Alumni and Community Interviews

As part of our research we interviewed 28 of our alumni and community members living in the Pioneer Valley to help us get a better idea about what our alumni are doing and the challenges they are facing working in the creative economy of the Pioneer Valley.  These alumni were identified as potential candidates for interviews through our department chairs.  Some alumni also self identified as being interested in our survey by contacting us after hearing about our project or as a result of our creative economy survey online, where we included a form for alumni to submit indicating their interest in participating.

Interviews were completed by a graduate research assistant at the alumni's home or business during Spring Semester 2008.  The following are summaries of what we heard and some quotes from our alumni;