Seth Feman shares post-graduation advice with Class of 2024

Convocation on Tuesday, May 14, in Durnan Auditorium, recognized Distinguished Alumnus Seth Feman '97 and welcomed the Class of 2024 into the PDS/USN Alumni Association.
By Kevin Fleming, Alumni Director

From a student at University School of Nashville to a successful professional, the journey of Seth Feman '97 is a testament to the transformative power of education. Addressing the Class of 2024 during Convocation on Tuesday, May 14, Feman told seniors his deep passion for photography was ignited during his junior year when USN’s photography program was revitalized under the guidance of former faculty member Wendi Parker. This class sparked his creativity and paved the way for his future in the field. After graduating from USN, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Art History at Vassar College. His love for photography led him to San Francisco, he said, where he immersed himself in the world of photography, producing photoshoots for Wired Magazine.

He issued the soon-to-be graduates a thought-provoking challenge, urging the class to embrace moments of doubt as opportunities for personal growth and introspection. 

"I'd like to insist that we think a little differently on doubt and uncertainty, especially in these very uncertain times," he said. "You're entering a world that has recoiled from doubt itself, one that sees uncertainty and mystery as things to overcome rather than to admire." 

Feman advocated for embracing doubt as an act of hope, an assertion that there must be more to discover in the world.

As Deputy Director for Art and Interpretation and Curator of Photography at the Chrysler Museum, Feman led the curatorial, education, and registration departments in crafting innovative exhibitions, fostering enriching educational experiences, and organizing captivating programming. In 2022, Seth returned to Nashville as the Executive Director and CEO of the Frist Art Museum. 

The PDS/USN Alumni Association presented Seth Feman '97 with the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award for his contributions to fostering cultural enrichment through the visual arts during Convocation. The award was established in 1978 to honor graduates of Peabody Demonstration School and University School of Nashville who have made outstanding professional or civic achievements on a local, national, or international level. Recipients have included authors, educators, researchers, musicians, and volunteer leaders. In addition to honoring these individuals, the award brings them to the attention of the PDS/USN community and the city at large. Their accomplishments serve as an inspiration to students and graduates as well as a reminder to the citizens of Nashville of the high-quality education that has long been at the foundation of USN. Nominate alumni for a future Distinguished Alumna/Alumnus award by emailing alumni@usn.org.
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University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.