Latest News

Our Spring 2023 Residency Schedule

Spring Residency Schedule June 2-11 th F: Fiction NF: Nonfiction P: Poetry PL: Playwriting S: Screenwriting * All Students Must Attend At Least 10 Lectures To Earn Credit Breakfast will be served on Sunrise Terrace Lunch will be served either on Sunrise Terrace or in Salon 4, depending upon weather All Graduate Lectures are in...

Our Spring 2023 Guest & MFA Faculty

Each residency, we're joined by two dozen guest faculty members -- consisting of visiting writers and industry professionals -- to teach and advise our students, along with our award-winning core faculty. If you're applying and interested in visiting during our upcoming term -- June 2-11th -- please contact us at palmdesertmfa@ucr.edu. Here's our amazing slate...

Our Fall Residency Schedule

Twice a year -- in December and June -- we gather for our intensive residencies. If you're interested in sitting in for a day prior to applying, we'd be happy to have you. Simply contact us at palmdesertmfa@ucr.edu and we'll set-up your visit. We'll even buy you lunch. Friday, December 2 3:00 – Check in...

Our Fall 22 Guest Faculty

Ivy Pochoda Is Our Latest Visiting Professor

We're thrilled to announce that after a national search, novelist Ivy Pochoda has joined our faculty as a Visiting Assistant Professor for the 2022/23 academic year. Ms. Pochoda will begin teaching this fall. Ivy Pochoda holds a BA in Classics and Literature, with a focus on Dramatic Literature, from Harvard, where she graduated cum laude...
Jackelin Shoji

Jackelin Shoji Earns Inaugural Visible Voices Scholarship

A little over two years ago, a group of MFA alumni, current students, faculty and administrators sat down to create a scholarship that would recognize and support writers of merit from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities. It would also be a scholarship that would broaden access to higher education for those who might otherwise find...

Our Spring 22 Guest Faculty

We're excited to kick off our 27th MFA residency on June 3rd with this amazing line-up of guest faculty members comprised of top writers, industry professionals, and esteemed alums! It's going to be an amazing residency. If you're interested in visiting during the week, please contact us to set up a visit: palmdesertmfa@ucr.edu Michelle Kholos...
Low Residency MFA Poster

Our Fall 21 Guest Faculty

We can't believe it's been two years since our last in-person residency! So we're rolling out the red-carpet for a great lineup of top writers, industry professionals, and esteemed alums! It's going to be an amazing residency. If you're interested in visiting during the week, please contact us to set up a visit: palmdesertmfa@ucr.edu Emilie...
Low Residency MFA Poster

Our Fall Residency @ Home Guest Faculty

We are pleased to announce the writers and industry professionals who will be joining us for our upcoming Fall Residency @ Home. We so wish we were all gathering in Rancho Mirage by the fire pits at the Rancho Las Palmas, but we’ll make do in Zoom boxes at home for a little while longer...