:听Arau is the founder and executive director of New York Jazz Academy in New York City. He has performed worldwide as a saxophonist and his compositions have been featured in film and television.

鈥淚 was wide-eyed and ready for anything as a 17-year-old first-year Lawrentian in 1993, and what strikes me more than anything was just how present and dedicated my professors were, from the first moment I arrived on campus,鈥� Arau said of his 麻豆影院 experience. 鈥淚 never took this for granted, but I also didn鈥檛 really have an idea just how special this was until much later in my life. To have so many full-time faculty鈥擲teve Jordheim, Ken Schaphorst, Allen Gimbel, Dane Richeson, and many others鈥攃hallenging and fueling me for five years was the greatest thrill. To the point that they would be there for us at our concerts on- and off-campus, for lunches and dinners, that is an environment that is just so, so rare. In my own career as a saxophonist, composer, and teacher, I look to support students and teachers who offer this same sort of generosity and passion for each other and our musical paths.鈥�

Laura Hauer 鈥�09:听Hauer is teaching violin and piano for the Orquesta de Cuerdas de San Agust铆n in San Agust铆n Etla, Oaxaca, M茅xico, and giving occasional听performances.

鈥淢y indefatigable and dedicated teachers were the most notable part of my LU Conservatory education,鈥� Hauer said. 鈥淚 have used my 麻豆影院 teachers to role model my own teaching.鈥�

Kirsten Lies-Warfield 鈥�94:听Lies-Warfieldis retired from The United States Army Band after serving 20 years as their first female trombonist.

鈥淭he 麻豆影院 Conservatory was exactly what I needed coming out of high school,鈥� Lies-Warfield said. 鈥淚 wanted to play everything and not specialize. I started out majoring in trombone performance and studio art and took cello lessons. By the time I graduated, studio art and cello had fallen away, but I was still playing everything I could on my trombone. In grad school, specialization was encouraged, and I stopped studying jazz. Maybe that specialization was needed to win the audition for The United States Army Band, but that job asked me to play just about everything but orchestral music. The culture of the Con was so nurturing to me in whatever it was I decided I wanted to do. The faculty and my peers gave me room to find my way and inspiration as to what was possible.鈥�

James Gandre 鈥�81:听Gandre is president of Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He received an honorary degree at 麻豆影院鈥檚 2024 Commencement.

鈥淚 loved being exposed to the breadth and depth of both classical and jazz music,” Gandre said. “There was so much to be absorbed at 麻豆影院, from student and faculty performances to guest artists of the highest order, like the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig, pianist Ruth Laredo, soprano Elly Ameling, and jazz pianist Marian McPartland. The atmosphere was one of mutual support and encouragement and this flowed forth from both the faculty and students.听We all wanted everyone to succeed and flourish.听Unfortunately, at many institutions this is not the ethos.鈥�

Stephen Edwards 鈥�85:听Edwards performs and composes soundtracks for film and TV.听He has released several solo piano albums.听

鈥淚 would say the main thing that stands out for me regarding my 麻豆影院 experience is the fact that I was able to try my hand at so many different types of situations鈥攎usical and otherwise鈥攄uring my years in the Con,” Edwards said. “This meant that I was able to participate in LUJE, be a piano performance major and study classical repertory, but also join a fraternity, and also even be part of the LU basketball team during my freshman year. I also double-majored in economics. This exposed me to every type of person available to me at LU. As I鈥檝e forged my career over the years, I always tell everybody, I am in the 鈥榤usic business,鈥� so I have to be equal parts creative artist and savvy businessman to navigate the tricky waters of our ever-changing business world. So, part of that success is in my ability to work with so many different personality types鈥攆rom every walk of life鈥攁nd collaborate with them so that our efforts are satisfying and successful. The beginnings of all of this is directly attributable to my years at LU.鈥�

Schuyler Thornton 鈥�14:听Thornton is the flutist for the听鈥�Les Mis茅rables鈥�听North American Broadway Tour orchestra and a lecturer of flute and director of Flute Ensemble at Muhlenberg College.听

鈥淚 think it is rare to find the sense of identity and community that exists at 麻豆影院, especially in the Conservatory,鈥� Thornton said. 鈥淭he relationships that were fostered not only between my classmates but also with the faculty are still strong today. Many musicians have conservatory experiences that are cutthroat and competitive and leave them feeling quite jaded鈥斅槎褂霸� provided a nurturing environment that still pushed me to be my best.鈥�

Evan Williams 鈥�10:听Williams is a composer and serves on the faculty at Berklee College of Music, where he teaches composition, conducting, and music technology. He wrote a commissioned piece that was premiered at 麻豆影院 in November as part of the 150th celebration.

