RESUME
Education
Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing: Poetry, Rutgers University-Newark Newark, New Jersey Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PAMinor in English: Publishing & Editing
American College of the Mediterranean, Aix-en-Provence, France
Fulbright: University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
Relevant Experience
Part-time Instructor in Creative Writing, Rutgers University-Newark Aug 2023 – May 2025• Conducted and facilitated fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction workshops for 25 undergraduate students.
• Curated lesson plans for three units: fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction; selected creative work from authors of diverse cultures and education levels, ensuring students improved in writing, critical thinking, and oral communication.
• Facilitated classes by public lectures and demonstrations, implemented interactive learning media to increase student. understanding of course materials, and participation.
Gallery Assistant, Lore Degenstein Gallery, Susquehanna University Sept 2019 – May 2023
• Coordinated private, public, and special events in the art gallery.
• Handled incoming works of art for Installation and take down for exhibitions.
• Worked on shows of work by artists from across the country, ensuring work remains in great condition.
Senior Editor, Iskanchi Press & Magazine (Remote) March 2023 – July 2023
• Lead and spearheaded magazine operations for online issues. Worked on editorial board for manuscript submissions
and copyedited a 100,000 + word manuscript for publication.
• Worked with a team of editors, readers, and designers to develop and maintain the style guide and editorial processes.
• Oversaw the editorial process for all content including copyediting, proofreading, and line editing to maintain the writer’s voice.
Poetry Teaching Assistant, Summer Writers Workshop, Writers Institute, Susquehanna University July 2022
• Assisted in teaching a poetry class of 7 high school students to enhance and challenge writing ability and skills.
• Advised students with feedback, critique and creative support for poetry portfolio and public readings of work.
• Led various workshops and lessons on poetic form, voice, fixed form, free voice, rhyme, and personal lexicon.
Volunteer Poetry Juror, Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Adjudication (Remote) Dec 2021 – Jan 2022
• Reviewed and assessed 20+ poems from high school writers all over country.
• Evaluated submissions relevance to style, form, imagery, voice, creativity, and language.
• Provided timely feedback on poems to assist in judication for contest winners.
Copyright & Permissions Editor, Common Reading Program, Susquehanna University Aug 2021 – May 2022
• Obtained copyright clearances and clerical details for creative writing pieces from 10+ journals and magazines.
• Provided direction and research regarding copyright procedure for creative writing pieces to be anthologized.
• Collaborated in editing with EIC and editorial team in publishing and distributing print collateral around university campus.
Freelance Project Assistant, Leigh NY, (Remote) April 2021 – Nov 2021
• Wrote and edited website copy including product descriptions for web publication. Created keyword-rich content tag lines and product descriptions to engage readers and optimize for SEO.
• Managed, organized, and produced copy for Pinterest boards and products within brand voice.
• Evaluated SEO-management and organic keyword development for higher viewership conversion, maximizing open rate, click-through rate and conversion.
Fiction Teaching Assistant, Summer Writers Workshop, Writers Institute, Susquehanna University July 2021
• Assisted in teaching a fiction class of 10 high school students to challenge writing ability and skills.
• Advised students constructive feedback and creative support for students pursuing further writing education.
• Led various workshops on short stories from a range of diverse authors.
Intro and Bios Editor, Common Reading Program, Susquehanna University Aug 2020 – June 2021
• Conducted outreach for community members to write introductions coordinating with creative writing pieces.
• Completed content, line, and copy editing of written work, working closely with writers to develop introductions for pieces.
• Partnered with program coordinator, editor-in-chief, and editorial team to develop and edit print collateral and design.
Director of Membership, Forum for Undergraduate Student Editors (Remote) Nov 2019 – Jan 2023
• Conducted outreach for English and Creative Writing Programs avidly connecting with HBCUs and colleges all with high population of underrepresented groups in publishing industry.
• Increased membership facilitating new membership of 30 colleges and universities across United States.
• Worked alongside memberships to organize annual conference, organizing and leading colloquium themed panels surrounding publishing industry including own panel about diversity in publishing industry.
