In 2023, McCarter opened its season with a performance by writer, musician, and public intellectual Patti Smith. As a Social Impact Fellow, Music Ph.D. student Hope Littwin played a leading role in the day’s events. Alongside Brigid Doherty, associate professor of Art & Archeology, Littwin facilitated a pre-show talk in Chancellor Green Rotunda with Smith for students, faculty, and members of the community. The expansive conversation, part of McCarter’s Arts & Ideas program, including topics like defining success, the importance of centering inspiration in one’s work, and the rewards of a daily creative practice.

To prepare, Littwin drew on skills deepened while working alongside her Social Impact Fellowship mentor, Debbie Bisno. After helping Bisno launch a Wintersession panel on viewing the world through a creative Lens, Littwin launched her “3 Songs Podcast” in 2023 with a series of interviews with McCarter visiting artists. The evolution of Littwin’s fellowship reflects the bespoke approach that McCarter has taken to its work with graduate students, crafting opportunities that suit the skill-sets and interests of graduate students, and helping them add skills like arts-related marketing and data analysis.

“My advice to grad students is to continue to come back to your personal statement as a tool to refocus your energies and efforts during your time here. GradFUTURES has opened the doors for a lot of meaningful networking opportunities for me in the short time that I have been here.” – Hope Littwin, GS, Music

“In partnership with campus, McCarter becomes more than just a tour stop for performers. For our visiting artists to be able to engage with graduate students in both conversation and co-curation elevates their experience. What is great about working with graduate students is that we are both surprised by what we can do together. Graduate students help us to think about things differently and improve our own work.” – Debbie Bisno, Director of University & Artistic Partnerships, McCarter Theatre

Our Partner

An independent not-for-profit performing arts center located between New York City and Philadelphia – and on the campus of Princeton University – McCarter is a multi-disciplinary creative and intellectual hub offering theater, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages that inspires conversations, connections and collaborations in our communities. Celebrated for developing new work and winner of the 1994 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, world premieres include Christopher Durang's Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike (Tony, Best Play), Tarell Alvin McCarey's The Brother/Sister Plays, Emily Mann's Having Our Say. Renowned artists who have appeared at McCarter include: Alvin Ailey, Yo-Yo Ma, Audra McDonald, David Sedaris, The Moth, Terence Blanchard, Roseanne Cash, the rock band Lake Street Dive, Shawn Colvin, more. McCarter connects with the community year-round with a Shakespeare Reading Group, digital programming, on-site classes and in-school residencies. McCarter and Princeton University share a long history of unique partnerships and creative collaborations.

Learn More About GradFUTURES Social Impact Fellowships

GradFUTURES Social Impact Fellowships are bespoke opportunities for Princeton graduate students with nonprofit organizations that have partnered with the Graduate School. Host organizations work closely with the Graduate School to determine the learning outcomes and professional development goals for these immersive experiences. Each fellowship is custom-designed, allowing graduate students to apply discipline-specific skills, gain interdisciplinary project team experience, and receive one-on-one mentoring while contributing to the social impact mission of the organization.