Tulane alumna Kiera Sky Torpie (SLA ‛20) is headed to Ireland after receiving the George J. Mitchell Scholarship, which recognizes intellectual achievement, leadership, and a commitment to community and public service with the goal of connecting future American leaders to Ireland. Kiera is the first-ever Tulanian to receive this prestigious award.
Each year the US-Ireland Alliance chooses up to 12 Mitchell Scholars from ~350 applicants nationwide to receive full funding for one academic year of postgraduate study in any discipline offered by institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Kiera will pursue a master’s in creative writing at Queen’s University Belfast.
Kiera earned degrees in linguistics and international development from Tulane in 2020. While an undergraduate, she received several awards including the Dale Edmunds Prize for Best Short Story, in recognition of Service to the Literary Community, and the Quarante Club Prize for Best Short Story by a Woman. She is a member of the William Wallace Peery Society.
“We are intensely proud of Kiera and excited to see her recognized by the George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program,” said Mollye Demosthenidy, Dean of Newcomb-Tulane College. “This achievement is a testament to her creativity, academic excellence, and selfless commitment to her community. Kiera truly exemplifies the values of Newcomb-Tulane College and I’m confident she will continue using her skills as a creative writer to make a positive impact on the world around her.”
From an early age, Kiera understood that writing had the power to connect. Her relationship with her incarcerated father was largely bound by letters. After her father’s death, she learned that writing can also heal. While at Tulane, she created a workshop for girls whose families had been impacted by incarceration.
Kiera says her goal is to create cathartic healing experiences for others through writing. Since graduating from Tulane, Kiera has held various roles in TV, film, and theater production. Last summer, she produced her own play, "Sunny Makes a Scene," at The Festival Fringe in Edinburgh. The dark comedy follows a teenage girl as she wreaks havoc at her dad’s Irish Catholic wake. To address its theme of addiction, she collaborated with a local harm reduction organization. Representatives of the group attended each performance and handed out overdose prevention resources to patrons as they left.
"It feels surreal to win this award - it's just such a huge gift. Studying creative writing in Ireland is genuinely a dream come true for me,” said Kiera Sky Torpie. “I've wanted to do this since high school! I recommend anyone who feels a connection to Ireland and wants to pursue a master's to apply for Mitchell. I felt like I was being rewarded for being myself through the entire application process - which is a testament to the organization itself."
