Gussie Roc

Gussie Roc writes character-driven stories that delve into the complexities of human nature and explore the ways interpersonal relationships reflect and inform the changing sociopolitical landscape. With a background in poetry, playwriting, and acting studies at William Esper Studio, as well as undergraduate studies in American History & Literature at Harvard, she draws from diverse fields to make innovative connections about the modern zeitgeist. In 2017, she won the Dorothy Hicks Lee prize for my undergraduate thesis examining how Beyoncé’s Lemonade album, 1920s blues singers, and grieving Black mothers protest racial injustice through personal heartbreak. She also wrote and delivered the Senior English Address at the 366th Harvard Commencement about the power of reframing narratives, which was featured on CBS’ Face the Nation. Her work includes writing on the CW’s NAOMI executive produced by Emmy-award winning filmmaker Ava Duvernay.