Following graduation in May 2023, English alum Kyler Tolman traveled East for an intensive educational internship in publishing sponsored by New York University to bolster his interest in becoming an editor, a production editor, or a subsidiary rights specialist. More than 100 experts from across the book publishing and media brand industries participated. The first two weeks of the program focused solely on book publishing—from founding new imprints to marketing and publicity to scouting and more.

Several skill workshops throughout the entire program helped participants learn how to write standout cover letters and offered resume reviews and mock interviews with hiring managers. Three in-person site visits took Kyler to Little, Brown, an imprint of Hachette, one of the big five book publishing companies.

Interns read manuscripts and wrote evaluative reports. A group assignment required creating a new imprint for nonfiction biographies and memoirs. The final two weeks focused on media brands, especially in the digital sphere. Kyler said, “The most exciting part of the media brand session for me was the digital visit with Virginia Quarterly Review because I worked with the Sink Hollow literary magazine for several years.” A career fair featured nearly a dozen companies. Kyler said, “I had such an incredible experience with this program and would recommend to others interested in professional publishing.”