This week’s Student & Alumni Spotlight focuses on Jennifer Jussel, MFA ’21! Jennifer currently works as an Associate Media Editor at W.W. Norton & Company, where she helps create and edit eBooks and digital educational materials that teach history to college students. She also works with a wide array of college professors who author content for Norton’s books and materials.
Like many college graduates, Jennifer hadn’t exactly expected to end up where she did. “I hoped I would work in publishing, but I didn’t know if it was feasible for me,” she says. “I thought I would end up in trade publishing only because I didn’t know much about academic publishing at all. I also didn’t know that media editorial existed until I applied for my job. Now I think it’s the perfect role for my variety of interests and passions…I also wouldn’t have discovered many of these passions were it not for my time at EWU and my many visits with the Career Center, so thank you, EWU!”
Though Jennifer graduated with her MFA in Creative Writing in Spring 2021, she is grateful for her ability to continue learning outside of the classroom. “I get to work with experts in the field and get real time feedback from students in the classroom,” she says. “I’ve learned a lot about history and education this way!”
If Jennifer could give any career advice to her fellow Eagles, it would be to keep an open mind and cast a wide net. “There’s no harm in applying and learning more about a role, even if it isn’t exactly what you envisioned for yourself,” she says. “Similarly, you don’t need to have it all figured out now or even five years from now. You might try something for a while, and then go down a surprising new path. It’s all part of the process, and you have plenty of time — way more than you think!”
When asked about what she enjoys the most about her job, Jennifer says, “I love getting to combine my passions for editing, academia, digital media, and accessibility in one role. The variety of projects I work on every day make me excited to go in to work.”
For those interested in pursuing careers in publishing, Jennifer recommends informational interviewing and seeking out internship opportunities; part of her own start in the industry was due to networking, as well as an internship she completed during her undergraduate years. “Many publishing houses, including Norton, are now offering paid remote internships, which is a great way to learn more about editorial work and start making connections in the industry,” she adds.
If you are a current EWU student or proud alumnus with a job, internship, or career path you’d like to share with the EWU community, you can send us your submission here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PT8QJZC.
