Our alumni
Alumni from the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are working in a range of jobs in the creative industries all over the world. Do get in touch and let us know what you are doing, and whether you would be willing to advise our present students on their future career.
Here is what our alumni say:
Rochelle Beiersdorfer, MA Journalism
The MA in journalism at Oxford Brookes University was an enriching program that has provided me with the resources and know-how to be a well-rounded multimedia journalist.
Posted on 01 Dec 2023 around 6pm •
Jennifer Mary Jones, MA Publishing
Jennifer Mary Jones (née Patrick) is a lifelong poet, a spoken word artist, singer, yoga coach, and dedicated military wife. Jennifer grew up on the idyllic Isle of Man, in the British Isles, surrounded by nature and the sea, raised by her Scottish mother and English father. Jen lives a happy life with her husband William, and their dog Wilma.
Do you ever dream of writing? Do you wish to connect with your imagination to feel more creative, calm, and confident? Her new poetry journal, Poetry Songbook, is a graceful and refreshing exploration of the life phases of the human condition. By helping you create poetry as you read, it enables you to experience becoming a writer.
Posted on 24 Oct 2023 around 4pm •
Dan Wood, BA Publishing
Dan recently joined the University of the West of England (UWE) as Chief People Officer. Since graduating from Oxford Brookes he has worked at Skills for Health and at the Avon and Somerset Police, where he was Chief Officer, People and Organisational Development. He has also been involved with The Scouts, including work there as an International Commissioner. Angus Phillips, Director of OICP, met up with Dan at UWE in May 2023, twenty years since Dan graduated from Brookes.
Posted on 16 Jun 2023 around 8am •
Dan Wood and Angus Phillips
Rachel Hains, MA Journalism
Studying at Oxford Brookes was a joy and a privilege. The staff are experts in their field, and have an invaluable wealth of knowledge, experience, and contacts to draw from. They were also lovely people, and knew how to make every seminar interesting - even during lockdowns.
Posted on 09 Aug 2022 around 1pm •
Megan Clarke, MA Publishing Media
Megan is the production sub-editor at The Bookseller and a graduate of the Oxford International Centre for Publishing. She published an article in The Bookseller based on the research she carried out for her dissertation into the challenges faced when publishing translated fiction in the UK.
She writes: 'I was happy to see The Bookseller’s Translation Focus issue published a couple of weeks ago, as reading fiction in translation is a way of accessing the greatest literary writing available in the world. To me this is a very enticing prospect, yet the UK proportionally publishes less translated literature than most European countries and consequently the readership and sales lag behind our neighbours. It is great that the direction of travel of those sales seems to be changing in recent years, but there is still a way to go. I have often wondered: is our limited readership the reason for the lack of translations published, or in fact a symptom of it?'
To read the article visit here
Posted on 30 May 2022 around 4pm •
Megan Clarke
Daniela Ferrante
Entry into the publishing industry seemed like an impossibility for me until I discovered the Stationers’ Company and the MA programme at the Oxford International Centre for Publishing. Having graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2017 without any contacts in publishing and residing in an area where publishing was not a large industry, I struggled to get a foot in the door. Having unsuccessfully applied for publishing jobs, graduate schemes, traineeships and internships, I resigned myself to the fact that it would be near impossible. ...
Posted on 08 Feb 2022 around 4pm •
Brianna Walker
The WIPO International Excellence Awards for Accessible Publishing award ceremony took place at Frankfurt Book Fair in autumn 2021. Brianna (Corbett) Walker, Head of Content Management at Taylor and Francis received WIPO's Accessible Books Consortium International Excellence Award for Accessible Publishing on behalf of Taylor & Francis. Brianna graduated from the Oxford International Centre for Publishing with an MA in Publishing in 2010.
Posted on 21 Jan 2022 around 10am •
Mar Atsongchanger, MA Publishing
Revd Dr Mar Atsongchanger, who was on the MA in Publishing course in 2000, has recently been appointed Vice Master of Serampore College in West Bengal, India. Mar hails from Nagaland in North East India, where there are limited opportunities to access higher education.
Posted on 24 Jun 2021 around 1pm •
Zara Markland, MA Publishing
Zara now works for Finance Unlocked as a Product Manager. Finance Unlocked is the world’s first comprehensive, on-demand video-delivered learning platform built specifically for finance professionals – ‘Netflix for finance’. Institutional clients include Santander and Blackrock, with a user base of 10,000 across 85 countries. Previously she worked for Dorling Kindersley, Bloomsbury and Hachette.
Posted on 01 Jun 2021 around 10am •
Susan Furber, MA Publishing
After spending a year in England during my undergraduate degree, I decided to move to the UK and do an MA in Publishing at Oxford Brookes University from 2014 to 2015. During the programme, I learned what I have since found to be true over and over again: publishing is a business based on relationships.
