What Can I Do with a Professional Writing Degree?

Find out by learning about our successful MAPW alumni and students

Since 1995, successful MAPW alumni have been working in wide array of career fields.  With more recent classes added in screenwriting, social media, and web content, our alumni are advancing in the new demand fields, as well.

 

ALUMNI CREDIT MAPW FOR JOB SUCCESSES

 Spring 2019 graduate Diana Prokopiev is starting as a Digital Communications Content Writer and Editor at In Touch Ministries.  The metro-Atlanta based church produces electronic and print media that reaches more than 1.5 million households worldwide.  “I can confidently say if I had not completed the MAPW program, I probably would not have received this position,” Diana said.  Diana began her MAPW studies as an Accelerated Bachelor to Masters student.  The program allows KSU undergraduates to obtain graduate course credits.  As an MAPW student, she worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and travelled to make presentations at the Southeastern Writing Center Association conference. “I convey a giant ‘Thank you’ to all of the orchestrated efforts of the MAPW program faculty that allowed me to succeed in the program and find employment afterward,” Diana said.

Melva Robertson, a 2005 graduate of the MAPW, announced that she has been promoted to Director of Communications for the Laney Graduate School at Emory University. In this capacity she serves as chief communications officer on the senior leadership team and directs all internal and external communications. “My favorite aspect of my new role, which directly correlates to my capstone at KSU,” Melva said, “is that I am the principal writer for speeches, addresses, talking points and other executive communications for the Laney Graduate School dean. I am totally confident in this position due to the amazing preparation that I received from the MAPW. Thanks to MAPW and all that you do!” Melva also runs her own company, The Write Media Group. 

 

In Their Own Words: Professional Writing Alumni Testimonials


  • “I can’t begin to tell you how much this experience has meant to me. I am thrilled that I took the leap of faith and applied. Thank you, thank you, thank you… to all the wonderful faculty and staff in this program! I cherish you!” -- Fall 2014
  • “My time here at KSU has been an extraordinary experience. This program has not only helped me develop the skills I sought to strengthen but has also taught me to have a greater appreciation for the genres, applications and analyses of writing that I’ve never previously considered or simply looked past.” -- Summer 2012
  • “I gained more knowledge about writing than I expected. Not only did I improve basic skills like grammar and mechanics, but I also learned the history of writing, creative ways to structure my writing, and the importance of sharing my story. As with anything else I do, I got from the program what I put into it, and I put a lot into the program.” -- Fall 2009

Read what other alumni say about the MAPW program and about the Teaching Assistantship Program or view student testimonies at https://graduate.kennesaw.edu/about/videos.php. 

Click on a section below to learn more about where our KSU writing graduates are finding success.

  • Published Writers
    • Mustafa Aubaker - fiction, non-fiction
    • Saul Adler - fiction, non-fiction
    • Raymond Atkins - fiction
    • Tulasi Acharya - fiction, non-fiction
    • Peter Bein - non-fiction
    • Sara Boslaugh - non-fiction
    • Drew Brown - non-fiction
    • Jason Brown - non-fiction
    • Todd Campbell - fiction
    • M. Cauley - non-fiction
    • Jeff Cebulski - non-fiction
    • Kristi DeMeester - fiction
    • Mackleen Desravines - podcast, feature film
    • Marc Fitten - fiction
    • Patricia Henritze - drama
    • Sally Kilpatrick - fiction
    • Bobbi Kornblitt, fiction
    • Keaton Lamle – fiction, non-fiction
    • T. W. Lawrence - fiction
    • Brenda Ledford - fiction
    • Kathleen Brewin Lewis - poetry
    • Daniel Lumpkin- podcast, non-fiction
    • Krystina Madej - non-fiction
    • Christopher Martin – nonfiction, poetry
    • Man Martin - fiction
    • Jessica Nettles - fiction
    • Karen Pickell - non-fiction
    • Melva B. Robertson - non-fiction
    • Lisa Russell - non-fiction
    • Valerie Smith - poetry
    • Nancy Stephan - poetry
    • Cheryl Stiles – poetry
    • Jim Stoner – poetry, nonfiction
    • Sussan Sutphen - fiction
    • Ellen Taber - non-fiction
    • Leigh Takata - documentary film
    • Alla Umansky - non-fiction
    • Karen Wurl - drama

    Editors

    • Editor - The Chattahoochee Review
    • Editor - Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)
    • Editor-in-Chief - Health Net Inc
    • Editor-in-Chief - Raised Voices Press
    • Editor - Peachtree Publishers
    • Managing Editor - Fenuxe Magazine
    • Managing Editor - Journal of College Orientation and Transition
      (National Orientation Directors Association)
    • Copy Editor - Wipf and Stock Publishers
    • Assistant Editor - Center for Sustainable Journalism, Kennesaw State University
    • Freelance - EPFL Roswell GA

    Professional/Applied writers for popular magazines, trade publications, or newspapers

    • Senior Medical Writer - Ingenix International
    • Freelance Writer – LFB Communications
    • Content Writer - Local Marketing, Inc.
    • War Correspondent - Knight Ridder newspapers, Stars and Stripes
    • Writer/Creator - Warner Brothers, First World Failure, Los Angeles, CA
    • Managing Content Writer - 247 Media Connections
    • Writer and Researcher at IZEA - Shaw Industries

    Web Content Editors

    • MGMA - Englewood, CO
    • Chief of Content – TaxJar

    Technical writers and editors

    • LG Electronics
    • Amec Foster Wheeler
    • EDI Electronic Data Inc
    • Systems Atlanta, Inc.
    • Refrigeration Controls Company
    • Liberty Mutual Insurance
    • Home Depot
    • Voluntary Voting System Guidelines
    • Mini Gadgets Inc.
    • RTI, Inc.
    • In Touch Ministries

    See MAPWriting, the MAPW program magazine, for articles about alumni at https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/mapwriting.

