Emily Coppella

Throughout my professional career path, I’ve made sure to focus on my abilities as a storyteller. Since graduating from Carleton University, I’ve worked in the tourism and media industries. I was a Marketing and Communications Assistant with Tourism Kingston, which allowed me to discover my passion for supporting local events and businesses. My English major at Carleton gave me the skills I needed to craft engaging digital content there, and my Women and Gender Studies minor allowed me to pitch stories that aligned with the intersectional feminist perspective Carleton helped me develop. After receiving my M.A. at Queen’s University, I landed an amazing position less than three months later with Narcity Media Group as a Branded Content Writer. Perhaps the most memorable part of my time spent at Carleton was attending workshops to fulfill my Creative Writing concentration. These workshops helped me build confidence as a writer, allowed me to accept and integrate feedback, and inspired me to simply get out of my own way as a creative person. By the time I graduated, I had nearly a year and a half of full-time work experience thanks to the Co-Op program. My first placement was at Ontario Power Generation as a Web Page Publishing Student, and my second placement was at Carleton University’s Office of the Vice-President (Students and Enrolment) in the Strategic Initiatives Office.

Since graduating, my poetry and short fiction have been published in several Canadian and international literary magazines. I’m so proud of the way the English department deeply supports the literary arts — I never missed an iteration of the Showcase of Literary and Dramatic Arts.

Currently, I am a Marketing Coordinator at Ottawa Tourism, where I help position Ottawa as a unique destination for business and major events through strategic B2B marketing. My role involves managing content creation across digital platforms, developing campaigns that drive engagement and overseeing projects that enhance Ottawa’s visibility on a national and international scale.

This role is a natural extension of the skills I developed during my English degree — writing, audience engagement, and strategic storytelling are at the core of everything I do. Whether refining the messaging of an email campaign or discovering the best way to describe Ottawa while networking, my ability to tell a compelling story remains my strongest asset.

How has your Carleton English degree informed your professional and/or creative path?

I’ll be forever grateful for the way my Carleton English degree shaped me as a communicator. The skills I learned during the program are highly respected by professionals, and I see their impact in everything I do. Each class I took reinforced the power of attention to detail, creativity, and discipline—qualities that are essential in any field. Whether I’m crafting a compelling marketing campaign, writing a clear and persuasive email, or developing engaging content that drives results, my ability to communicate effectively is one of my greatest strengths. Every employer I’ve worked with values strong communicators, and my Carleton degree gave me the tools to stand out.

Beyond my professional work, my English degree continues to shape me as a lifelong writer. Whether I’m journaling as a form of stress relief—thanks to the freewriting techniques I learned at Carleton—or working on a short story, writing remains a constant in my life. Carleton not only sharpened my skills but also nurtured my passion for storytelling in all its forms.

Why Carleton?  What specific experiences or opportunities did you benefit from while studying English at Carleton?

I chose Carleton because of its strong sense of community, its cross-disciplinary flexibility, and the unique opportunities that come with studying in the nation’s capital. The ability to customize my education was invaluable. I was able to pursue a Women and Gender Studies minor, which broadened my critical-thinking skills and allowed me to engage with diverse perspectives both inside and outside the classroom. Being in Ottawa also meant having access to cultural events, opportunities to protest and engage with social movements, and a chance to meet people with both like-minded and opposing views, all of which deepened my understanding of the world.

Carleton also stood out because of its professors. They genuinely care about their students, fostering an environment where feedback is constructive, and learning feels personal. Some of my most memorable moments include attending a Scotiabank Giller Prize event, being in the same room as Margaret Atwood, and writing for the “Life in English” student blog. The experiences I had and the skills I gained at Carleton continue to influence me every day. I’m not sure where I’ll go next—but I’m grateful to know Carleton is where I came from.