Alicia (Sheppard) Cooper

After graduation, I began my publishing career as a contracts assistant. As I familiarized myself with the industry, I realized the role of production editor, which requires the combined talents of a copy editor and project manager, was the perfect intersection for my interests and skill set. I made the move to that department in 2015 and then joined Penguin Publishing Group in 2018.

In that time, I have been the PE for a wide range of books. Some of my notable titles include The God of the Woods, A City on Mars, and Lucky Loser. I also have the pleasure of being part of the Penguin Classics team. It’s still surreal to work on the books I once studied in class.

If you have a favorite punctuation mark and a fondness for exploring rabbit holes, production editorial might be a good fit for you! My postgrad path seems conventional in hindsight, but I never would have found my way without being willing to explore all my options. I would encourage students to be open to unexpected opportunities and confident in what they bring to a wide range of teams.