Simmons College Graduate Programs in Children’s Literature announced that Amherst resident Rachel Yung-Hsin Wang is the 2017 recipient of the LEE & LOW….and Friends Scholarship that provides opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to participate in Simmons’ prestigious children’s literature graduate program.
The scholarship fund was created in 2015 through a partnership between LEE & LOW BOOKS and Simmons College as a pathway for underrepresented students to enter the field of children’s literature. LEE & LOW BOOKS is the largest multicultural book publisher in the country and a leader in the effort to diversify the publishing industry. Simmons shares this goal and is committed to creating opportunities for all students so that a multiplicity of voices can be heard in the publishing industry and in books published for children and young adults.
“Ms. Wang is a highly accomplished professional who brings a wealth of experience and a unique point of view to the program,” said Cathryn M. Mercier, director of the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons College, adding, “Simmons is proud to partner with LEE & LOW BOOKS and we look forward to continuing to work together to improve access to the field of children’s literature for everyone.”
Established 40 years ago, the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature supports the advancement of the study of children’s and young adult literature through nationally recognized partnerships and graduate programs, including the nation’s first Master of Arts in Children’s Literature and Master of Fine Arts: Writing for Children, as well as several innovative dual degree options. The Center and the graduate degree programs in Children’s Literature are housed in the Simmons College School of Library and Information Science.
Wang, who moved to Massachusetts from Taiwan as a child, recently returned to New England after many years abroad. Wang’s lengthy career includes experience in communications, education management, and visual arts, as well as writing, translating, and interpreting. Wang intends to explore the nexuses between culture, environment, and identity through the Writing for Children Master of Fine Arts (MFA) MFA program. She is the third recipient of the award.
“I am honored by this award and grateful for the recognition of my potential to provide a new perspective to children’s literature,” said Wang, who began Simmons’ two-year MFA program in the fall. “I am delighted to be a part of this well-established program. This scholarship will help me to continue to fulfill my goal of creating literature for children of all ages, and fostering connections between the personal and the universal.”
“We are excited to support new talent like Ms. Wang through this scholarship and look forward to watching her career develop. The partnership between Simmons College and LEE & LOW BOOKS is an example of what can be accomplished when groups of dedicated people come together to address the lack of diversity in publishing,” said Jason Low, publisher of LEE & LOW BOOKS.
LEE & LOW BOOKS is the largest children’s book publisher in the United States specializing in diversity. Since 1991 the company has provided a comprehensive range of notable diverse books for beginning readers through young adults under several imprints. Follow LEE & LOW BOOKS on Twitter at @LEEandLOW.
Simmons College is a nationally recognized private university located in the heart of Boston, and is the preeminent authority on women’s leadership. Founded in 1899, Simmons is the only undergraduate women’s college in Boston, and maintains a history of visionary thinking and a focus on social responsibility. The college offers world-class coeducational graduate programs in nursing and health sciences, including physical therapy and nutrition; liberal arts; education; behavior analysis; library and information science; management; and social work. Follow Simmons on Twitter at @SimmonsCollege and @SimmonsNews.