鈥淢y story at 麻豆影院 is really a winding one,” Williams said. “I meandered a lot, and one of the things I love about 麻豆影院 is they let me meander. They let me be unsure about what I wanted to do, and that helped shape the career I created. They really let me take the time to explore.鈥�

Bonnie Alger 鈥�06:听Alger is a conductor who serves as officer-in-charge of The United States Army Chorus.

鈥淣o one looked at me like I was silly when I said I wanted to go to graduate school for conducting even though I had only been doing it for a year or two,鈥� Alger said of her 麻豆影院 experience. 鈥淭he faculty all took the time to get to know me as a person and to play on my strengths. In some cases, I鈥檓 not sure how they knew I鈥檇 be good at certain things because as a 20-year-old, I wasn鈥檛 sure I鈥檇 be good at it. I wasn鈥檛 first chair; I wasn鈥檛 singing all the solos in choir; but I was actively engaged, and they all saw something and pulled that out of me.鈥�

Emily Richter 鈥�20:听Richter performs with Lyric Opera of Chicago鈥檚 Ryan Center Ensemble. In March 2024, she was named one of five winners of the Metropolitan Opera鈥檚 2024 Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition.

鈥淚鈥檓 so grateful for my time at 麻豆影院 that didn鈥檛 just teach me how to sing but taught me how to feel and think deeply about the world,鈥� Richter said.

Brooke Joyce 鈥�95:听Joyce is the composer-in-residence at Luther College and currently serves as co-department chair.

鈥淚 had many terrific instructors in the Conservatory,鈥� Joyce said. 鈥淭hey gave me both a strong musical foundation and the confidence to find my own creative voice. Those instructors instilled in me a high regard for musical excellence, and their teaching continues to influence my own pedagogy. Rarely does a week go by when I don’t think about a lesson or class I experienced at 麻豆影院.鈥�

David Heller ’81:听Heller is professor of music and university organist at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, where he has been a member of the faculty since 1986. He teaches organ, harpsichord, and music theory.听

鈥淲hat I remember most听about my experience in the Conservatory was the close interaction between the students and the faculty,鈥� Heller said.听鈥淥ur professors and mentors were demanding but supportive in our lessons and classes.听We were given the opportunity to mature musically, intellectually, and personally.听What sets the Conservatory apart from other institutions is the excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level.听We had professors who knew how to teach undergraduate musicians at that听point in their lives.听As students, we experienced a wealth of live performances鈥攆rom faculty, students, and guest artists who contributed immensely to our growth. Finally, there was a sense of camaraderie听with your fellow classmates, many of whom remain friends of mine to this day.”

鈥淚 thrived in 麻豆影院鈥檚 small classes, thrived under the mentorship of my professors, expanded my ideas of what life could look like and what mattered to me.鈥�
– Marjorie Liu ’00

鈥淚 thrived in 麻豆影院鈥檚 small classes, thrived under the mentorship of my professors, expanded my ideas of what life could look like and what mattered to me,鈥� Liu said.

The creative juices nurtured in that liberal arts environment beckoned as she hit a crossroads following law school. Liu at first eyed writing as a side hustle. But not for long. In 2004, she wrote鈥攁nd sold鈥攁 paranormal romance novel, Tiger Eye, which drew a favorable response and set her on a creative adventure. Her journey would soon include a relationship with Marvel, the publisher that dominates the comic book and movie industry. Her titles such as Dark Wolverine, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose became top sellers.

Becoming part of the Marvel family was 鈥渟ort of like winning the lottery,鈥� Liu said.

The Marvel success would lead to her 2015 launch of the critically acclaimed Monstress series鈥攁 sprawling epic fantasy鈥攁nd then The Night Eaters, both in partnership with illustrator and comic book artist Sana Takeda.

鈥淪ana is my creative co-pilot, whose art is more or less my muse,鈥� Liu said.

By 2018, Liu was in heady company. She became the first woman to win an Eisner Award in the Best Writer category for Monstress Vol. 2: The Blood. As an Asian-American鈥攈er father is Taiwanese鈥攕he said she also took pride in being the first woman of color to win the award. The novel also won an Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series, was named Best Graphic Novel in three other 2018 award competitions鈥擝ritish Fantasy Awards, Hugo Awards, and National Cartoonist Society Awards鈥攁nd was named 2018 Book of the Year in the Harvey Awards.

