by Salome Ramirez
Katie Nieves is a Stevenson Alumnae who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature/Letters in 2020. This interview explores her current job, preparation, and first steps into the workforce.
What is your current position at KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd?
KN: I currently work as an Associate Managing Editor at KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd (KGL)’s Editorial department. At KGL Editorial, we provide editorial office support to peer-reviewed scientific journals. I work as a team lead for various journals that have contracted with my company, each with their own unique needs. I serve as the main point of contact of the journals I work on, and the majority of my time is spent managing email inboxes so I can communicate not just with journal stakeholders but also with authors and reviewers as needed… Basically, my coworkers and I keep journals running as smoothly, efficiently, and ethically as we can, while interfacing with authors and reviewers and keeping things functioning properly.
How did Stevenson help you prepare for this position?
KN: I am a strong believer in the importance of clear, effective communication, and that’s something that was really emphasized during my time at Stevenson.
My professors encouraged us to explore all the fields where English majors could bring their talent for communicating, so I knew that I had so many more options than others would expect. My managers have always commended my ability to write emails that are clear, helpful, and friendly, and I believe I honed my writing “voice” and professionalism during my time as an English major at Stevenson.
What was your first step into the workforce?
KN: The position that really propelled me into the scientific publishing world was my internship at Wolters Kluwer Health in 2019, where I worked for a Summer as a Journal Production Assistant. WKL provides Production services, the stage after a paper is accepted and then prepared for publication. WKL gave me invaluable experience working in a professional scientific publishing setting, and it showed me that I could really thrive in an environment where my strong communication, organization, and management skills could be put to use.
Did you follow the career path that you wanted when you first started college?
KN: I would say . . . sort of! I always knew I wanted to be an editor, so I’ve somewhat fulfilled that dream, but my focus is now different. During college, I told everyone my goal was to be an editor preferably of young adult fiction novels, because I wanted to stay in a creative field while still getting to correct grammar and improve stories like I so love to do.
After interning at Wolters Kluwer because it was a great opportunity that I couldn’t pass up, my trajectory shifted. I ended up at KWF/KGL Editorial because of my adjacent experience at Wolters Kluwer. So, I don’t really edit for grammar or content like I originally hoped to, nor am I in a creative sphere, but I think I’m thriving better by offering my English skills to scientific publishers.
What would you tell current English majors at Stevenson that are unsure of what their future career path will look like? What would you tell them to take advantage of while in college?
KN: I would advise Stevenson’s English majors to be open to all kinds of positions! That’s not to say you should give up on your dreams. Remember that you’re not married to whatever job(s) you take straight out of college, so even if you take a position utilizing your English skills in a different way than you thought you would, you can use that as a stepping stone to gain experience to one day get to where you want to be. And don’t neglect your hobbies, especially if they’re writing related!
Take advantage of all of the career guidance and internships you can get through Stevenson. The Design Your Career course I took in my junior year really opened my eyes to all the possible jobs for English majors, and I found comfort in knowing that my skills were valued and versatile.