Writers@Work presenters Kat Mahoney (left), Colin Perry
Two SUNY Fredonia alumni – Kat Mahoney and Colin Perry – will explore writing and social justice at the Writers@Work residency.
Ms. Mahoney, who graduated in 1998 with a B.A. in English and a minor in Women’s Studies, and Mr. Perry, a 2017 graduate with majors in English and Communication: Journalism, and minors in American Studies and Philosophy, will meet students in classes and at public talks.
The writers-in-residence series will be held Wednesday through Friday, April 9 to 11.
"In times like these, everyone living in the United States and territories under its jurisdiction ought to know something about writing and social change,” said Department of English Associate Professor Bruce Simon. “Why not learn directly from Kat and Colin, who have been living, working and breathing it for many years?"
Three Writers@Work sessions, featuring both alumni, are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be furnished.
“Social Justice Work: How to Align Your Values with Your Skills Sets,” a talk that includes a question-and-answer session, will be held Wednesday, April 9, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., in Science Center Room 105.
The first annual Ethnic and Gender Studies Symposium will be held Thursday, April 10, from 9:30 to 10:50 a.m., in Williams Center Room S204.
Writing and social change will be discussed in a session Friday, April 11, from 10 to 10:50 a.m., in Fenton Hall Room 105.
Both alumni will additionally meet with students in classrooms and other settings.
In times like these, everyone living in the United States and territories under its jurisdiction ought to know something about writing and social change.” - Associate Professor Bruce Simon
Mahoney, an attorney, is a South Korean adoptee and immigrant raised in Brooklyn, NY. She has had a diverse career that includes ghostwriter, among other occupations. She attended law school at the University of Oregon and opened her own law firm specializing in family and environmental law and is a board member of Portland Neighbors Welcome.
From 2022 to 2024, Mahoney was executive director of Sisters of the Road, a non-profit in Portland, OR, focused on alleviating poverty and advocating for systemic change. She also served as an ACLU legal observer and was a plaintiff in a 2022 case, Index Papers v. City of Portland, that involved injuries suffered during an arrest by federal and local law enforcement.
Perry, as a senior program officer with the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, supports grantmaking and helps advance the foundation’s strategic community goals. His work encompasses initiatives aimed at achieving racial and ethnic equity, advancing economic mobility, supporting climate resilience through environmental stewardship and fostering a vibrant arts and culture sector.
Critical thinking, research, problem solving, project management and writing are among a wide range of skills Perry developed at SUNY Fredonia. Before joining the foundation, he worked as a grant writer, focusing on anti-poverty initiatives in Chautauqua County, where he grew up and witnessed the impact of strategic funding on local communities.
Writers@Work sponsors include the Carnahan Jackson Fund for the Humanities of the Fredonia College Foundation, the Department of English, Ethnic and Gender Studies, the Faculty Student Association, the Fredonia Alumni Association and Interdisciplinary Studies.
Partners of the series include Admissions, Alumni Affairs, Career Development Office, Center for Innovation and Economic Development, Department of English, Fredonia Honors Program and the School of Business.
Residency partners are the Ethnic and Gender Studies program, Department of English, Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, Mock Trial, Multicultural Support Services, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Department of Politics and International Affairs.
