Bennington College Announces Advisory Council for New MFA in Screenwriting
Major industry players contribute to educating the next generation of screenwriters.
Photos of Advisory Council Members: Asad Ayaz ’00, Tracy Katsky Boomer ’91, Debra Eisenstadt ’91, and Melissa Rosenberg ’86
Bennington, VT: Bennington College is proud to announce the formation of its Advisory Council for the College’s newly launched MFA in Screenwriting, a premier low-residency program preparing writers for leading careers in film and television.
“The Advisory Council brings together an extraordinary group of Bennington alumni—acclaimed writers, producers, executives, and industry leaders—whose work has shaped the landscape of contemporary film and television,” said Theodore Braun, acclaimed filmmaker, USC professor, and Director of the MFA in Screenwriting. “The Council will advise on program development to ensure that the MFA in Screenwriting remains at the forefront of industry and artistic innovation.”
The Advisory Council includes:
Asad Ayaz ’00, Chief Brand Officer, The Walt Disney Company
As The Walt Disney Company’s first-ever Chief Brand Officer, Asad Ayaz oversees the global marketing and management of the Disney brand and its portfolio of franchises. He also serves as President of Disney Entertainment Marketing, leading global campaigns for streaming, film, and television, including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios. Over his career, Ayaz has led campaigns for more than 200 film releases, including Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, and The Mandalorian. Named among Forbes’ Most Influential CMOs and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, he is one of the industry’s most celebrated marketing visionaries.
Tracy Katsky Boomer ’91, Executive and Producer
A veteran film and television executive, Katsky Boomer has held senior roles at HBO, Fox, and Nickelodeon and now at her own production company, KatCo. She has developed and produced hit comedies including Arrested Development, Malcolm in the Middle, and Santa Clarita Diet.
Debra Eisenstadt ’91, Director/Writer/Producer
Eisenstadt is an award-winning filmmaker whose credits include Daydream Believer—winner of the Independent Spirit Award’s “Someone to Watch” honor—and The Limbo Room starring Melissa Leo and Peter Dinklage ’91. Her films have screened at major festivals and earned acclaim for their intelligence, humor, and emotional depth.
Melissa Rosenberg ’86, Writer/Showrunner
A Peabody Award-winning writer and showrunner, Rosenberg created and led the groundbreaking Marvel’s Jessica Jones for Netflix and served as head writer and executive producer for Showtime’s Dexter. She also wrote the screenplays for the blockbuster Twilight film series. Her work has earned multiple Emmy nominations and shaped the modern landscape of character-driven storytelling.
Sekka Scher ’90, Talent Manager, Co-Founder, and Principal
As co-founder of Ellipsis Entertainment, Scher has launched and guided the careers of multiple Oscar and Emmy-winning artists, including Michael K. Williams (The Wire). A dedicated advocate for emerging talent and social impact, she helped establish Bennington College’s Spencer Cox ’90 Field Work Term Fellowship for Public Action, honoring her late classmate’s work as an AIDS activist.
Julie Tucker ’89, Casting Director
A two-time Emmy Award-winning casting director, Tucker’s credits include Six Feet Under, The Affair, Nurse Jackie, and Law & Order: SVU. She recently served on the Board of Directors of the Casting Society and continues to champion inclusive casting practices in film and television.
“These alumni represent the very best of Bennington’s creative and collaborative spirit,” said Bennington College’s President Laura Walker. “Their achievements in writing, producing, casting, and brand storytelling embody the breadth of the film and television industries, and we are grateful for their contributions towards Bennington’s abilities to shape the next generation of cinematic storytelling.”
The program’s inaugural cohort of twelve students will begin in summer 2026. They will develop original features, pilots, and series projects over the course of the program, culminating in a professional industry showcase in Los Angeles.
Applications for the inaugural class are open through December 15, 2025. Learn more and apply at bennington.edu/screenwriting.
About Bennington College
Bennington College is a liberal arts college in southwestern Vermont that has distinguished itself as a vanguard institution within American higher education. It was the first to include the visual and performing arts in a liberal arts education. Bennington students work intensively with faculty to forge individual educational paths around their driving questions and interests.