Penn students of all backgrounds often arrive at the Kelly Writers House for many things: to listen to award-winning novelists like Jennifer Egan or Amitav Ghosh give intimate readings, to participate in a creative writing course, to record a podcast, or to start a job.
A House of Possibility
Coinciding with its 25th anniversary, the Kelly Writers House has received a commitment to endow three paid student apprenticeships
Published: November 17, 2022
A multi-year pledge from Howie Lipson, W’86, PAR’18, will endow three Lipson Fellowships, ensuring paid positions for three undergraduate student workers in perpetuity. “These apprenticeships bring together two of my cherished worlds: creative arts and real-world experience,” says Lipson, a private equity and music industry veteran.
Alex Moon, C’24
Alex Moon, C’24, a sociology major from Maryland, is one of the 2022-23 Lipson Fellows. With experience as an archivist, Alex began digitizing poems as part of PennSound—a digital archive best known for original audio recordings, both old and new. “Some of the poets that I was excited to discover were the Beats—Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and others,” says Alex. “I was amazed that these recordings existed. They are used in our PoemTalk podcast, and many high school teachers around the world use the recordings in their own classrooms.” After sharpening his skills as a digital archivist and poetry aficionado, Alex now works at events, like author readings and open mic nights. “I’ve expanded my skillset to programming—I set up livestreams, monitor chats, and interact with the audience,” he says.
Andrew Qiu, W’26
Andrew Qiu is a first-year Wharton student from York, Pennsylvania. As a Lipson Fellow, Andrew works at events to mix audio, control cameras, and make sure Writers House programming runs smoothly. “I’m learning how to use a sophisticated setup and getting hands-on experience for events featuring incredibly interesting people like author Buzz Bissinger and cartoonist Adrian Tomine,” he says. He often works with Alex and has found a passion along with a job—and the occasional cup of tea in the well-worn kitchen. “The people at Kelly Writers House are so present and caring,” says Andrew. “That kind of environment is rare.”
Zach Carduner, C’13
Zach Carduner, C’13, is a former Kelly Writers House student worker who decided that his undergraduate tenure was only the beginning of a vibrant career at Penn. These days, he’s the Wexler Studio Coordinator, supervising and mentoring the Lipson Fellows and several of the other 40+ student workers that keep the Writers House running. “I’m spoiled because Penn students are quick learners and they’re good at what they do,” says Carduner. Students from all academic backgrounds come to the Writers House to experience the vibrancy of the arts, literature, and music on campus. “Whether they’re at Wharton or Penn Arts & Sciences, our students show up to learn, work, and collaborate.”
The Writers House has always been a place with humble beginnings and lofty aspirations—and gifts like Howie Lipson’s donation make an enormous impact. Since its founding, Emily Dickinson’s idea of “Possibility” has served as a core principle. Twenty-five years later, the Kelly Writers House still thrives on Possibility and serves as a warm, welcoming community for budding creatives like Alex, Andrew, and Zach.
To help ensure a thriving future, the Writers House team has set a goal of raising $10 million between 2022-2026. The team is available to discuss gifts of any size for specific initiatives like student apprenticeships or other priorities. For more information, contact Andrew Beal, Associate Director of Development and Finance, at (215) 573-4846.
