Gail Braccidiferro MacDonald
Professor in Residence
Before joining the journalism department full time in August 2008, Gail worked as both a journalist and journalism instructor since graduating as an undergraduate from UCONN. She was a staff writer for The Day of New London, CT., a freelance journalist for numerous publications including The New York Times, a public relations director and an adjunct professor. She earned a master’s degree via a fellowship to The American University, Washington, D.C.
Gail continues to freelance and publish regularly. Her work has been published in numerous magazines, newspapers and online publications, including The Hartford Courant, Rhode Island Monthly, Vermont Life, The Providence Journal, Gannett News, American Artist, C-HIT and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She has published narrative non-fiction writing and is also a regular contributor of editorials to The Day.
In addition, she has written two published books: “Hidden History of Mystic and Stonington,” and “Morton F. Plant and the Connecticut Shoreline: Philanthropy in the Guilded Age.”
She has won numerous awards for her work. Among these recognitions have been awards from the Rhode Island Press Association, the American Psychiatric Association for mental health awareness and the Michael Metcalf Media Award from Rhode Island Community and Justice.
She was a Fulbright Specialist at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic in 2015 and has served on numerous Fulbright selection committees.
A sampling of published work:
EDITORIALS THE DAY
Affordable housing should be a priority
Take pride in region’s food pantries
CT WOODLANDS MAGAZINE
C-HIT
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY
Block Island – World of Extremes
High Hopes – First Year Teachers
HARTFORD COURANT
Preserving historic burial grounds
OP-ED/ESSAY
Mother’s final ride of passage
NEW YORK TIMES
Frustrations of mental health care