The Pace University MS in Publishing program is happy to announce The Publishing Lab team for the 2024-2025 academic year! The Publishing Lab aims to give students hands-on experience through the publishing process, preparing them for their future careers, and to allow students to have their original work published. After the success of the first volume of this anthology, this year’s team is looking forward to taking the reins and seeing where this volume takes them!
Managing Editorial
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Kayleigh Woltal, Editor-In-Chief/Designer
Kayleigh Woltal is a second-year MS in Publishing student who hopes to become a designer in publishing upon graduation. She is an avid reader across several genres but has a special place in her heart for rom-coms and any book with disability representation. When she’s not reading, she can be found scouring the shelves of used bookstores with a latte in hand, finding a new way to be crafty, or rewatching Gilmore Girls. Having worked on the first volume of The Publishing Lab, Kayleigh is honored to take over as editor-in-chief and is ready to see where the team can take this amazing anthology in its second year.
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Shea Dunlop, Managing Editor
Shea Dunlop is in her second year of the MS in Publishing program, studying part-time while working full-time as the Special Sales Assistant at ABRAMS. After her short stories were featured in the last edition of The Publishing Lab, she’s thrilled to be joining the team that makes it all happen! A Vermonter at heart, Shea embraces being just another addition to the classic “small town girl moves to the big city” trope. In her free time, you can find her running around Prospect Park, writing music, and reading romantasy with her cat, Charles. (He can’t read, but he’s good company.)
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Sydney Heidelberg, Managing Editor
Sydney Heidenberg is in her third semester of Pace University’s publishing program and is an avid fantasy, YA, and romance reader. She recently started a new position as a sales assistant for children’s books at Penguin Random House. Sydney edited and managed literary magazines during her high school and undergraduate years and is excited to continue publishing incredible student work with The Publishing Lab!
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Jana Lewis, Editor/Proofreader
Jana Lewis is a project manager for a publishing services vendor. She is located outside of Cincinnati, Ohio where she lives with her family and two dogs. She has over 15 years of experience as a production editor, focusing on college textbooks. Jana decided to enter the MS in Publishing Program to expand her knowledge and branch into trade publishing. She loves reading, writing, and relaxing around the house watching movies.
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William McKeever, Editor/Proofreader
William is an aspiring publishing professional with a deep love for the industry. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from The University of Texas at El Paso and is now thrilled to be wrapping up his first year in the publishing graduate program at Pace University. One day, he hopes to start his own publishing house and positively impact the literary world by shaking up traditional thinking and giving a voice to those who are marginalized and silent. He is excited to be a part of The Publishing Lab for this upcoming year and eager to see what the team’s collaborative efforts will produce as a lasting testament to our time here at Pace.
Editorial
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Alicia Benett, Editor/Agent
Alicia Bennett is in her second year in the MS Publishing Program and recently earned her Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice as well as English Language and Literature with a concentration in Creative Writing. She graduated from Pace undergrad in 2024 with honors. Currently, she works as both a barista and bookseller at Barnes and Noble and acts as a research assistant at the Westchester County Department of Corrections, serving in their Parenting, Prison, and Pups and Puppies on the Block programs. She comes from South Florida and her experience with literature has fueled her passion for the written word. She is ecstatic to be joining The Publishing Lab this year and looks forward to being part of the team!
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Sarah Emanuels, Editor/Agent
Sarah is a first-year publishing student at Pace and is very excited to be an editor on The Publishing Lab team! Sarah loves poetry—especially Ocean Voung and Marie Howe—and prose. Being from North Carolina, she is excited to be studying in NYC alongside others who share her passions.
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Valentina López-Pérez, Editor/Agent
Valentina López-Pérez is a second-year international student from Colombia. With a degree in Literature, her career pursuit in publishing is rooted in her great curiosity and enthusiasm for books and learning about different experiences and ideas. She has a particular interest in books in translation, aspiring to amplify and introduce voices from multiple corners of the globe. Valentina envisions her role in the industry as a means to build bridges and community, sparking dialogue and contributing to positive change. Beyond books and reading, she enjoys photography, language learning, and discovering new restaurants.
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Isha Repal, Editor/Agent
Isha Repal is an international student from India pursuing her master’s in the Publishing program at Pace University. With a bachelor’s in computer science, her love for books and stories pushed her to NYC in hopes of publishing many unearthed diamonds. She can be found in cozy coffee shops and bookstore nooks as she trains her pen to join the editorial or the managerial department.
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Hailey Hovey, Editor/Copyeditor
Hailey Hovey began the MS in Publishing program just this past semester after a six-month break from school after graduating from the University of Southern California in May 2023. Currently, she works as a Communications Specialist for Human Resources at USC and lives just outside of Los Angeles. She is a life-long lover of all things books, so she’s felt right at home since starting at Pace and meeting her fellow book lovers and classmates.
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Shelby Johnson, Editor/Copyeditor
Shelby is a first-year student in the MS in Publishing program. She has aspired for years to work in the publishing industry and upon starting her journey towards that goal made it a huge part of her personality. Aside from her studies, she enjoys hanging out with her cat, reading fantasy fiction, and loitering for hours in bookstores.
