Authentic Collaboration, On and Off the Bluff

“I really liked the coaches, and learning about graphic design and digital media opportunities was great because these were programs other schools didn’t have,” she said.
 
Emily became so fond of the Bluff that she decided to stay after receiving her bachelor’s degree in digital media arts—she’s about to receive her master’s in interactive design.
 
The student who once hoped to leave Pittsburgh was able to see her hometown in a new light and discover new possibilities thanks to her involvement with Off the Bluff, the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts’ literary magazine.
 
After serving as the publication’s photographer, Emily was asked to step into the role of co-editor, allowing her to push toward bigger goals. When it came time to select a theme for the next issue, Emily and team reflected on the uncertainty they experienced as students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The previous edition of Off the Bluff was dedicated to the hard workers who were sometimes unseen,” said Emily. “We wanted to continue doing something with the unseen. With businesses back but some still affected by COVID, we wanted to shed light on the beauty in Pittsburgh that some people don’t know.”
 
Working with fellow student journalists and community members to uncover hidden gems, the team selected locations that exuded beauty, and they highlighted the people who make these businesses special.
 
“Pittsburgh is a wonderful and friendly place, and that’s emulated in the magazine,” said Emily. “Time after time, we saw examples of people extending themselves and going beyond to keep their business afloat.”
 
The team embedded themselves in local communities, visiting locations ranging from a vegan restaurant to an arcade to a banjo club performance on the North Shore.
 
In addition to photographing these places, Emily enjoyed learning about the significance behind these special spots.
 
“Randyland was fun to photograph, not only because there's so much color, but Randy was energetic and fun as he showed us things and told us the meaning behind his sculptures and paintings,” she said.
 
Emily and the team were thrilled to learn that Off the Bluff won a first-place award from the American Scholastic Press Association.
 
“I knew we put our heart and soul into it,” she said. “This is one of the greatest honors in the publication world for universities. I’m glad we represented Duquesne for having a great media department and student journalists.”
 
Emily is grateful she had the opportunity to get to know her neighbors as she learned more about herself.
 
“Through track and field and my co-editor experience, I’ve grown communication skills and teamwork that allowed us to come up with new ideas and get better together,” she said.
 
Emily is wrapping up her capstone project—she designed an app that uses augmented reality to help physical therapy patients with at-home exercises. Following graduation, she’ll use the talents she honed at Duquesne to benefit her future team in the workforce.
 
 “I’ve had more internships and experiences than I was expecting,” said Emily. “I’m grateful for those who took a chance on me, and I’m excited for this to help me in the professional world.”