Originally from Miami, Sophia Quintanilla transferred to St. Francis College (SFC) in 2023. She recently returned from studying abroad for a year in Paris, where she took courses at the Institut Catholique. Currently, she is completing an internship at Hanging Loose Press.

Why did you choose to enroll at St. Francis College?
You could say the universe led me here. I was enrolled at a college in Manhattan but not exactly happy there. One day, I made plans to visit the Brooklyn Heights Promenade with friends, and while in the neighborhood, we walked past the old SFC campus. There was a basketball game in progress, and the energy, excitement and school spirit were such that we were drawn in. I had never heard of St. Francis College prior to that day, but as I learned more about its diverse atmosphere and how unapologetic it was about its values, I decided to apply. The Literature, Writing and Publishing major also appealed to me; it’s rare for a college to offer such a major.

What prompted you to pursue a degree in Literature, Writing and Publishing (LWP)?
I started out as a political science major at my previous college, but writing has always been a passion of mine. LWP offers all the incredible literature courses you would expect in an English-major track but with publishing as a plus. I love it.

Tell me about your study-abroad experience in Paris.
I took three years of French in high school and thus had a foundation in the language. An advantage of the program I studied with, MICEFA, is that it allowed me to take courses in French (political science, women’s studies), English (British literature) and Spanish (Latin American literature). I did well enough in my first semester in Paris to be able to take a master’s-level course in the second semester. The overall experience in France was amazing. My ears are now much more open to the language. I hear it everywhere and have been able to use it with customers in the retail store where I work.

Tell me about your internship at Hanging Loose Press.
I started it remotely in March, while I was still in Paris, and am now working for them in a hybrid format. A good part of what I do at Hanging Loose is marketing, such as promoting authors and newly published works on their social media and website. The best part of working at Hanging Loose is that they allow interns to attend meetings where editors decide which manuscripts ultimately will get published. I’ve gained a lot of insight into this process.

Is there a professor or person at SFC who has impacted you in a meaningful way — whether academically or on a personal level?
Rory Duffy of the History Department encouraged me to study abroad, while Professor Daniel Benson recommended the MICEFA program in Paris, but I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for Dr. Ian Maloney. Jive Poetic also has encouraged me and is very supportive. Professor Caroline Hagood helped secure my internship at Hanging Loose Press. She is such a role model; I look up to her as both a woman and a writer.

What do you plan to do after graduating from SFC?
Regarding academics, I plan to pursue a master’s in publishing and, eventually, a Ph.D. My dream job would be to work at Penguin Random House.