Masks and Mirrors with Jalen Eutsey, A&S '18 (MFA)

Lifelong Learning Logo Course Title: Masks and Mirrors

Instructor: Jalen Eutsey, A&S '18 (MFA)

Brought to you by Odyssey

January 29 - March 5, 2026

Thursdays, 6:00PM - 8:00PM ET (6 Sessions)

Virtual via Zoom

Course Description: In this course, we will experiment with techniques to explore the depth of our individual subjectivity, examining ourselves without losing sight of the outside world that grounds and connects us. We will consider the power of metaphor, allusion, and connotation as vehicles for expressing deeply held emotions. Funneling our most urgent concerns through the imaginative landscapes of pop culture, literature, nature, and history can allow us to speak without revealing intimate details of our lives. By engaging in a variety of generative experiments, we’ll embrace the use of metaphorical masks and mirrors, inviting different voices—different “selves”—into our work. We’ll push our “I” to be a flexible, shape-shifting “eye” capable of looking all around us.

We will seek inspiration from acclaimed poets such as Ross Gay, Terrance Hayes, Jaswinder Bolina, Patricia Smith, Louise Glück, Elizabeth Bishop, Francine J. Harris, Mary Ruefle, Michael Dumanis, and David Berman.

Explore more lifelong learning opportunities in our full SPRING 2026 Odyssey Catalog

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Johns Hopkins Tuition Remission Policies

Tuition benefits are available to University faculty, staff, and retirees only. Employees of Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, or the Applied Physics Laboratory should contact your institution’s Human Resources office for information about tuition remission and eligibility:

Johns Hopkins Hospitals and Medical Institutions: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/human-resources/benefits/tuition-assistance
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory: https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers/professional-development

Select the correct ticket pricing during registration. If we cannot confirm your university eligibility, you will be requested to pay the full registration price for each course. Complete eligibility details can be found here.

Withdrawals & Refunds:

If a course is canceled or closed, the registrant is notified immediately, and a full refund is processed automatically unless another course is requested. Registrants who wish to withdraw from an active course must complete the online Odyssey Refund Request Form. Attach any documentation to support your request (e.g., medical documentation, family crisis documentation, etc.).

100% refund: Prior to the start of the course and after the first class.
No refunds: After the first week of each course unless in exceptional cases.

For single-session courses:
100% refundable within two (2) business days of the event.

Please note, refunds apply only to the tuition portion of an Odyssey participant’s charges and are not applicable to any fees or gifts made to the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association. Registrants will be notified by email if a refund is approved within five (5) business days.

ABOUT Jalen Eutsey, A&S '18
Odyssey Instructor / Moser Creative Writing Series 2026

Jalen Eutsey is a writer from Miami, Florida. A recipient of the Wallace Stegner Fellowship from Stanford University, his poems have appeared in Best New Poets, The Yale Review, Poetry Northwest, and The Cincinnati Review. He received his MFA in poetry from the Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University, where he taught creative writing classes to undergraduates. While in Baltimore, he also taught creative writing workshops to young adults through the Writers in Baltimore Schools and Baltimore Youth Film Arts programs. Jalen is a contributing editor for The Hopkins Review, and his chapbook Bubble Gum Stadium was published by Button Poetry.

Event Date
Starts:
Thursday, January 29, 2026
6:00pm EST

Ends:
Thursday, March 5, 2026
8:00pm EST

Contact
Odyssey
Alumni Relations Lifelong Learning
800-JHU-JHU1 (548-5481)
odyssey@jhu.edu

Ticket Options

	General Registration	$
	JHU Alumni (all divisions) 50% discount. Alumni status will be confirmed.	$
	Johns Hopkins University Faculty, Staff, or Retiree 80% discount. Status of university employment will be confirmed.	$
	Johns Hopkins University Spouse or Domestic Partner 50% discount. Employment status of Spouse/Domestic Partner will be confirmed.	$

Registration Information

Select your registration type

General Registration ($300.00)

JHU Alumni (all divisions) ($150.00)

Johns Hopkins University Faculty, Staff, or Retiree ($60.00)

Johns Hopkins University Spouse or Domestic Partner ($150.00)

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Masks and Mirrors with Jalen Eutsey, A&S '18 (MFA)

Explore more lifelong learning opportunities in our full SPRING 2026 Odyssey Catalog

Johns Hopkins Tuition Remission Policies

Johns Hopkins Hospitals and Medical Institutions: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/human-resources/benefits/tuition-assistance

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory: https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers/professional-development

Select the correct ticket pricing during registration. If we cannot confirm your university eligibility, you will be requested to pay the full registration price for each course. Complete eligibility details can be found here.

Withdrawals & Refunds:

100% refund: Prior to the start of the course and after the first class.

No refunds: After the first week of each course unless in exceptional cases.

For single-session courses:
100% refundable within two (2) business days of the event.

Please note, refunds apply only to the tuition portion of an Odyssey participant’s charges and are not applicable to any fees or gifts made to the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association. Registrants will be notified by email if a refund is approved within five (5) business days.

Registration Information

Make a Gift

Payment Information

Masks and Mirrors with Jalen Eutsey, A&S '18 (MFA)

Explore more lifelong learning opportunities in our full SPRING 2026 Odyssey Catalog

Johns Hopkins Tuition Remission Policies

Johns Hopkins Hospitals and Medical Institutions: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/human-resources/benefits/tuition-assistance

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory: https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers/professional-development

Select the correct ticket pricing during registration. If we cannot confirm your university eligibility, you will be requested to pay the full registration price for each course. Complete eligibility details can be found here.

Withdrawals & Refunds:

100% refund: Prior to the start of the course and after the first class.

No refunds: After the first week of each course unless in exceptional cases.

For single-session courses:100% refundable within two (2) business days of the event.

Please note, refunds apply only to the tuition portion of an Odyssey participant’s charges and are not applicable to any fees or gifts made to the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association. Registrants will be notified by email if a refund is approved within five (5) business days.

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Registration Information

Make a Gift

Payment Information

For single-session courses:
100% refundable within two (2) business days of the event.