In the past six years, she has won or been nominated for 14 of the industry鈥檚 major awards. She鈥檚 been featured in media outlets ranging from CNN to The Atlantic.

Entertainment Weekly included Liu鈥檚 Monstress in its 鈥淏est Comics of the Decade鈥� list in 2019, writing: 鈥淭he epic fantasy-horror saga from Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda has fused disparate influences鈥攖he animal spirits of Hayao Miyazaki films, the cosmic monsters of H.P. Lovecraft stories, the inventive technology of steampunk鈥攊nto a moving story about mothers and daughters, war and peace, and how divisions can be bridged.鈥�

鈥淓verythinghas been a surprise,鈥� Liu said of her success. 鈥淲hen I was at 麻豆影院, if you’d told me that this is where I’d end up鈥攚riting for a living; specifically, comic books鈥擨 would have had a very difficult time imagining that future. 鈥� None of this was planned, or part of 鈥榯he dream,鈥� but one opportunity naturally led to another, and suddenly 20 years passed by and here I am.鈥�

Liu has built a devoted following as her characters have developed and evolved. She points to moments such as Warbird becoming an artist at the end of Astonishing X-Men #58, or Zuli from the Wingbearer series never losing her sense of compassion despite challenges, or Maika in Monstress being damaged and rageful from surviving unspeakable atrocities but still being capable of healing.

鈥淲hat these storylines and characters all have in common is that they’re threaded through with my own deep belief that hope, courage, and friendship can transform lives,鈥� Liu said.

While sharing similarities, comic books and graphic novels are different publishing formats. The graphic novel builds on the comic book鈥攕till blending storytelling with visual art but doing so in a longer, more complex setting. The medium has exploded in popularity over the past decade鈥攊n fiction and nonfiction and with young adult and adult audiences. Liu has been in the middle of it all. She said it was early in her career when she had that 鈥渁ha鈥� moment when she believed she could make a living as a writer. She was promoting her debut novel at the Romance Writers of America convention when readers started approaching her with enthusiasm for Tiger Eye.

鈥淚t was a lovely affirmation, but it also made me want to work even harder to become a better writer and artist,鈥� Liu said. 鈥淚 still feel like that鈥擨鈥檓 constantly hungry to push and challenge myself to do more in my work, whether it鈥檚 experimenting with new mediums or genres.鈥�

That desire to push boundaries, she said, also has its roots in her 麻豆影院 education. She had been shy as a student, always fearing putting herself out there. But her professors at 麻豆影院鈥攕he singles out the late Peter Fritzell from the English faculty鈥攅ncouraged her to go deeper, take chances.

鈥淚 learned that there are no half-measures when it comes to writing, no short-cuts, no way to escape yourself or the work,鈥� Liu said. 鈥淎nd, that language is a gift that evolves with you, that deepens as you deepen. I never intended to make my living as a writer, but Professor Fritzell helped me develop the skills I needed for this career.鈥�

Those lessons still resonate 24 years after she graduated.

鈥淭he thing is, being a writer, or an artist of any kind, is about one of the most difficult career choices a person could possibly make,鈥� Liu said. 鈥淚t’s not glamorous or financially secure, no matter what anyone tells you or what you see on television, and it’s a lot of hard work. But ultimately that’s the case with most jobs, and what drives me is that love of telling stories鈥攁 love of words鈥攁 need to express myself that began when I was young but that shaped itself more formally at 麻豆影院.鈥�

The coming months will be busy for Liu. Wingborn, the second offering in her middle-grade graphic novel series, is scheduled for release Oct. 1, Monstress Vol. 9 will hit shelves in November, and the third Night Eaters book鈥攑art of a horror trilogy鈥攚ill be released in early 2025. Meanwhile, she and Takeda are working on the launch of a new series, with details yet to be announced.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been the honor of a lifetime to have the opportunity to tell stories, and an honor that anyone would take their valuable time to read them,鈥� Liu said. 鈥淚 am so very grateful for this unexpected life.鈥�

His undergraduate experience, he said, continues to inform almost every decision鈥攃reative and otherwise鈥攖hat he makes. He points to his days at 麻豆影院 for setting a foundation that has allowed him to grow as an artist, a thinker, and an innovator. He studied government, took courses across the humanities, explored his spirituality, served as president of 麻豆影院 International, and worked at International House.

