SHU Alum Shares Journey to ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy

Dream becomes reality for graduate after moving to LA, working hard and networking

When Ebony Washington MA ’19 was a student at Sacred Heart University, she told her classmates in the film and television master’s program (FTMA) that her dream was to work as a writer on her favorite TV show, Grey’s Anatomy.

Washington, 30, religiously watched the series and was invested in the lives of the fictional doctors and surgical residents working at a made-up Seattle, WA, hospital. She’s a big fan of the original characters who made their debuts in 2005, such as Miranda Bailey, Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang, but Washington said her favorite character is Teddy Altman. “She’s strong, she’s fought in war and she never gives up,” Washington said. “I could see myself being friends with Teddy.”

Like her new favorite character, a strong-willed heart surgeon who overcame her share of obstacles, Washington is courageous and determined. Her dream of working on Shonda Rhimes’ critically acclaimed television series, now in its 19th season on ABC, became a reality in 2020. She started out as an executive assistant to the showrunner and now works as a writers’ assistant. She sits in the writers’ room, takes notes, pitches ideas and even attends the table reads with the cast and crew.

Washington credits Sacred Heart’s FTMA program, which is part of the School of Communication, Media & the Arts, with helping to make her dreams a reality. Her former instructors say she is an inspiration to other students reaching for their goals. “Ebony is a great example of what can happen when you combine persistence, ingenuity, talent and hard work,” said Sara Ross, director of FTMA.

How it all began

Before enrolling in the FTMA program in 2017, Washington attended another film school. She realized, however, that the school didn’t provide the focus she wanted, so when a friend told her about SHU, the Port Chester, NY, native did her homework and decided that furthering her studies at Sacred Heart was the right move.

“I really wanted to sharpen my skills,” Washington said in late March when she visited campus for a panel discussion about women in TV and film. “I wanted to learn more about the industry. I thought it was important for me to know more about these things before I just jumped in. I didn’t want to go in blind. I didn’t even know what basic terms like ‘call sheet’ meant.”

She learned that and more at SHU. Professors, including Ross and James (Todd) Barnes, who have industry experience, shared their knowledge with Washington and encouraged her.

“It's incredibly gratifying when an alum comes back a couple of years into their career and, through their hard work, it’s all coming together for them,” Ross said. “The media business is very competitive, but we firmly believe that when we help our students lay the right foundation, they can succeed in any part of the industry, whether regionally, in New York or in Hollywood. Ebony is a great example of this. She set her sights on an unusually specific goal of writing for Grey's Anatomy, she seized every opportunity she could and now she's doing just that.”

Washington has fond memories of making short films with her classmates and enjoying assignments that involved swapping directorial duties with her peers and seeing films and stories from different perspectives. She speaks highly of Barnes’ producing class and said it taught her filmmaking fundamentals.

“I also just really liked the community,” Washington said of the FTMA program. Her fellow students were her friends, and they knew she liked Grey’s Anatomy—that she had to DVR the show on Thursdays if she was in class or working on an assignment.

The big break

In 2018, Washington went on a retreat in upstate New York to take a writing class with Grey’s Anatomy showrunner. Washington summoned her courage, introduced herself, talked about her goals and kept in touch. It ultimately led to the position she has today. “If I hadn’t introduced myself to her that day, I wouldn’t be here talking to you [about working on the show] now,” Washington said.

The job didn’t come easily, however. After graduation, Washington moved to Los Angeles, CA, and started networking and looking for work. “I was really scared to move, but I took that leap,” she said.

In LA, she met with different people who worked in the entertainment industry and set up many coffee dates. “Breaking into the business is all about networking,” Washington said. “You have to be bold and ask for what you want.” She said it also doesn’t hurt to be kind as you’re getting to know people.

As she was networking, she kept in touch with Grey’s showrunner, and eventually she was offered her big break. She got her first job on the show as the showrunner’s assistant.

Washington worked hard and earned her way into the writers’ room. And today, she finds her job very rewarding. “Being able to contribute to a show and pitch ideas—you see how one idea can shape something else. You’re meeting all these people who inspire you to become a better writer,” she said.

Ross praises Washington for her tenacity and other attributes. “We always emphasize that our students need to develop versatility,” Ross said. “Ebony knew that she ultimately wanted to write, but the job that gave her a foot in the door wasn’t in the writers’ room. She used a variety of the skills she learned across her coursework, including film analysis and producing, in addition to screenwriting, to excel at that first job and persuade her boss to put her in the writers’ room.”

Washington’s advice to students enrolled in the FTMA program: “Don’t give up.”