Publishing Certificate Program Fall 2024 internships include major literary organizations

PCP Fall 2024 interns

Amidst intense competition to secure fall publishing internships this semester, several Publishing Certificate Program (PCP) students demonstrated phenomenal talent and dedication, which allowed them to secure incredible placements at leading companies and organizations in the book publishing industry. 

Congratulations to Shannon Rowe, Conor Johnston, Roxanna Cardenas Colmenares, Jennifer Martinez, Sunny Baumann, and Lacey Ballard. 

Shannon Rowe, pursuing a B.A. in English, is currently working as a Communications & Events Intern at the National Book Foundation. She shares that the most rewarding part of the internship is being part of the NBF community and promoting the 2024 National Book Award finalists. “Being able to help makes me feel like I am a part of a larger once-in-a-lifetime experience to celebrate literature.” Through this opportunity, Shannon plans to expand her professional network and foster connections for her future career path. 

Conor Johnston, a PCP certificate-only student with a B.A. in English from Rutgers University and M.Sc. in Communications & Media from the University College of Dublin, is interning in the Editorial & Marketing divisions of Princeton University Press. After developing an interest in subsidiary rights during his studies with the PCP, Conor is now gaining hands-on experience via the Press. “One really exciting opportunity this internship has granted me is the ability to look at signed contracts from past authors who have worked with Princeton University Press, for archival purposes. I’ve also been able to learn about how the books that the Press publishes are acquired and translated into other languages.” Working in both the Intellectual Property and Marketing departments of PUP has allowed Conor to build great connections with his supervisors and co-interns.

Roxanna Cardenas Colmenares, pursuing a B.A. in English, secured a position with Latinx in Publishing as a Communications Intern. She shares how eye-opening her internship has been, mentioning that it helped her “notice modern literature's increasing diversity of voices and the need to advocate for Latinx stories and authors.” The knowledge and experience Roxanna is gaining in her internship is giving her “more confidence and determination” to further explore her career within the industry. 

Jennifer Martinez, a graduate with a B.A. in Communications and English, is working as a Consumer Marketing Intern at Penguin Random House. When asked to describe one of the most exciting opportunities in her internship so far, Jennifer highlighted her work in crafting the “Your Week In Books” weekly newsletter. “It’s been fascinating to see the team collaborate together and come up with the creative strategy that results in the newsletter’s featured content.” Having already worked on several projects ranging from data reporting to email content creation, Jennifer credits the PRH internship for providing her with a new interest in data analysis and consumer insights.

Sunny Bauman, a PCP certificate-only student with a B.S. in Biology from University of Tampa & SUNY Oneonta, is a Marketing Design Intern for FICTION Magazine. To him, the most rewarding part of the experience is seeing the fruits of his labor. “It's been so satisfying seeing my merch designs come to life after hours of meticulous work, and seeing FICTION freebies out on display at several NYPL branches!” Encountering both fun and excitement in his internship, Sunny is moving forward with proof that he “can wear many proverbial hats at once” as he builds his marketing design portfolio at FICTION.

Lacey Ballard, pursuing a B.A. in English and a minor in Philosophy, took the opportunity to work with DropCap, Inc. as a Subrights Intern. Since beginning her internship, Lacey has developed a more thorough understanding of client-agent relationships and has closely observed how the marketing process is utilized differently within various sectors of the publishing industry. She credits the PCP as being “instrumental in preparing me for this endeavor by familiarizing me with the terminology and materials necessary to complete my day-to-day tasks smoothly.”

The PCP is proud to share these wonderful student achievements and eagerly anticipates what more PCP students can accomplish!

Publishing Certificate Program courses are electives open to registration by undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students in all majors who want to learn more about the book publishing business. Registration is available via CUNYFirst. The PCP’s spring 2025 course offerings include Global Publishing, The Editorial Process, Books for Young Readers, and Introduction to Publishing.

To inquire about registration for these courses and/or enrollment in the Publishing Certificate Program, contact the PCP’s acting director, Christina Marie Castro via email ( ccastro2@ccny.cuny.edu ). 
 

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