Kiersten Penaloza-Resch

After focusing my undergraduate education on dance performance, I chose to take a publishing course in my final semester. That's where my love for book publishing began. After graduation, I moved to New York City to perform but had to move back to Providence, Rhode Island at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This gave me the opportune time to begin my master's degree in publishing and writing at Emerson College.

In the Publishing and Writing MA program at Emerson College, I had the opportunity to learn more about publishing and build my passion. Strong connections with my professors lead me to begin contract work for MIT Sloan Management Review as an email marketing producer. As I took on more clients that aligned with my various talents, I realized contract work would fit perfectly with my skills and where I currently am in my career. Now, I am beginning to expand my contract work in the hopes of starting my own company. 

​

When I'm not studying or reading, I love weight-lifting and playing with my Mini Goldendoodle, Louie. During the pandemic, I also tried my hand at streaming video games — another activity I love doing but don't have as much time to since I'm no longer laid off due to the pandemic. Streaming gave me the opportunity to connect with new people and have conversations while stuck in the house. While at Roger Williams University, I was a tour guide for four years. This position was one of my favorites because I got to inspire prospective students and meet people that I would never have had the opportunity to meet and learn from. When out and about in Rhode Island, I often run into RWU alumni who tell me I gave them a tour of campus and sparked their love for RWU. I feel in a lot of the activities and positions I'm involved in now, I try to mimic that connectivity with other people.

​

In the future, I hope to continue my path in marketing and publicity with more of a focus on book publishing. I love to promote works of art and I want to be that instigating force to let an artist's dream come true. Another passion I found at Emerson College is book publicity. I find that this combines my marketing and event management skills with the added bonus of connecting with many people. I hope to find a full-time job by January of 2025 or to start my own company.