鈥淲ith the education I had at 麻豆影院, that liberal arts education, it really opened my mind,鈥� Dorji said. 鈥淚t made me very curious鈥攃urious for life, not just to be a filmmaker. You have to have that curiosity; you have to have the openness. All my experiences at 麻豆影院, I think, led to that.鈥�

The son of a diplomat, Dorji has long had a fascination with history and global politics. That all came to play in the making of The Monk and the Gun, a film that parodies the politics of the United States while exploring the anxieties surrounding Bhutan鈥檚 own experiment with democracy.

鈥淚 was at a film festival, and they were asking me, how did a Bhutanese person end up becoming a filmmaker and then making a film that is a satire about democracy?鈥� Dorji said. 鈥�The Monk and the Gun is actually a satire about American democracy. I said, 鈥榃ell, you know, it鈥檚 funny; I went to the Midwest, and I studied at 麻豆影院, and I studied government. And that combined with this liberal arts education, it really opened my mind up for everything. 鈥� Over time, I combined my experiences at 麻豆影院, my experiences in a Buddhist monastery in modern India, and I ended up making a film that ties together this philosophy with values of democracy.鈥欌��

Finding an audience

Dorji the filmmaker first started garnering attention when Lunana was accepted at the BFI London Film Festival in 2020. Filmed in 2018 and 2019 and made for less than $300,000, 尝耻苍补苍补鈥�in the Dzongkha language, with subtitles鈥攚as the longest of longshots. The story, written by Dorji, is that of a young teacher, Ugyen, assigned as part of a service agreement to teach in Lunana, Bhutan鈥檚 most remote village. Initially unprepared for the physical and emotional toll that would come, Ugyen finds himself increasingly drawn to his young students and the people of the Himalayan village. A yak, gifted to the teacher upon his arrival, becomes a classroom fixture.

The filming in Bhutan鈥檚 Lunana Valley, a mountainous region bordering far western China, was itself a challenge. Solar batteries were needed because the location was so remote. Dorji and a crew of 35 walked for eight days to reach the tiny village, about three miles above sea level. They moved much of their gear on mules. The village schoolchildren who appear in the film had no acting experience, and no familiarity with films or filmmaking.

鈥淣o fancy anything; no professional actors, no professional crew,鈥� Dorji said. 鈥淎nd after I made that film, it was a reality check. You could say I was very innocent about how the film industry worked. I thought, 鈥極K, I鈥檒l get some money together and I鈥檒l make this film and I鈥檒l share it with the world, and everyone will watch it, and everyone will appreciate it.鈥� But that isn鈥檛 how the industry works. It鈥檚 all about production companies, producers, agencies, distributors.鈥�

For a long stretch, Lunana garnered nothing but rejection. Then came word that the BFI London Film Festival would show the film, giving it a world premiere. It drew an enthusiastic reaction.

鈥淔rom there it just grew,鈥� Dorji said.

More film festivals would follow. It won the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film and the Best of the Fest at the 2020 Palm Springs International Film Festival. It earned honors at the Film Festival della Lessinia in Italy and the Festival International du film de Saint-Jean-de-luz in France. A distributor picked up the film and set a U.S. release date.

Lunana was shortlisted for an Oscar in December 2021, which brought Dorji to Hollywood for a blitz of appearances. Meetings with Hollywood royalty would have Dorji鈥檚 head spinning. Hollywood writers clamored for interviews, anxious to talk about the challenges of filming in such a remote location, the mysteries and seeming innocence of Bhutan, and why there was a yak in the classroom.

Then came the Oscar nomination and the invite to the 2022 Academy Awards. While Dorji would not win the Oscar鈥攊t went to Drive My Car from Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi鈥攈is life was forever changed.

听鈥淎long my journey there were different people who were willing to take a chance on an unknown filmmaker from the Himalayas,鈥� Dorji said. 鈥淓ach chance was a stepping-stone for the film. It鈥檚 been amazing. I鈥檓 very grateful.鈥�

Film No. 2 draws applause

Dorji鈥檚 new-found status as an Oscar-nominated filmmaker brought new opportunities. And new challenges. As he set out to make his follow-up film, he was approached by agents and producers and was offered Hollywood actors and an infusion of cash.

