Where are they now?: Katelynn Jasper (Class of 2013)
Q: Current occupation
A: Marketing Manager at Del Rey (Penguin Random House)
Q: What post high school education did you pursue?
A: BA in English Literature at Sonoma State University and a MA in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College
Q: Describe your career path and current occupation
A: My first job was at Julian Tea and Cottage Arts (best job ever). I worked in retail and food service through college and grad school before landing a job as a bookseller at the Harvard COOP, which is the largest and oldest college bookstore in the country. I’ve had numerous internships in the book industry, including event coordinator for the Boston Book Festival to school and library marketing for one of the leading children’s book publishers, Candlewick Press. When I graduated in 2020 there were practically no jobs available in traditional publishing so I continued to sell books while freelancing as a copy editor and social media director for a best-selling author. Then, one day, I saw a posting for a publicist job at this smaller indie publisher in Salem, MA, Page Street Publishing. During my time there from 2021-2025 I worked my way up to director of marketing and publicity overseeing the children’s and Young Adult, nonfiction, and horror books. Thanks to the experiences I learned during that time I was able to apply for and land my dream job as a marketing manager at Del Rey (Penguin Random House) working on winning science fiction, fantasy, and horror books. No matter if I was serving a coffee or working in my industry I have always looked for ways to continually better myself and make sure I am an indispensable asset at my job. Even if you aren’t in your dream job you can learn important things that will get you into your dream job! So don’t ever give up!
Q: What JHS experience(s) helped prepare you for your future career?
A: Freedoms Foundation and the senior year project. Both taught me how to interview and market myself. They both taught me to believe in myself.
Q: Do you have a favorite high school memory you would like to share?
A: Running the 4x4 during a track meet as anchor and going from last to first place. It felt like I was flying! I loved all of the school dances as well since dancing is one of my favorite activities.
Q: How did attending JHS help form the person you are today?
A: Going to a small school means you will have opportunities you might not have at a larger school. I doubt I would have ever had the opportunity to place varsity soccer my 4 years of high school or been a captain for 2 of those years if I’d gone anywhere else. I also loved that classes were small and you really got to have meaningful relationships with your teachers because they could actually focus on each student. I got to take my time growing up and genuinely enjoy my four years of high school, and I’m always in awe when I hear other people’s school experiences.
Q: What are you most proud of achieving since leaving JHS?
A: I’m most proud of achieving the goals I dreamed up in high school. I studied abroad for a year in the UK, I’ve gotten a master’s degree, I’ve had numerous poems and short stories published, and I’m working for my dream publisher working on books teen Katelynn would be amazed by.
Q: What were you passionate about in high school?
A: I was very passionate about reading, writing, and history.
Q: What are you passionate about now?
A: Not much has changed other than my ability to make change through my passions! I am focused on increasing the literacy rate in the U.S. and making publishing books accessible to diverse writers.
Q: What obstacle(s) have you faced that have helped mold you into the person you are today?
A: I had to work through college and my master’s program which meant I had little time off between school and work. During grad school I worked, interned, and was a full-time student while others in my cohort were just students or just interned at places for free which I couldn’t afford. However, that experience strengthened my drive and required me to be very organized and on top of it. It taught me to be a hard worker and that my dreams are worth it even if I had to take more steps to get there than others.
Q: Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your high school self?
A: Being cool doesn’t matter, chasing your dreams and having passions (no matter how nerdy) does.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A: Ideally, I’d love to be a published author and be in progress of pursuing some of my other passions like learning more languages and other hobbies outside of my career.
