Skip to content
Navigating a New Political Landscape: View real-time updates about the impact of and Northeastern’s response to recent political changes.
Apply
Stories

No longer ‘paralyzingly shy,’ this Northeastern Ph.D. candidate found unexpected success making a one-woman sketch comedy series

People in this story

The last place Taylor Valley expected to be was in the limelight, but when she walks the red carpet for the Indie Series Awards on April 12, that’s exactly where she’ll be.

Valley, a political science doctoral student at Northeastern University, is nominated for best supporting actress in a comedy at the annual web content awards for “Pretty … If You Squint,” a sketch comedy web series she wrote, directed, edited and played every role in. But for most of her life, despite a long-abiding love for acting and filmmaking, she’s struggled with being “paralyzingly shy.” 

Her recent success––and willingness to put herself out there into the world––has changed that. Now, as she pursues both a Ph.D. and more sketch comedy work, Valley has embraced the confident entertainer she has always had inside of herself.

Continue reading at Northeastern Global News.

More Stories

Jiaao Yu a sociology doctoral student at Northeastern, poses for a portrait on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

How do friends impact youth non-suicidal self-injury? Northeastern researcher explains

05.08.2025
A view of the Supreme Court at dusk, January 31, 2017 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump will announce his nominee for the Supreme Court on Tuesday night.

Supreme Court set to rule on five big cases as term winds down over the next few weeks

05.08.2025
New Pope Leo XIV is introduced from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on May 8, 2025. (Sipa via AP Images)

As an American, what kind of influence can Pope Leo XIV wield in the Catholic Church?

05.08.25
All Stories