  • Doctoral Students

    • University of Georgia
    • Georgia State University
    • Mercer University
    • Kennesaw State University
    • Columbus State University
    • Miami University, Oxford Ohio
    • Colorado State University
    • Arizona State University
    • Union University, Jackson, Tennessee
    • and many other universities

    Adjunct Professors, Full-time Lecturers or Assistant Professors

    • Georgia Tech School of Literature, Communication, and Culture
    • Oglethorpe University
    • Georgia Highlands College
    • North Georgia College and State University
    • Chattahoochee Technical College
    • Georgia College & State University
    • Georgia Northwestern Technical College
    • Gwinnett Technical College
    • Dalton State College
    • Kennesaw State University
    • Reinhardt University
    • Sylvan Learning Center
    • Bryant & Stratton College, Milwaukee, WI
    • Simon Fraser University School of Interactive Arts and Design
    • South University, Richmond, VA
    • National American University, SD
    • Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI
    • University of Missouri-Columbia MO
    • University of Milwaukee
    • University of Texas - El Paso

    High School Teacher

    • Lassiter High School
    • Woodland High School
    • Kennesaw Mountain High School
    • Pickens County High School
    • Sequoyah High School
    • The Walker School
    • North Cobb Christian School
    • Centennial High School
    • Burlington High School (WI)

    Middle School Teacher

    • Dalton Middle School
    • South Central Middle School
    • The Walker School
    • Douglas Co. School District, Castle Rock, CO

    Academic Administration and Support

    • Director of ESL Study and Tutorial Center, University College - Kennesaw State University
    • Master of American Studies Program Coordinator - Kennesaw State University
    • Literacy Specialist - Cobb County City Schools
    • Assistant Director of Disabled Student Support Services - Kennesaw State University
    • Director of Graduate Enrollment Mgmt - University of Denver College of Business
    • Library Assistant - Florida State University
    • Specialized Writing Consultant, Writing Center - Kennesaw State University
    • Director of Public Relations - University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences
    • Campus Dean - Georgia Highlands College

    Corporate Training

    • Chief Learning Officer and Vice President of Professional Services - ExecuTrain
    • Employee Training Specialist - Mohawk Industries

    Instructional Designer

    • CribMaster
    • Dish Network
    • Media 1st
    • ADP
    • AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.  

  • Business Owner

    • Aiellejai Carnahan Communications

    Communication

    • Communications Coordinator - Atlanta BeltLine, Inc
    • Global Communications – Sandoz, Munich, Germany
    • Corporate Communications Manager - Cox Communications
    • Senior Manager, Associate Communications – MET at The Home Depot
    • Director - Atco
    • Director - Atlanta Athletic Club
    • Analyst affiliated with Lockheed Martin - Washington D.C.
    • Brand Communications Manager - Micrometrics Instrument Corporation
    • Communications and Vendor Relations - Elevanta, Kennesaw Ga.
    • Director of Communications – Laney Graduate School, Emory University

     Corporate Consultant

    • Esyntial Elements Consulting Inc.

     Management

    • Account Executive and Business Development Executive - Infinity Promotions Group
    • Business Development/Communications Leaders - Brown Public Relations
    • Director of New Titles - Golson Media (2014)
    • Director of Client Services - Relish Marketing
    • Project manager – ProEdit

     Marketing

    • Senior Marketing Manager – Transwester
    • Director - Housesmart Home Inspection
    • Director - LEXIS Publishing
    • Director - C360
    • Marketing Communications Manager – AVOXI
    • Content Marketing - Emcien
    • Marketing Team - Eastdil Secured

     Media Relations

    • Director of Media Relations and Editorial Services - Kennesaw State University
    • Associate Director – Emory University
    • Specialist - SnowGrow PR

    Public Affairs

    • Manager - GTE Service Corporation

     Public Relations

    • Specialist - College of the Arts - Kennesaw State University

     Social Media

    • Manager – Wikot
    • Manager - Williams Collision Repair
    • Marketer - 247 Media Connections
    • Coordinator - Spelman College
    • Associate - Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.
    • Specialist - Lunex

  • Nonprofits, Development, Fund Raising, the Arts

    • Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations - Georgia Gwinnett College
    • Director of Alumni Development - Armstrong-Atlantic State University
    • Director of Advancement Services - Columbus State University
    • Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations - Georgia Gwinnett College
    • Development Manager - Atlanta Botanical Gardens
    • Grant and Proposal Writer - Sustainable Journalism, Kennesaw State University
    • Proposal Writer - Phacil, Inc.
    • Grant Writer - MUST Ministries
    • Director of Mission Communications - Arthritis Foundation
    • Administrative Marketing & Communications Coordinator - Arthritis Foundation
    • Adult Education Project Coordinator - Girl Scout Council of Northwest GA
    • Georgia Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists President
    • Digital Media Manager & Communications Specialist - First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta

     Public Service

    • County Planning Commissioner - Claiborne County, Tennessee
    • Deputy Director, then Director - Georgia State Senate Press Office
    • Public Relations Professional - Georgia Governor’s Office of Student Achievement

Professional Writing Alumni and Students - Share Your Good News

Master of Arts in Professional Writing alumni are encouraged to share news about their creative and career successes with the Professional Writing program.  With your permission, your news may also be shared with the University’s media relations staff and on the social media for the program, department, college or university.  Send your news to Tony Grooms at tgrooms@kennesaw.edu.

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