What’s next for the Class of 2026: McKenna Graf

“What’s next for the Class of 2026” is a series that features Lafayette grads—where they’re headed, and the mentors, resources, and experiences that inspired their future path. Stay tuned for more stories throughout April and May.

By Maddie Pedone ‘26 

(Photo | Genamarie McCant)

Major:

English and film and media studies double major, with a minor in documentary story making 

Destination/Future Plans:

Attending a master’s program for education at Harvard Graduate School of Education, specifically for Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship with a concentration in Arts and Learning. Graf also plans to do freelance film work this upcoming summer as an assistant to two documentary filmmakers, as well as building her own business plan to work in documentary as a freelance filmmaker. 

Involvement on campus: 

McKenna Graf ’26 has been involved with every corner on campus, from holding many different jobs to leading a variety of student organizations. She has been a part of Arts Society for four years, serving as secretary her sophomore year and president for the past two years, and has been a resident of the Arts housing community. Graf also has been a member of the English Club all four years, serving as president for the past two years. She was secretary for the Film Society for the past three years and is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honor society

In each of her four years at Lafayette, Graf published a book of poetry through Parisian Phoenix publishing (founded by Angel Ackerman ’13). 

Graf worked as an usher for Williams Center for the Arts for four years, and as a writing associate for three. She has also worked as assistant to the directors at Williams Center for the Arts for the month of February 2026. In this role, she helped the director of the performance series and director of arts marketing. Among other duties, she worked in the box office and will continue that role until graduation.

Graf hosted a radio show with her first-year roommate called “Based on a Book,” where the duo shares songs inspired by the book of the week. 

The experiences that mattered most: 

Looking back on her time at Lafayette, Graf explains being a part of the Arts Society allowed her to make important connections. 

“I applied early decision because of the arts housing program,” Graf says. “I’ve met some of my best friends from it.” 

Graf also notes her summer study abroad program, Geology from A (Arches) to Z (Zion): Geology of the National Parks in the Western U.S., was an experience that allowed her to grow both personally and academically—with national parks in Utah and Arizona serving as her lab. 

She says her professor, David Sunderlin, John H. Markle Professor of Geology and department head, was supportive of her studies and gave her books to help her with the material. When they returned to campus, Sunderlin attended her film capstone, which she explained meant a lot to her. 

How Lafayette shaped your future:

Graf explains how her involvement with Arts Society, specifically holding a leadership position, played a huge part in her understanding of what she wants to do after graduation. 

“I think being able to see the administrative side of [Arts Society] showed me a different career path that I never would have considered otherwise,” Graf says. “I had always assumed I would go into publishing, but being able to be a part of Arts Society and organizing big events kind of opened my eyes to a lot of different avenues.” 

Her externships, specifically the one she had at Touchstone Theatre in Bethlehem, helped shape her future path.

“It was just one of the best decisions I’ve ever made because it was everything I was figuring out in Arts Society, but in an actual business setting, so that was super helpful for me to figure out where I saw myself after graduation,” Graf says.    

Why Lafayette?

Graf says the energy to try anything at Lafayette has greatly impacted her during her four years. 

“I do think it’s the energy of Cur Non, why not? Which sounds extremely cheesy, but it’s cheesy for a reason. I went to an all-girls Catholic high school that was extremely competitive … that space was like ‘I have to do all of these things to be successful in life,’” Graf says. “It was exciting for me to see that similar energy of ‘I want to be involved in all these different things,’ but it never felt like it was because of a resume booster; it felt like it was because of ‘why not…’ Especially with the study abroad program, I don’t think I would have been OK with going if I didn’t have that atmosphere around me like, ‘Well, why would you not do it?’” 

The people that inspired you along the way:

Throughout her time at Lafayette, Graf is grateful she made connections with people from “all different layers” on campus. 

Alexis Leon, associate director of experiential learning at Gateway Career Center, connected her to Touchstone Theatre, where Leon once served as stage manager. Graf says that connection has been “insanely valuable,” and led her to volunteer and later complete an externship there.

Her professor, Drew Swedberg, adjunct professor for film and media studies, taught Graf valuable lessons and helped her discover a love for documentaries. 

“Drew specifically, he’s the reason why I feel so passionately about documentaries,” Graf says. “He’s taught most of my documentary classes; I don’t know that I would be the same person I am without documentary. I’ve felt incredibly supported by him in terms of introducing me to new films I never would have looked at otherwise.” 

Graf’s First-Year seminar professor and adviser, Andy Smith, associate professor for film and media studies, played a key role in her development in documentary making. 

“I came up with an idea my freshman year [for a capstone project], which he really helped me cultivate in an intermediate documentary class,” Graf says. “He’s been a really awesome creative partner. I felt like we were equals, and I felt super supported in that way.” 

Graf enjoys working with Megan Fernandes, associate professor of English and writer-in-residence, as she loves her work in poetry. 

“I think it’s insane that we are able to learn poetry from her. I’ve read almost all of her books, and I look up to her a lot,” Graf says. “I’m very grateful to have been able to take a class with her, do independent study with her, and for her to be on board with that.” 

Graf also enjoyed the classroom environment Mikael Awake created in his class about writing for television. She notes how Awake, assistant professor of English, appreciated the varied perspectives of all the students in his class. 

“He is a great lecturer and really listens to his students. I appreciate the way he really takes his time with everything he is explaining.”

She is also grateful to Enrico Bruno, visiting assistant professor of English, as he brought Sigma Tau Delta honor society to Lafayette. Graf says being a part of this group allowed her to submit and present work at a recent convention and resulted in her submitted poetry winning third place for the Judson Q. Owen Convention Award.

Graf values conversations with Joe Swarctz, who serves on the custodial team and maintains buildings at the Arts campus, and also illustrates books for Parisian Phoenix Publishing.

“I’ve loved being able to run into him on campus, have that connection, and hear about all the different book signings he does,” Graf says. 

She also shares thanks for the Williams Center for the Arts team, specifically Ty Furman, director of the performance series, Tabitha Klaus, director of operations and patron services, and Marta Kepka, director of arts marketing, who have acted as incredible mentors for her professional growth.  

Advice for future Leopards:

Graf believes it’s important for new students to take advantage of all the different opportunities on campus.

“I would just say get involved in as much as possible, and I don’t just mean social things,” Graf says. “There are different things that are going to influence what you do, and I would just encourage people to take a full scope of it.”