Louisville
Writing In A Compassionate City
Louisville. It’s the city that gave us Muhammad Ali. And Pee Wee Reese, the baseball Hall of Famer who opened his arms to Jackie Robinson. My Morning Jacket. Bonnie Prince Billy. Jennifer Lawrence. And solo ocean rower Tori Murden McClure, who crossed the Atlantic and returned home to work for compassion as Spalding University’s tenth president from 2010 to 2024. (She’s a proud Spalding MFA alum, by the way.) It’s where Thomas Merton had his famous epiphany. Centrally located and hailed as one of America’s most livable cities, Louisville is home to Actors Theatre of Louisville, Festival of Faiths, Forecastle Music Festival, the Urban Bourbon Trail, Churchill Downs, and much more. At the Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing, students engage with Louisville’s thriving downtown arts scene, stay in a four-star hotel, and study with publishing, prize-winning faculty who hail from all over—from New York to L.A., from Minneapolis to Austin, from Louisville to small-town Kentucky.
Possibility
Louisville’s growth makes the city an exciting place to live, learn, work and play.
Compassion
Louisville is a Compassionate City where respect and empathy are the focus.
Charm
Locals’ debate: southern town or midwestern city? Friendliness is part of the charm of this growing, down-to-earth city.
Access
Enjoy convenient amenities of a sustainable community, including bike-commuter lanes and public transportation.
Spalding & Louisville
Spalding University is a microcosm of the city in which we live. With a diverse community and a focus on compassion, Spalding reflects the racial, economic, cultural and LGTBQIA diversity of the city that surrounds us. Students engage the Louisville community through internships and field work, local outreach and volunteer service work, as well as countless partnerships with community businesses and organizations.
A Cultural & Entertaining City
The Derby Festival, Forecastle Music Festival, Gonzofest, World Fest, Nulu district, the historic Highlands, Waterfront Park, the renowned parks system and so much more make Louisville a popular cultural destination. Travelers come to Louisville to experience art, outdoor adventure, the Urban Bourbon Trail, the trendy food scene and entertainment of all kinds.
