MSU Press Student and Intern Alumni Celebrate Professional Success
Article by Tessa Hunt From the skyscrapers of New York City to the sidelines of the NFL, and to the strategic hubs of global advertising, Michigan State University Press student... READ MORE The post MSU Press Student and Intern Alumni Celebrate Professional Success appeared first on Michigan State University.
Black News 
Article by Tessa Hunt
From the skyscrapers of New York City to the sidelines of the NFL, and to the strategic hubs of global advertising, Michigan State University Press student alumni are making their mark.
Name: Yasmeen Amjad
Former Role: Editorial Assistant
Current Role: Managing Editorial Assistant, Simon & Schuster (Children’s Division)
“I can’t believe it’s been so long since I wrapped up my internship at MSU Press! It was one of my first forays into publishing. I was still a student at MSU when my internship ended, so after that, I took courses that produced The Current magazine and The Red Cedar Review. After my semester at The Current, I took on copyediting roles at The State News, the Journal of Global Literacies, Technologies, and Emerging Pedagogies, and The Current (I was asked to help with editing while they were transitioning to new leadership).
“After graduating, I attended the Columbia Publishing Course in New York City. After the course, I held several internships, including a managing editorial internship at Neuwirth & Associates, Inc.; an editorial operations internship at Intersect Magazine; and a literary agency internship at Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret, LLC. Most recently, I’m incredibly excited to announce that I’ve landed a full-time position as a managing editorial assistant at Simon & Schuster’s Children’s Division. I’m only a few weeks into the role, but I’m really enjoying it so far!”
Name: Connor Nguyen
Former Role: Marketing Assistant
Current Role: Toyota Digital Strategy Associate at Shift Digital
“After my graduation and departure from the MSU Press in 2024, I returned to Minnesota with new and exciting opportunities. I supported the Minnesota Vikings with Ingster Experiential and returned to Minnesota United FC, being a brand ambassador for both teams. I was responsible for delivering and managing premium fan/client experiences, both on game days and at community events throughout the Twin Cities. The Vikings were one of my favorite clients to represent. I had the privilege to be with the team at the 2025 NFL Draft Party, preseason training camp, and player camps at their performance center. My most memorable experience was being able to help a private event with various Vikings players in attendance, such as JJ McCarthy, Blake Cashman, and Zavier Scott (even though I worked with the Vikings, the Detroit Lions will always run the North). I was excited to return home to Michigan, where I joined Toyota with Shift Digital as a digital marketing associate. My tasks involve proactive communication through our mobile support line, updating records on Salesforce, and lead management system requests. Furthermore, I serve as a subject matter expert for enrolling Toyota dealerships into certified website provider tools. I want to give a huge shout-out to the Toyota team for being such an amazing team. They continue to motivate and bring the best out of me every day. Lastly, I would like to thank the MSU Press for elevating my skill sets further, allowing me to be in the position I am at today. And to whoever becomes the next student marketing assistant, there are no better mentors to be around than Nicole, Terika, and Tessa. Go Green!”
Name: Liz Deegan
Former Role: Editorial Assistant
Current role: Instructional Design Specialist at Thayer
“After my time as an editorial assistant at MSU Press, I was able to transition into the instructional design field. I work as an instructional design specialist at Thayer Leadership, a Top 20 globally ranked leadership training company. I work with clients to create custom programs, and then collaborate with subject matter experts to craft content and activities to align with the customer goals. My time at MSU Press provided an educational work experience while I completed my PhD and prepared me for a career where I need to balance multiple priorities. I am so grateful for the people I worked with and learned from at MSU Press!”
Name: Megan Howarth
Former Role: Marketing Assistant
Current Role: Media Associate at WPP Media
“After graduation, I will be joining WPP Media, an advertising agency, as a media associate in their Chicago office.
“My marketing assistant role at the press has greatly helped me prepare for my future in advertising. I’ve learned all the soft skills that are needed in an office environment—writing emails, meeting deadlines, staying organized, working with many different people, and more. I’ve also developed a strong understanding of how book marketing evolves across each stage, from pre-publication planning to post-publication promotion. These skills and lessons will serve as a great foundation for the work I do in the future, and I could not be more grateful to have learned from MSU Press!”
Back (left to right): Connor Nguyen, Marketing Assistant, Anastasia Wraight, Project Editor, and Nicole Utter, Marketing and Sales Manager.
While their career paths are diverse, a common thread remains: the foundational experience of growing career skills through working at a university press. We are incredibly proud to have played a small part in the professional journeys of Yasmeen, Connor, Liz, and Megan. Their success is a testament to the hard work and curiosity they brought to the office every day.
To our current and future students at the Press: the sky is the limit. And to our alumni: stay in touch—we can’t wait to see what you achieve next!
The post MSU Press Student and Intern Alumni Celebrate Professional Success appeared first on Michigan State University.