My previous roles include Editorial Assistant for the Arden Shakespeare and Methuen Drama at Bloomsbury Publishing and Editorial Manager at LID Publishing. In August 2020, I decided to make the move to freelance editing. I especially love working with first-time and self-publishing authors as it is such a pleasure to help authors bring their books into the world.
In February 2021, my debut novel, The Essence of an Hour, was published by Yorkshire-based Valley Press. Set in the 1940s, the novel is a coming-of-age story about an ill-fated summer romance and examines issues relevant to today such as sexual double-standards and consent.
Having worked in the publishing industry for over five years, it is a dream come true to be an author now as well!
Posted on 27 Apr 2021 around 1pm •
Flavia Marcocci, MA Digital Publishing
I moved to the UK from Italy in September 2017 to study on the MA in Digital Publishing at Oxford Brookes University, graduating in 2018. I really appreciated the variety of modules and the combination of traditional subjects (Editorial Management, Marketing, Design & Production, International Rights) and innovative subjects such as Digital Publishing Strategy and Multi-Platform Publishing. I also joined the field trips to the Frankfurt and Bologna book fairs and volunteered at London Book Fair, and at the Oxford Literary Festival, all of which were fantastic experiences.
The MA in Digital Publishing at Oxford Brookes equipped me with the knowledge and transferable skills necessary to navigate and find opportunities in a challenging and competitive job market in the UK and I would highly recommend it to anyone who would like to start a career in publishing.
Posted on 08 Mar 2021 around 10am •
Publishers’ Publicity Circle Awards 2020
The shortlists have been announced for the Publishers' Publicity Awards and in the category of Best Children’s and YA Celebrity Campaign, two OICP alumni appear: Kirsten Cozens from Walker Books and Elaine Egan from Hachette Ireland, for their campaigns for My First Cook Book by David Atherton and Break the Mould by Sinead Burke.
Kirsten won a PPC award in 2019 and was shortlisted for a 2020 London Book Fair Trailblazer Award. Elaine also won a PPC award for her campaign on Lucy Vine's debut novel, Hot Mess.
Posted on 02 Feb 2021 around 11am •
Hannah Grimmette, MA Publishing Studies
I was part of the first year of students to study the Publishing MA at Oxford Brookes via distance learning. It made a big difference to my career, as I was able to work full-time whilst studying. After eight years in PR working agency-side and in-house for various companies and brands, some related to publishing and some not, I’ve taken the leap and launched my own freelancing copywriting company. Using the skills that I gained from my studies and work experience, I’m growing my business on the side as I continue with my day job in the Media Relations team at The Open University.
Posted on 15 Oct 2020 around 10am •
Eleonora Cavalli, MA Publishing Media
Eleonora Cavalli is Social Media Manager at Peculiar Press.
I am working together with its founder Aleida Gomez de Caso, and Ilaria Doro, both OICP alumni that attended the MA in Publishing Media. We participated in the FUEL Awards during the lockdown in 2020 and were among the winners. FUEL Awards is an 8-week business scale up programme, powered by Santander Universities, designed to help students grow their business and make their ideas happen.
We also reached out to students from the undergraduate course and worked together with Paula van Eenennaam, who recently graduated and was our intern for several months. ...
Posted on 05 Oct 2020 around 7am •
Leah Jespersen - BA Publishing Media 2018
I graduated from the Publishing Media BA in 2018, and began working as Production Assistant for Head of Zeus soon after graduating. The course gave me such a good understanding of the cross-departmental co-operation that goes into making a book, and it really helped me feel confident in what I could contribute to a team. At Head of Zeus, I was given the opportunity to work on the production of many exciting books, including The Colour of Time by Dan Jones, Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver and The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin.
Posted on 28 Sep 2020 around 4pm •
Gareth Ridley-DeMonick, BA Publishing Media
I completed my BA in Publishing Media in 2018 and now work for Oxford University Press, the large academic and educational publisher. I specialize in regional marketing (the Middle East) for both the International Education and English Language Teaching division, but my background includes academic editing, graphic design, copy-editing, production and bookselling.
I attended Oxford Brookes as a mature student (26), having lived all over Europe, working as a freelancer and picking up languages on the way. I chose Brookes simply because it offered the best Publishing programme out of all the universities I considered. The Oxford International Centre for Publishing is long established and well respected in the industry, and the academics who lead the course are seasoned publishing professionals in their own right, who maintain strong links with business and international colleagues around the world. ...
Posted on 15 Jul 2020 around 6am •
Gareth Ridley-DeMonick
Madeleine Pearson, MA Publishing (via distance learning)
Doing an MA was never solely about getting a job for me, since I was already working full-time and had already worked for a publisher. My circumstances meant that moving to London for entry-level jobs and internships really wasn’t an option so I felt an MA in Publishing would help prove my commitment to the industry, and perhaps give me an edge in job applications.
Posted on 11 Jun 2020 around 6pm •
Kat Bourne, BA Publishing Media
I have been a designer on the Ladybird licensing team at Penguin Random House for the past two years, working predominantly on Peppa. We have been able to get some really good messages out there, like the last environmental title Peppa Loves Our Planet with recycled paper and vegetable ink.
