Latinx in Publishing invites you to Getting In and Moving Up.
Whether you're a student, a career-switcher, or already in publishing and looking to grow, this conversation is for you. Our panel of industry professionals will discuss the realities of getting your foot in the door and building a sustainable, upward-moving career in publishing. From attending a publishing academy to landing that first job or internship to understanding what it takes to rise into leadership roles, panelists will share their own career journeys, offer real-world tips for building a successful career, and address how the industry is evolving.
📅Wednesday, October 22 @ 7pm ET
📍Zoom
🔗Register here (Registration is required)
PANELISTS:
Dr. Gabriela Baeza Ventura, Deputy Director, Arte Público Press
Cecilia Gray, Director of Operations, Inkluded Academy
Kayla Hodge, Children’s Digital Marketing Associate, Simon & Schuster Books
Ashley Orlando, HR Director at Hachette Books
Rose Heredia — Moderator
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Dr. Gabriela Baeza Ventura is the new Director of Arte Público Press, the oldest and largest publisher of U.S. Hispanic Literature. She is also a Professor of Spanish, Department of Hispanic Studies at the University of Houston; Director, Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage Program; and, Co-Director, U.S. Latino Digital Humanities Center.
Cecilia Gray is a Production Editor at Simon & Schuster, Director of Operations at Inkluded, and Managing Editor of the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing. At Inkluded, a nonprofit dedicated to diversifying the publishing industry, she helps oversee programs that train, mentor, and support BIPOC aspiring professionals as they enter and build careers in publishing. She is committed to advancing inclusive storytelling and promoting ethical practices across the industry.
Kayah Hodge is Children’s Digital Marketing Associate at Simon & Schuster Books. Before that she was a Marketing Assistant at Macmillan Publishing, where she crafted captivating graphics and reels for social media campaigns to boost engagement. Kayah is also the co-editor of the 2025 anthology, HOPE LIVES IN OUR WORDS.
Ashley Orlando is Human Resources Director at Hachette Books. She is responsible for HR generalist work across many HBG locations, including overseeing their robust internship program, annual Community Service Day, college outreach, and many exciting initiatives as the Chair of the Recruitment Subcommittee of our Diversity Advisory Group.
Rose Heredia (Moderator) is an Afro-Dominican born and bred New Yorker, who has an MFA in Fiction from the University of San Francisco. She was the 2022 Latinx in Publishing Editorial Fellow sponsored by Macmillan Publishers. She is an Inkluded Academy alumna. She was previously a Culture writer and editor for Epifania Magazine, Assistant Non-fiction Editor for VIDA Review and has been published by the Dominican Writers Association and HeadFake. Rose was co-editor for The Washington Memoir Project published by DWA Press. She is currently a freelance editor. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and yoga.
