Honors College Graduate Awarded Association of American Literary Agents Fellowship

Honors College Graduate Awarded Association of American Literary Agents Fellowship

Amirah Elayan, an Honors College student who graduated summa cum laude in May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in English, was selected by Literary Agents of Change (LAOC) for the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA) Fellowship to intern with a literary agency for ten weeks this summer. 

“Amirah's fellowship marks the first time that William Paterson has partnered with AALA, and I am very proud that a student of Amirah's caliber will represent the English department and the MFA program during her ten-week internship,” says Professor Martha Witt, internship coordinator for the English Department, who created the alliance between William Paterson University and the Literary Agents of Change, the organization sponsoring the AALA Fellowship.

“We hope that students will continue to apply for this fellowship, which aims to increase access to candidates who have been historically underrepresented in the publishing industry."

The fellowship includes a $6,000 stipend and provides entrée into some of the most highly regarded literary agencies in the nation. 

Elayan is currently interning for Salky Literary Management under the fellowship. Through the agency, she has been engaging with authors and reviewing manuscripts.

 AALA is a trade organization of 400-plus members, and Literary Agents of Change is the nonprofit arm of their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Literary Agents of Change was formed to help dismantle the barriers to entry into a career as a literary agent for members of historically underrepresented groups, particularly people of color while recognizing the systems of overlapping oppressions in regard to race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender expression, class, and ability.

 

 

08/09/22