Megan Rudloff '17 went from Selinsgrove and Susquehanna to New York City and Columbia University, where she attended Columbia's Summer Publishing Course—the most prestigious of its kind in the nation.

One of several recent Publishing and Editing graduates to land a spot there, Rudloff says it was a stepping stone to her current job as a publicity assistant at Touchstone Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, where she has worked with authors such as Cecile Richards, Signe Pike and Hannah Orenstein. 

"I've always had a passion for reading, writing and sharing knowledge with others," the Milton, Pa., native says.

She majored in both publishing and editing and English literature at Susquehanna.

"This allowed me to develop professional skills and an understanding of culture, technology, craft and literature, and how the publishing industry connects all of these topics," she says.

"Not only did I receive an exemplary education, but I was able to complete a double major, play on the women's tennis team and study abroad in Cyprus for a semester," Rudloff adds.

She felt ready to step into the publishing world, armed with the skills and talents she honed in class and as a publicity intern at Overlook Press in New York City in summer 2016.

"From workshops to creating a small press to one-on-one sessions with Dr. Laurence Roth, there are many opportunities to work in a team, which models the structure of a publishing house," she says.

At Overlook, Rudloff says she got a behind-the-scenes look at how an independent press operates.

"I was responsible for conducting media research, drafting public relations materials, facilitating publicity mailings and contributing to blog and social media platforms. I also got a lot of free books!"