CWU marketing management student selected for competitive publishing program

As a lover of books, Larissa Baldovinos had no idea that her major in marketing management at Central Washington University would one day take her across the country to learn about the publishing industry from some of the finest in the field.

Then, in September, she was accepted into New York University’s prestigious Summer Publishing Institute (SPI).

“I really love marketing, and I’m a big reader, too,” said Baldovinos, a junior in CWU’s College of Business. “This program plays into both of those passions.”

Baldovinos first caught wind of the intensive, four-week program last summer, and after attending a series of informational sessions and gathering the required letters of recommendation, she suddenly saw her future drift into view.

“I’m just looking for every opportunity to step into publishing, which is much more feasible now,” she said. “Starting with this program will for sure give me a leg up.”

Baldovinos currently works with Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement (SLICE) at CWU, where she uses her training to help both students and community members throughout the Kittitas Valley. Her supervisor, CWU Program Manager for Community Engagement Jessica Woodall, supported her application for the SPI with a letter of recommendation, and she sees the program making a huge difference for Baldovinos’ future.

“This opportunity of living in New York and participating in the workshops, strategy sessions, and presentations provided by this program will offer her invaluable experiences significant for her personal and professional development,” Woodall said. “The knowledge she will gain in content creation, editing, marketing, sales, and digital aspects of the industry can also equip her with the expertise and connections needed to excel and make significant impacts in her career.”

An Ellensburg native, Baldovinos enrolled at CWU following recommendations from her parents, Jesus (’98) and Livier (’02) Baldovinos, who are both alumni. She explained that her experience with the College of Business has mirrored theirs in all the best ways.

“Both of my parents graduated from the College of Business, so I knew it was a good program,” Baldovinos said. “They definitely proved that to me, too, both through the professors and the advising available. It was just a perfect fit for me.”

While the SPI is considered a graduate program, NYU also admits incoming undergraduate seniors such as Baldovinos to the program. It is the only such program among the largest publishing universities in the country to do so, making it much more competitive for undergraduate applicants. In spite of these odds, Woodall always believed that Baldovinos was a great fit for the program.

“In her work with the SLICE team, Larissa has demonstrated strong work ethic, creativity, initiative, and leadership, particularly in the level of teamwork she has demonstrated and the quality of the social media campaigns she has developed for our team,” Woodall said. “She is an excellent candidate for the SPI program.”

In addition to being selected for the SPI, which takes place this summer, Baldovinos has secured a paid, remote internship with Macmillan Publishing, which begins in February. She is excited to graduate in 2026 and use her experiences to make her mark on the publishing industry.