Becoming a professional; becoming a leader
By Isabelle LaPapa
The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Emerging Leaders Program announced 2016 Professional Writing Grad Becca Schriner as one of their 28 recipients.
The ECPA runs the Emerging Leader Program through their online “Publishing University,” ECPA PubU. ECPA PubU’s mission is “training, connecting, and inspiring the Christian publishing professional,” according to their website.
Emerging Leader recipients receive a scholarship to attend the ECPA PubU and a year of mentorship by an industry professional tailored for each recipient’s specific area of the publishing industry.
Schriner received her Master’s in Public Relations with a specialization in leadership from Ball State University. She entered into the publishing industry as a publicist and has not looked back since. Schriner now works at Bethany House and with Baker Publishing Group helping authors with their platform and lining up interviews from local backyard podcasts to Good Morning America.
Schriner’s first interaction with the Emerging Leader Program began with a nomination from Linda Taylor, professor of Professional Writing at Taylor University.
“The Emerging Leader opportunity fell into my lap when Linda submitted me,” Schriner said. “I was so honored and so blessed by that.”
With her career and expertise as a publicist, Schriner will pursue the marketing and editorial track through PubU.
She had not anticipated a career in the Christian publishing world; however, God had different plans, according to Schriner. Her goal now is to continue to be the “lieutenant cheerleader in the background” for her clients.
“What I want to get out of this… is to continue to grow in my craft and to continue to honor God in Christian publishing…and then continue to serve Christian authors well.”
Schriner’s advice to others entering the publishing industry is to focus on using one’s gifts to bless others.
“God puts together all of our talents so that we can go out and make an impact on this world,” Schriner said. “Remember: this is a message that God called you to share with the world.”
The scholarship will enable Schriner to use her own talents to lift up others’ voices and continue with her vocation as a publicist in the Christian publishing world.
As Schriner accepts the Emerging Leader scholarship, she reflects on women in leadership who have influenced Schriner to be where she is today. She took the opportunity to shout out Linda Taylor and Donna Downs, professor of Public Relations at Taylor University, as well as the rest of the Taylor Communication Department.
“I would not be where I am without these women leaders who are spending time with students and taking time out of their days to say you are important and you are leaders. [You are the] next generation of professionals.”
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