鈥淪ometimes that new attention can lead you down a certain path,鈥� Dorji said. 鈥淛ust imagine where I came from. I had solar batteries to charge my camera, I had a yak in my classroom. That鈥檚 how I started. To suddenly be approached by all these Hollywood execs and agents, it can turn your head.鈥�

He said he kept it all at arm鈥檚 length, in part because of a conversation he had in 2022 with Ang Lee, director of Oscar-winning films Sense and Sensibility, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Brokeback Mountain.

鈥淗e told me, 鈥楶awo, when I look at you, I see a younger version of myself,鈥欌�� Dorji said. 鈥溾�橳here is so much passion with how you want to tell your stories. But there also is a lot of innocence that I had, and you have right now.鈥� He told me, 鈥榊ou will make more films, you will grow as a filmmaker, but it鈥檚 a very vicious industry. With every film you make, they will shed away your innocence.鈥� And he was saying, 鈥業f I was to give you one piece of advice, it would be not to lose that heart or innocence. Make sure you make every film with the same heart you made Lunana. Once you鈥檝e lost that innocence, it鈥檚 very difficult to tap back into it.鈥欌��

Dorji held that advice close as be began filming The Monk and the Gun.

Set in 2006, the film depicts the Kingdom of Bhutan鈥檚 transition to democracy through an oft-humorous story involving a mock election, a valuable antique rifle that falls into the hands of a monk, an American weapons collector in pursuit, villagers unmoved by material goods, and Bhutan鈥檚 uncomfortable dalliance with the modern world.

鈥淎s I started to make this film, I was being offered different Hollywood actors,鈥� Dorji said. 鈥淚 was being offered maybe more money than I would need. But at the end, I stayed true to what Ang Lee had said. I have an American character in the movie, and I was offered Hollywood actors for that role, but I decided to stay with what I had. He was an amateur actor. I still wanted to have the innocence in the film. The film is about the loss of innocence. I felt if I had a Hollywood actor it would be a very different story. The media wouldn鈥檛 be saying, 鈥極h, Pawo, the director of A Yak in the Classroom has made a second film, which is about the modernization and loss of innocence of this country; it would be about, 鈥極h, this Hollywood actor went up to the mountains and he went through so much hardship to make a film with the locals up there.鈥� I think I was fortunate to have met Ang Lee and gotten the advice I received. I tried to keep the innocence of the story.鈥�

The Monk and the Gun听earned the Showcase Audience Choice Award at the Vancouver International Film Festival and the Special Jury Prize at the Rome Film Festival before being shortlisted by the Academy. It was picked up by a distributor and given a February 2024 release in the U.S., where it drew favorable reviews.

The Washington Post gave it three and a half stars: 鈥淭hough it takes place in the recent past, at a time when the Bhutanese people were still getting used to such American imports as James Bond movies and 鈥渂lack water鈥� (Coca-Cola), the film has something important to say about the promise and the perils of the present.鈥�

The Gene Siskel Film Center called it a 鈥減layful and wise ensemble drama and a wholly gratifying account of a nation at a crucial inflection point.鈥� The Hollywood Reporter said it was 鈥渓ively and piquant, demonstrating the director鈥檚 sense of humor and sharp observational skills.鈥�

Storytelling, or untying knots

That Dorji鈥檚 winding path led to adventures in storytelling may not be all that much of a surprise. He called it a gradual journey of discovery, one that was nourished during his time at 麻豆影院.

He dove deep into storytelling while working as a photographer. He published two photo journals,听Seeing Sacred: Light and Shadows听and听The Light of the Moon:听The Legacy of Xuanzang of Tang. The latter was a five-year photo project to retrace lost history of Buddhism. It took him through the ancient silk roads of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts of Xinjiang, China, over the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Karakorams in Pakistan, and through India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

It would lead him back to Bhutan, where his exploration of filmmaking would begin.

鈥淚n Bhutan, we are a very unique culture that is really rooted in a veneration for the past, our culture, our traditions,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ith that, storytelling becomes a very important aspect of our culture. Specifically, the oral lineage that is passed down from generation to generation. For me, I grew up in that culture. I have a love for storytelling. Even when I was at 麻豆影院, I was very interested in storytelling. I took a lot of history classes at 麻豆影院. That love for history and story was always there.鈥�

The language of storytelling is different in Bhutan, a nation buffered for years from television and the internet and other modern advancements.