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Mallory Nichols, Editor/Copyeditor
Mallory Nichols is an MS in Publishing student based in Auburn, AL who loves all things books, writing, and Taylor Swift! She’s very passionate about working with writers to reach their full potential and put out good writing. She brings three years of undergraduate literary journal experience and is super excited to learn more with The Publishing Lab. Mallory’s goal is to work in children’s publishing and work on disability representation in books.
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Hannah Penn, Editor/Copyeditor
Hannah Penn is a current student in Pace’s Publishing program hailing from Rochester, New York. She graduated from the University at Albany with her Bachelor’s in English and Creative Writing in 2021. She looks forward to garnering valuable experience by joining The Publishing Lab as a copyeditor. Although her focus and experience have been in contemporary fiction and poetry, Hannah hopes to delve further into the world of academic publishing as she progresses further into her education.
Marketing, Social Media, and Design
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Heaven Jenkins, Marketing/Social Media
Heaven is a passionate publishing enthusiast entering her third semester of the MS in Publishing program this fall. Equipped with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she gained valuable experience interning at two Penguin Random House imprints: Random House Publishing Group and Berkley. With a strong interest in Marketing/Publicity, Heaven aims to specialize in genres she holds dear: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Romance, and Horror. As she continues her academic and professional journey, Heaven is committed to delving deeper into the dynamic realm of publishing, championing diverse voices and captivating narratives.
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Brittany Kitchen, Marketing/Social Media
As a former teacher with a deep passion for reading and literature, Brittany Kitchen felt that transitioning into publishing was a natural progression. Books have always been her safe space, and she is dedicated to nurturing that love, particularly among young readers. Brittany is thrilled to join The Publishing Lab and collaborate with like-minded individuals who share her book enthusiasm. In her experience, book people are some of the best people out there, and she is excited to be a part of this vibrant community.
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Prashmee Sheth, Marketing/Social Media
Prashmee Sheth is an international student from India, currently pursuing an MS in Publishing at Pace University. Her journey began with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Media and Communication, majoring in Journalism. But it’s her love for reading, especially in the realms of Young Adult and Romance, that truly drives her. She is all about diving into the world of books, whether it’s through her studies or exploring bookstores to expand her ever-growing “to be read” list.
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Alena Williams, Designer/Social Media
Alena Nicole embodies the essence of a dynamic multimedia journalist and visionary media entrepreneur, fueled by an insatiable passion for the vibrant worlds of entertainment, music, and cultural exploration. With a distinguished Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Music/Entertainment Business from the prestigious University of Miami, Alena Nicole has masterfully navigated the realms of magazine creation and financing, writing across various mediums, social media curation and management, and artist & repertoire. Currently immersed in the pursuit of a Master of Science degree in Publishing, Alena Nicole champions a noble mission to craft original narratives while amplifying the voices of the underrepresented, illuminating the path towards inclusivity and empowerment within the media landscape.
Faculty Advisors
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Professor Manuela Soares, Director of the M.S. in Publishing Program, Faculty Advisor
Prior to being named as Director in 2018, Soares had been a full-time faculty member in the MS in Publishing program since 2004. The courses she has taught include General Interest Books, Children’s Book Publishing, Marketing Principles and Practices, Entrepreneurship, and Ethics in Publishing. She also taught the Graduate Seminar, in which students write their Master’s thesis. She is on the Editorial Board of Publishing Research Quarterly, where many of the program’s thesis papers have been published in abbreviated form. Soares is also Director of Pace University Press, overseeing the publication of journals and books. In her over thirty-year career, Soares worked in both magazine and book publishing as a writer and editor, most recently as the Managing Editor at Scholastic, where she supervised the hardcover (and some paperback) imprints, including the first five Harry Potter books. Prior to that she was a Senior Editor at Rizzoli International, acquiring books in a variety of disciplines (fashion, design, cooking), but focusing mainly on art and photography.
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Professor Eileen Kreit, Faculty Advisor
Eileen Bishop Kreit is a lifelong reader and book lover. She spent 32 years at Penguin Random House, joining the Putnam Berkley Publishing Group as Sales Assistant after graduating from the University of Massachusetts. After 15 years in sales leadership and management, Eileen moved to the editorial side as Vice President and Publisher of Puffin Books. Rising to President in 2007, she worked with authors including S.E. Hinton, Judy Blume, Mildred D. Taylor, Laurie Halse Anderson, Sarah Dessen, the collective works of Roald Dahl, and the Puffin Classics publishing program. She published anniversary editions of The Westing Game; Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; Tales of A Fourth Grade Nothing; and the 50th anniversary edition of The Outsiders. In 2018, she transitioned to Vice President, Business Development, Viking Children’s Books and Philomel Books, where she expanded classic brands and created new publishing for legacy characters of the publishing industry including Corduroy, Madeline, Pippi Longstocking, Encyclopedia Brown, and many others. She is excited to share her knowledge, experience, and passion with her students, both as a Faculty Advisor and as a Professor, teaching Children’s Book Publishing, Fundamentals of Trade Book Publishing, and Publishing Strategies I and II.