Aerin Rose Glaser believed in the power of thoughtful words arriving at exactly the right moment. She showed that when she gave her best friend a collection of handwritten letters before leaving for college, each labeled for a specific moment of need. In late April, her family brought that same spirit to the USC School of Dramatic Arts, inviting the community to carry it forward.
The visit marked the launch of The Aerin Project at the school, with programming that reached students, faculty, and staff across the SDA community. Class visits were followed by a gathering at the USC School of Dramatic Arts’ Sparks Center for Community and Culture, where faculty and staff came together to learn more about the initiative. Each event featured a TED-style talk by Aerin’s father, Jon, who spoke about his daughter and the project inspired by her legacy.
A Student’s Legacy Becomes a National Movement
Aerin, a Los Angeles native, was joyful, creative, and deeply connected to the people in her life. She came to the school to pursue a BFA in theatrical design with an emphasis in costume design, a natural fit for her creativity and artistic vision. She had a lifelong love of sewing, fashion design, beadwork, and jewelry making, along with an extraordinary gift for building lasting friendships. She spent a semester at SDA, a place she loved deeply, before her death from cancer in February 2024 at age 18.
Before leaving for college, Aerin created a gift that reflected the thoughtfulness she brought to every relationship.
The letters Aerin gave her friend, labeled with messages such as “Open when you need a confidence boost,” “Open when you feel homesick,” and “Open when you need a laugh,” were her way of remaining present for someone she loved across distance and uncertainty. After Aerin’s death, the letters took on an even deeper meaning.
Jon and his family founded The Aerin Project to expand that vision. Now active in more than 40 schools nationwide, the initiative invites students, colleagues, and communities to write letters to one another simply to encourage, uplift, and remind each other they are seen. No grades. No expectations. Just one person showing up for another. To date, over 7,000 letters have been written.
Bringing The Aerin Project to the USC School of Dramatic Arts
At the USC School of Dramatic Arts, where storytelling depends on empathy and human connection, The Aerin Project feels like a natural extension. Students are trained to look closely at another person’s experience, and this project invites them to do it through a letter. For Ann Closs-Farley, assistant professor of costume design and costume shop director, the initiative reflects the qualities that made Aerin such a memorable member of the SDA community.
“Aerin was deeply passionate about creating and had a remarkable natural talent, but what truly set her apart was her magnetic authenticity,” Closs-Farley said. “She lived with sincerity, mindfulness, and genuine kindness that made people feel seen and valued. Her warmth and humanity left a lasting impact on our community. We’re so grateful to Aerin’s parents for creating The Aerin Project. It carries forward her legacy by inviting our community to practice the same kindness, compassion and creativity that defined Aerin’s life.”
Carrying Aerin’s Legacy Forward
Aerin believed meaningful words could reach people at just the right moment. Jon closed his talk with a favorite story: when Aerin was around ten, she made herself a gift, wrapped it carefully, and left it on the kitchen table addressed “to Aerin, from Aerin,” waiting for her future self to come home and open it. She understood, Jon said, that even Aerin needed a little Aerin in her life. The Aerin Project is now part of the SDA community, and someone here will open exactly what they need, exactly when they need it.
