Ana Cagnoni
Graduate, MFA in Creative Writing
Ana Cagnoni is the rarest of students. The MFA graduate and published poet was born in Argentina where she lived until a few years ago and practised medicine as a doctor of oncology. In 2021, she moved with her family to Massachusetts and quit her work in medicine to write full time. That's when the idea of doing an MFA first entered her head.
Ana didn't waste any time pursuing her dream; she graduated from the UTEP online MFA program in May 2023 and now has a contract with Valparaiso Press to have her MFA thesis (a collection of poems) published under the title "Miembro fantasma."
Dr. Daniel Chacon, her thesis advisor and chair of the MFA program says of Ana's achievement: "I am thrilled to celebrate the remarkable achievement of our talented student, a brilliant medical doctor/poet from Argentina now residing on the east coast of the United States. Her journey from the world of medicine to poetry speaks to her unwavering intelligence, dedication, and boundless imagination. Her book, which began as her thesis, stands as a testament to her extraordinary talents and imaginative reach, earning recognition from one of Spain's foremost poetry publishers. We're immensely proud of her, and her collection of poetry is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Congratulations, Ana, on this remarkable accomplishment!"
Why she enrolled in the program:
I needed an online program, and I especially needed it to be possible for me to hand in my work in Spanish. I love to read in English and I don’t mind listening to lectures in English, but my writing is always in Spanish. So UTEP was the perfect match for me.
Her experience with online learning:
This was my first experience with online learning.
It has been a great experience. I could learn and study from home, in my own time. I got to know really interesting people whom I am still in touch with, even if we never met in person. The professors were flexible, kind, and all of them experts in their field.
I wanted to obtain this degree because, coming from such a different world (science, patients) I felt like I needed a fresh start, and I have great respect for formal education. Proving to myself that I could complete the program gave me confidence, and I have learned a lot in the process.
On how this degree has played a part in her employment:
I have recently signed a contract to get my MFA thesis (a collection of poems) published, so having attended the program has played a huge part in what came afterwards. I probably wouldn’t have written that collection of poems if it weren’t for the program, or at least I would certainly not have had the guidance and feedback of Daniel Chacon, my thesis director.
On whether she had the support she needed:
I have never felt like there was no one on the other side to listen and support me. Whenever I needed help, I knew I was just a couple of emails away from getting it.
What she would say to prospective online students:
I have not had a single professor whom I didn’t feel had a lot to teach me about writing.
On whether she would enroll in this program again if she had to do things over:
100% yes.
