Columbia College Chicago Hosted Reading Series
The event featured guest speakers who shared their work and creative processes with local students.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Lecture and Seminars
Columbia College Chicago held the first Efroymson Reading Series event of the semester on Sept. 30, 2026. Over 50 attendees gathered to hear insights from featured writers Lisa Fishman and Samantha Schaefer.
Why it matters
The series serves to connect students with professional creative makers by providing a platform for writers to discuss their craft. This initiative helps bridge the gap between academic study and the professional literary community.
More than 50 people attended the inaugural reading of the semester. Featured guest Samantha Schaefer previously earned her MFA in poetry from Columbia in 2014.
The players
Lisa Fishman
She is a professor in the School of Communication at Columbia College Chicago and the author of the book Write Back Now!.
Samantha Schaefer
She is a poet and alumna of Columbia College Chicago who earned her MFA from the institution in 2014.
Columbia College Chicago
This is a private arts and media college located in Chicago that hosts the Efroymson Reading Series.
The details
Lisa Fishman, a professor in the School of Communication, discussed her novel-writing technique involving limited text per page. Guest speaker Samantha Schaefer demonstrated her unique method of writing poems directly onto animal bones.
Timeline
Samantha Schaefer earned her MFA in poetry from Columbia in 2014.
The Efroymson Reading Series held its first meeting of the semester on Sept. 30, 2026.
The next Efroymson Reading Series event is scheduled for Oct. 19, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The Efroymson Reading Series functions as a critical bridge within the creative writing landscape, mirroring the mentorship models found in the Columbia College Chicago MFA in Poetry program. It highlights a growing trend of institutional efforts to keep students connected to established, alumni-led creative practices.
Students and Chicago-area literature fans can attend these sessions to engage directly with authors and view unique writing demonstrations. The ongoing series provides a predictable schedule for those interested in following the work of various guest speakers.
The takeaway
This event highlights the value of connecting current students with practicing artists who have successfully navigated the transition from academia to a professional career. Readers looking for creative inspiration may consider attending future sessions to observe these evolving experimental writing techniques.
What happens next
The series will continue on Oct. 19, 2026, at The Hive, featuring a guest presentation by Melissa Albert from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Further reading
For more on local academic events, visit the Lecture and Seminars section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Columbia Chronicle.
