Featured Profile: Dr. Dorothy Marcic

Accomplished playwright of RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women and professor at Columbia University, Dr. Marcic narrates her own story of passion, writing, and family.

1. Tell me a bit about yourself!

Dorothy Marcic, USA, grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, which is north of Chicago. Spent most of my adult life as a full-time professor, with most recent full-time job as faculty at Vanderbilt Univ in Nashville Tennessee. Now teach part time at Teachers College, Columbia University. Was Fulbright Scholar at the Univ of Economics in Prague, Czech Republic. Have 3 grown daughters, all with graduate degrees, and 4 grandchildren.

2. What is your proudest achievement?

My proudest achievement is raising 3 daughters as a single mother, as their father died when they were quite young. I wanted them to be world citizens, so we lived in Prague for 4 years.

3. What is one thing that you think influenced you the most as a writer? Why do you think it transformed you in such a way?

Taking lots of writing courses and ultimately getting an MFA in creative writing. I now have a doctorate and 3 masters degrees. Taking the MFA (and other) courses and working with writing mentors opened me up to new ways of thinking about writing, and the importance of technique and how to develop my own style. How many people have I heard say, well, you are either a writer or not. Can’t learn to be done. That is someone who has never tried to learn to be a better writer. Writing is like any other skill. You learn it from teachers, reading about it, and practicing. And just like any other skill, if you are determined to get better, you can do it.

4. What do you believe is the purpose of creative writing (and arts in general)?

Because they help us experience the human condition in new and unexpected ways. They open our hearts and minds to another way of perception, of seeing the world and the people in it.

Learn more about Dr. Marcic's work here!