“My liberal arts education helped me look at a lot of very different-seeming pieces of information and see how they relate to each other, and that’s an invaluable skill.”
Lives in: Brooklyn, NY
Majors/minor: Global Studies and Political Science double-major, Spanish minor
What work looks like: “I mostly work on picture books and legacy brands. Not only do I work with authors and illustrators, but I also get to think creatively about new publishing for older books like Corduroy, Madeline, and Pippi Longstocking. I dream up potential new books in the series or work with a designer to give them more modern covers.”
What she loves about it: “I really love that I get to think creatively all day long. From working with authors to brainstorm new ideas for their next book to helping an author ‘drama-up’ the climax of their middle-grade book, it’s so much fun helping others fulfill their creative vision. I also like that this job is extremely collaborative—I work with other editors all day long, bouncing ideas off each other and helping with their projects.”
What she gained from a liberal arts education: “My two majors taught me how to research as well as synthesize information and put it in context that’s constructive and useful. Where previously my education had been very linear, my liberal arts education helped me look at a lot of very different-seeming pieces of information and see how they relate to each other, and that’s an invaluable skill. It helps me study book sales data, for example, and figure out what that means in the marketplace. And, thanks to my Spanish minor, I’ve been able to take the lead on coordinating the Spanish-language translations for the imprints I work for. On my resume, having a well-rounded education that was applicable in many ways really made me stand out.”