As a double major in psychology and creative writing, Nya Nesbit ’25 was drawn to stories — how they are written, shared, and discovered. Through her work with University Libraries, she found a path that would shape her confidence and launch her career in academic publishing.
Nesbit served in two student roles with University Libraries. During her sophomore and junior years, she worked as a student library assistant at the Art and Architecture Library in Cowgill Hall. As a senior, she expanded her focus through a digital publishing internship with Virginia Tech Publishing & Press. Her internship was supported through work-study.
Interests become opportunities
Nesbit was already elbow-deep in publishing. During her junior year, she launched the Elevate Magazine, a student organization that publishes a student-led magazine about art, culture, and fashion. She created the website and supervised about 30 students in five departments, including editorial, design, photography, marketing, and events. While she served as the magazine’s editor-in-chief, the organization published two issues of Elevate Magazine.
“When I saw the opening for the internship with Virginia Tech Publishing,” said Nesbit. “I jumped at the chance to gain more formal experience.”
At Virginia Tech Publishing & Press, Nesbit gained hands-on experience in academic and digital publishing. She worked on a variety of open-access, scholarly books ranging from an edited collection about medical history to a collection of artwork and poetry by people imprisoned in Virginia.
“Nya’s creativity sticks out to me the most,” said Emily Hills, scholarly publishing coordinator for Virginia Tech Publishing & Press. “Whether it was in problem solving a tricky editing problem or creating concepts for book covers, she approached every problem with fresh eyes that the press really benefited from. Nya also had the technical skills to back up this creativity and make her vision come to life.”
Nesbit developed a deeper understanding of how scholarly content moves from concept to publication, which prepared her for her next step.
The next chapter
Today, she serves as a digital publishing production specialist with Project MUSE at Johns Hopkins University Press, a leading provider of digital humanities and social sciences content to libraries and researchers worldwide. In her role, she draws directly on the expertise she built at Virginia Tech, applying both technical knowledge and an understanding of the broader publishing landscape.
“My internship with Virginia Tech Publishing was a great introduction to academic and digital publishing as a whole,” she said. “It was a natural segue to working now at Project MUSE.”
“Often the hardest part can be getting a foot in the door,” said Hills. “I am excited that she has been able to find a place in scholarly publishing so quickly. That specific role seems like it will make use of her technical expertise and attention to detail, which she showcased again and again in her work with Virginia Tech Publishing & Press.”
Nesbit’s journey reflects the mission-driven impact of University Libraries’ student employment and experiential learning opportunities. These experiences prepare graduates with the skills and confidence to lead in evolving fields.
“Working closely with people in Virginia Tech Publishing who had a passion for what they do greatly impacted my experience and my confidence in my career,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the support from my supervisors, the Virginia Tech Publishing staff, and my fellow intern, I wouldn’t have the confidence I have now in my role at Project MUSE.”
