Dr. Ariel Stess

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Ariel Stess is an Obie Award-winning playwright, director, and screenwriter originally from Santa Fe, NM. She has garnered recognition for her play "KARA & EMMA & BARBARA & MIRANDA," described by The New Yorker as "a superb lo-fi slow burn" with a "spectacularly precise structure," and is anticipated to win the Pulitzer Prize in 2025. Stess's works include "Heartbreak," "I’m Pretty F*cked," and "World Mama Raised," all produced by notable theater companies such as Playwrights Horizons and Clubbed Thumb. Currently, she is developing new stage pieces, a novel, and a screenplay, with national engagements for her work continuing. Stess is affiliated with New Georges and New Dramatists, holding various residencies. She has a BA from Bard College and an MFA in Playwriting from Brooklyn College. At Northwestern University, she teaches in the Radio/TV/Film department as part of the MFA Writing Screen and Stage program.

Research Interests

Requirements for Northwestern University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
U.S. Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Resume/CV
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores (if applicable)
Specialization Notes

Standard PhD requirements for TGS departments including Chemistry, Physics, and Sociology.