Communications Intern, Goucher College, Baltimore MD June 2019 – Aug 2019
• Provided comprehensive editing and proofreading services on creative writing pieces
• Developed team-building skills and practiced cooperation skills through interviews with alumni
• Engaged in written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills through office communication, and working with other departments within Goucher College community and alumni network.
::
Honors, Awards, Fellowships
Center for African American Poetics and Poetry, Book Prize Finalist, Pittsburgh, PA June 2025
• Poetry manuscript was selected as one of twelve finalists selected by guest judge Cameron Awkward-Rich, for the CAAPP Book Prize, a highly competitive national book contest for emerging poets.
Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, Poetry Scholar, Middlebury College, VT Aug 2025
• Awarded competitive scholarship based on poetry manuscript submission to attend workshops and craft talks with leading writers, editors, publishers, and agents for the prestigious literary conference hosted.
Poetry Scholar at Fine Arts Work Center Summer Workshops, Provincetown, MA June 2025
• Awarded merit-based scholarship based on poetry writing sample scholarship to attend FAWC; generative poetry workshop with Cameron Awkward-Rich, and craft seminars with nationally recognized writers and artists in Provincetown.
Cave Canem Fellow June 2025 – present
• One out of thirteen Black poets selected in annual writing retreats, workshops, and a national community of peers and mentors; participated in workshops, public readings.
Just Buffalo Poetry Fellowship Finalist, Buffalo, NY April 2025
• One of five named finalists selected by Donika Kelly for the 2025 Poetry fellowship for emerging poets in residence at the Just Buffalo Literary Center, with curation opportunity in
Vermont Studio Center: Civil Society Fellowship July 2024 – Aug 2024
• Awarded the Civil Society Institute Fellowship, a prestigious award bestowed upon an individual writer who demonstrates exceptional creative talent and a commitment to their artistic practice, for 4-week writing residency.
Fulbright Commission: Art, Activism, and Social Justice, University of Bristol June 2021 – July 2021
• 3-week intensive in Bristol, UK exploring how movements for social justice around the world have shaped cultures and art with a focus on racial justice and the legacy of slavery have impacted the world. Completed classes on racial injustice, health and wellness, global feminism, colonialism, and more.
Skills
Literary: Briefs, Creative writing (poetry, fiction, nonfiction), Copywriting and content writing, Developmental editing, Line editing and proofreading, Permissions and copyright research, Manuscript preparation, Editorial project management, Bookselling
Computer: Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Audition, Microsoft (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) Microsoft Word (advanced features: Track Changes, Styles), CMS platforms (WordPress, Squarespace, Cargo, Wix), Chicago Manual of Style / MLA / APA formatting.
Administrative + Arts: Workshop facilitation, Curriculum development, Research & Analysis, One-on-one student mentorship, Feedback and critique in creative writing, Zoom and remote teaching tools, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive, Calendar), Microsoft Office Suite, Social media content planning, Arts administration, Event coordination, Community outreach and engagement, Digital Photography, Film Photography, Dark Room Photo Developing, Theatrical Set Design and Construction, Gallery assistance / installation prep., Exhibition Support.
::
Selected Publications
• “The Bull Teaches Me Dawn” in Ploughshares (forthcoming) - Winter 2025/2026 • “Clarity of Purpose” in wildness - Mar 2025
• “america, my ex-husband, won’t stop calling me” in Black Warrior Review 51.1 - Fall/winter 2024
• “When I Was a Boxer” in The Cincinnati Review - Dec 2024
• “Two Inlets in Winter” in Pigeon Pages - Oct 2024
• “Our Names Aren’t on the Mortgage But We’re Playing Homeowners For a Bit” in Pigeon Pages - Oct 2024
• “Alternate Holocene Where I Am The Maker (& you are still alive) in Poetry Northwest - Mar 2024
• “My Lifetime of Empties” in Lolwe - June 2023
• “good things grow here” in Passengers Volume 3, Issue 4 - Dec 2022
• Paul Henderson Exhibit Comes to the Library, Goucher Magazine - Sept. 2019
*I write as Kailah Figueroa