Welcome to Staff Spotlight! Get to know the dedicated staff at the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, who work year-round to support the success of the Scholastic Awards.

This month, we’re highlighting Associate Manager of Program Communications, Connor Oswald!

Describe your role at the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.

For the Alliance, I am the Associate Manager of Program Communications. This is a long-winded way of saying I help draft and organize a lot of our external communication. I’m in charge of many of our e-blasts and their schedule, review our online content such as the website and the portal, etc. 

What is your favorite part about working at the Alliance?

I think my favorite part is my co-workers! Not only are they all lovely people, but it’s great to work with people who are all so united in their goal/ambition: to help share and uplift teen creativity. 

What is your favorite book of all time, and what makes it so special to you?

My favorite book is The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin. I feel like reading it just opened up my mind to like new possibilities for what life and the world could be like.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

Outside of work, I mostly just read, write, and play D&D.

Favorite snack or drink while working?

. . . does iced coffee count as an answer? 

Favorite song or album of the moment?

It’s a little embarrassing, but I’ve fallen back into an American Football phase.

Name three famous artists and/or writers you would invite to a dinner party.

James Baldwin,  Simone de Beauvoir, and Marguerite Yourcenar

If you could visit any museum in the world, where would you go and why?

For some reason, the National Coach Museum in Lisbon has really been calling my name recently. I think it would just be fascinating to see and envision the ways people moved about and how crazy decadent some of the carriages really are.