My pride and joy currently is Peppa Loves Doctors and Nurses, a book we created to contribute to charities dealing with COVID 19. I designed this during the four-day Easter weekend, and we have managed to turn it around asap. The team within Ladybird at PRH are sensational and we have worked hard to get this out so quick, and contribute in our way. I am incredibly proud to have designed this book, and for it to be number one this week on Amazon (9 June) is a career highlight!
Posted on 10 Jun 2020 around 10am •
Marrisa Joseph, MA International Publishing
I am currently a Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at the Henley Business School, and a member of the Henley Centre for Entrepreneurship. I have recently published Victorian Literary Businesses, which is based on my PhD thesis and is published by Palgrave Macmillan. The book explores the business practices of the British publishing industry from 1843 to 1900, discussing the role of creative businesses in society and the close relationship between culture and business. Developments in copyright law, gender and literary culture are analysed from a management perspective, drawing on the histories of some of publishing’s most influential businesses: including Macmillan, Routledge and Longman. Through an analysis of archival sources, the book provides an insight into the decision-making processes and strategies that shaped an industry, many of which can still be seen today.
Posted on 09 Jan 2020 around 9am •
Meggie Dennis, MA Publishing Media
The MA in Publishing Media at Oxford Brookes gave me so many incredible opportunities, and I will forever be grateful for the way this course opened up the world of publishing to me.
Whilst studying for a BA in English at the University of Exeter, I knew I wanted to work in publishing. The Publishing MA at Oxford Brookes was recommended to me by everyone I spoke to who had knowledge of the industry; the reputation Brookes has for its Publishing courses is fantastic.
Posted on 10 Dec 2019 around 11am •
Meggie Dennis
Sabrina Gutierrez, BA Publishing Media
Since graduating, publishing has taken me around the world. I have worked at a children’s book publisher in Spain and my current role as Executive Communications Liaison for Ecovis is based in Mexico. In this role I manage, edit and design our bimonthly magazine.
As the five-year anniversary of my graduation approaches, I have been reflecting on my time spent at the Oxford International Centre for Publishing. The most important piece of advice I would extend to anyone thinking about studying Publishing at Oxford Brookes is to go for it and take full advantage of every opportunity.
Posted on 16 Sep 2019 around 2pm •
Amy Ellis, MA Digital Publishing
Amy Ellis was listed by The Bookseller trade magazine as one of their Rising Stars of 2019.
@amesplaza
Posted on 19 Jul 2019 around 11am •
Alice Mercanti, MA Publishing Media
I have always considered publishing to be a unique tool to promote culture and knowledge, and what appeals to me the most is its adaptability to different subjects and formats. Many are the reasons why I chose to study Publishing Media at Oxford Brookes University, among which are the well-rounded theoretical and practical preparation offered by the course, in addition to its excellent ranking and relationships with the industry.
Since before starting the Master’s, I knew about the chance to apply for an internship at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva. As my undergraduate studies focused on modern civilizations and international relations, this opportunity represented the essence of my background and expertise, combined with the relevance to my career aspirations.
Posted on 29 Apr 2019 around 1pm •
Alice Mercanti
Eleanor Hatch-Robertson, BA Publishing
I really threw myself into my programme at Oxford Brookes. Despite leaving with a fantastic degree, we were enjoying a double dip recession in the UK - jobs were few and the publishing industry was a tough place to find employment. Luckily I had been introduced by Oxford Brookes to both the Pluto Press, where I interned in the summer of my second year, and IPC media. IPC's grad scheme took only four people and I made it to the final round only to fall at the final hurdle. But the important thing was, Brookes had got me into the building to see what it was about. ...
Posted on 10 Apr 2019 around 3pm •
Eleanor Hatch-Robertson
Giulia Carla Rossi, MA Publishing and Language
In 2013 I decided to move from Italy to the UK to take a postgraduate degree at Oxford Brookes University. I had no previous knowledge of publishing, but I knew I wanted a practical, hands-on course, that would give me a solid grounding in various areas as well as the technical skills necessary to work in a competitive environment. After researching and comparing different publishing programmes across Europe, it was clear that Brookes was the perfect fit for me.
Posted on 05 Apr 2019 around 3pm •
Line Toresby, MA Digital Publishing
Having finished my second BA in Norway, I decided to look abroad for options and ended up applying for the MA in Publishing at Oxford Brookes. This turned out to be one of the greatest decisions that I have ever made. The course is specific to the industry, making it an ideal entry point for anyone wanting to get into publishing. The university has a great reputation, is known for its publishing courses, and is located in beautiful Oxford. For me, one of the highlights of the course has been the realization that there are so many interesting areas of the publishing industry to get involved with, some of which I had never even considered in the past. I have also really enjoyed being part of an international class, allowing for more interesting discussions and broader insights into the global market.
Posted on 06 Aug 2018 around 2pm •
