English alum and first-generation student Valentina Munoz Roa '25 gained a real eye for public relations for publishing after working with UMass Lowell’s student literary journal The Offering.
“I have a passion for visuals and writing, so publicity and marketing kind of combines those interests of mine,” says Munoz Roa, who served as the public relations (PR) manager for The Offering for two years, honing her skills and being introduced to what the world of publishing has to offer.
A native of Nashua, New Hampshire, Munoz Roa landed a digital and social media internship at Beacon Press in Boston after graduation. She produces graphics and videos for Beacon Press’ TikTok and Instagram pages, engaging in trends and pop culture events.
“Beacon Press has been challenging in the best way,” she says. “My work has to be fresh and new, but still continue the same pattern of their posts.”
Munoz Roa traces her success in publishing back to one person: English Professor Maureen Stanton.
“Through Professor Stanton and her Literary Publishing course, I was able to connect with people who were actually working in publishing,” she says.
Munoz Roa was the first recipient of the Emerging Voices in Publishing Award, which honors UMass Lowell alum Megan Posco ’14, a nonfiction book publicist and founder of Posco Publicity. The award gives a $2,500 stipend to undergraduate students interested in a career in publishing.
“Megan and I met for coffee, and she gave me great connections and answered my questions about the publishing industry,” says Munoz Roa.
Munoz Roa was ecstatic to receive the award, as it, and Professor Stanton, helped land her the internship at Beacon Press.
“They really liked the campaign that I did for Maureen’s book, ‘The Murmur of Everything Moving,’” Munoz Roa says.
Along with freelance PR work, Munoz Roa also served as a communications assistant for the UMass Lowell Library and Center for Lowell History, where she further strengthened her publicity skills.
“I was able to learn how to merge my own creative branding ideas with the UMass Lowell branding guide,” she says.
That experience, she adds, prepared her well for Beacon Press, where she now adapts her designs to the publisher’s established style when creating weekly TikToks for new nonfiction novels.
For current students trying to break into the publishing world, Munoz Roa says networking is your best friend.
“It's all about who you know and who you can connect with,” she says. “If you know the right people, a lot more jobs open for you.”