鈥淚n English, you say tell me a story,鈥� Dorji said. 鈥淏ut in my language, it is, please untie a knot for me. The act of telling a story is supposed to have this untying, freeing, liberating purpose. You grow up in that culture where storytelling is such an important part of life, and you start adopting different mediums to which you want to untie knots. I started writing. Then I became a photographer. I started combining writing and photography. I published some photography books. Then I slowly came to the realization that the most powerful medium to which we can untie knots in this modern world is moving pictures, it鈥檚 film. That鈥檚 what led me to this work.鈥�

The business of movies also is a whole different experience in Bhutan. There are no cinemas. People gather in a community hall with a projector, Dorji said. There is no film industry to speak of. The submission of Lunana for the Academy Awards, originally planned for 2021, was delayed a year because the Academy no longer officially recognized Bhutan鈥檚 national film committee because it had not submitted a film in 23 years.

鈥淭his is where I come from,鈥� Dorji said. 鈥淭his is why this is so special. When I tell people in Hollywood that I come from a country where people put yaks in their classrooms and we don鈥檛 have a film industry, it鈥檚 difficult for them to imagine. Coming from a country like that and trying to make films and at the same time being put on a platform where you have to compete with the very best filmmakers in the world, it鈥檚 a big challenge. Especially a country like Bhutan. We are very small. We are very poor. And we have never had examples of people who have achieved something in this field that the rest of the country can look up to as an example.鈥�

To stand among other Oscar nominees with his first film was surreal, Dorji said. And then to come back and be shortlisted with his second film was stunning.

听鈥淚 think my previous film鈥檚 Oscar nomination was the first time in Bhutan鈥檚 history where we had something to look at like, wow, that is a Bhutanese up there with Martin Scorsese,鈥� Dorji said. 鈥淚t gave Bhutan, especially the youth, something to aspire to, to give them hope. I am one of them. I represent their culture. I dress like them. I am them. They see themselves in me.鈥�

The people of Bhutan have embraced Dorji and his films. Following his 2022 Oscar nomination, he became the youngest recipient of the Royal Order of Bhutan, The Druk Thuksey, awarded by the king to recognize an individual for distinguished service to the Bhutanese nation and people.

His latest film explores territory that might make some in Bhutan uncomfortable. The Monk and the Gun is centered on Bhutan鈥檚 real journey to modernization, to becoming a democratic country, much of it based on events of the mid-2000s, about the time Dorji was graduating from 麻豆影院.

鈥淲hen it was screened in Bhutan, so many people were emotional, they were crying,鈥� Dorji said. 鈥淚 thought that was so beautiful. Within this comedy, within this satire, in this film that is about the country鈥檚 path to modernization, the Bhutanese were actually seeing their own journey and how in the quest to try to get something they think they needed they ended up losing what they had. People were getting emotional. That is the beauty of art, right? Everyone looks at it and it almost becomes a medium upon which you see a reflection of your own values.鈥�

Staying connected

While Dorji spent the bulk of his youth in Bhutan, he lived at times in different parts of the world because of his father鈥檚 work as a diplomat鈥攖he Middle East, Europe, and India. He attended an American boarding school in India in 11th and 12th grades. It was while there that he started thinking about attending college in the U.S. 麻豆影院 caught his eye in part because several graduates from his high school were already studying there. Also, 麻豆影院 had a large and engaged international student population, and David Mulford 鈥�59, then the U.S. ambassador to Bhutan, is a 麻豆影院 graduate.

鈥淭hat caught my attention,鈥� Dorji said.

鈥淚 came to 麻豆影院 and had four wonderful years,鈥� he said. 鈥淎mazing friendships, amazing experience.鈥�

Dorji, who is married with two children, said he reconnected with some of his 麻豆影院 classmates when he screened The Monk and the Gun at Soho House in New York in late 2023.

鈥淚t was so magical seeing them,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e were talking about our time at 麻豆影院. It was a beautiful time. Some of my classmates have a group chat that is very active. Many of us have become dads and we are living in different parts of the world. We keep sending photos of our growing families, career accomplishments. I鈥檝e had them cheering me on.鈥�

Dorji and his family are moving from Taiwan to Los Angeles this summer.

He said he wants to challenge himself as a filmmaker, go outside of his comfort zone. That may take him outside of Bhutan. But he wants to do so while maintaining the heart of his storytelling.

鈥淚 am a citizen of the world,鈥� Dorji said. 鈥淚 have all this multicultural upbringing. Living in Wisconsin for four years really had a huge impact on me鈥攚ho I am now and how I see the world, how I tell my stories.鈥