Chai & Chat with Irvin Weathersby Jr.
An Open Event for Prospective MFA Students

Join us for an evening of conversation, insight, and inspiration with Irvin Weathersby Jr., author, professor, and cultural critic. This event is especially for those considering applying to the MFA in Creative Writing at The City College of New York—but all lovers of literature are welcome.

About the Speaker

• Irvin Weathersby Jr. is a Brooklyn-based writer and professor originally from New Orleans. 

• His work appears in Guernica, Esquire, The Atlantic, EBONY, among others.

• His writing often explores race, public space, art, monuments, and the legacy of white supremacy. His recent nonfiction book, In Open Contempt: Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space (2025), addresses these themes powerfully. 

About the CCNY MFA in Creative Writing Program

• The CCNY MFA is a program designed to help writers develop their craft—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, or experimental work—and to engage with literature scholarship. The City College of New York

• Located at West Harlem, the program has a long, storied history with many distinguished writers having taught here: Donald Barthelme, Gwendolyn Brooks, Kurt Vonnegut, Marilyn Hacker, Grace Paley, Susan Sontag, among others. CCNY English Department

• The program is deeply committed to diversity, excellence, and inclusion. It supports writers from many backgrounds—racial, national, age-wise, and beyond—and seeks to make literary education accessible. CCNY English Department

• Students may attend full-time or part-time. Despite its location in New York City and its high caliber, the program prides itself on being significantly more affordable than many peer MFAs in the area. CCNY English Department

• Graduates go on to publish in well-known literary venues and receive awards; many also pursue teaching at secondary or higher education levels. The City College of New York+2CCNY English Department

Why Attend Chai & Chat?
This will be your opportunity to:

• Meet Irvin Weathersby Jr., hear about his writing process, career, and perspectives.

• Learn directly about what CCNY’s MFA asks of students in terms of craft, community, publication goals, and professional paths.

• Ask questions about admissions, curriculum, financial aid, and what makes the program unique.