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Laureen Connelly Rowland
Publisher and Founder of Hudson Street Press/Penguin Group (USA)
Graduated PC: 1991

PC Degrees: BA/English

PC Activities:  The Cowl; The Alembic

Career Path: After graduating from Providence College, Rowland took a job in New York City as director of editorial services for a top worldwide public relations firm.  In 1992, she turned her attention to publishing. She joined Simon & Schuster as an editorial assistant and spent over four years there learning the editorial side of publishing. She then went to HarperCollins as an editor, publishing a number of successes, including the New York Times bestseller Ophelia Speaks: Adolescent Girls Write About Their Search for Self.

With her books garnering accolades and gaining bestseller prominence, Rowland felt that she had achieved her goals as an editor. She became a literary agent with David Black (the agent for Tuesdays with Morrie, among others) in 1999. In just over three years, Rowland grew her own client list to 35 authors.

At age 33, she was approached by the president of Penguin Group (USA) to come to Penguin to found her own imprint of books. Rowland accepted Penguin's invitation and established Hudson Street Press, an adult, hardcover non-fiction imprint.

Rowland continues to passionately lead Hudson Street Press, where she participates in nearly every aspect of the publishing process.

Family:   Husband, John; twins

Staying Involved: Rowland was featured in providence magazine's summer 2006 issue.

Memorable Quotes: "At PC I was blessed to study under two extraordinary women who helped me to find my voice as a woman and a writer: Norma Kroll and Jane Lunin Perel.  Many of the books I've published at Hudson Street/Penguin are for, by, and about women and the issues that concern us in our lives. I feel I owe my passion for that mission in part to them."