Raleigh Nezzer (MFA '25)

An offbeat, quirky, and resolute individual, Raleigh Nezzer is a lifelong cinephile and movie nerd. Though they’re an Austinite at heart, in 2023 they returned to Chicago to pursue their MFA. in screenwriting. They hope to write films that explore the dark and unpleasant sides of the human psyche, as well as many films about vampires as possible. They hold two bachelor’s degrees from Loyola University Chicago, one in film & digital media production, and one in Latin. While an undergraduate, they fell in love with the art of screenwriting, and its particular position between mechanics and art. They’re a lover and a fighter, passionate about equitable representation and socially conscious art, and they don’t believe these ideas are mutually exclusive with entertainment.

George Ghanem (MFA '15)

After twice placing in the Academy Nicholl Fellowships, George Ghanem has earned work as a script rewriter with Brillstein Entertainment, written editorial pieces for Flaunt magazine, and has worked on multiple TV pilots and series, including Superior Donuts, The Great Indoors, 9JKL, and This Is Us. He is currently a staff writer for Netflix’s The Recruit. George is in development of a television series with Mike & Molly's Billy Gardell, who is attached to star.

"The notion that 'writing is rewriting' is a difficult one to embrace. But if it weren't for the supportive group of likeminded people in DePaul's MFA in Screenwriting program, I wouldn't have taken the creative risks necessary to be where I am today."