Meet Patricia Murphy of Superstition Review in Arizona State University

Today we’d like to introduce you to Patricia Murphy.

Patricia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Back in 2007 I was teaching creative writing at the Polytechnic campus in Mesa, and our College was developing a creative writing program that would focus on applied learning opportunities for students. I proposed an online literary magazine, where I could train students not only in the field of literature, but also more hands-on skills like blogging, marketing, web design, and social media. We published our first issue in spring 2008, and since then I have mentored over 350 students and we have published over 1100 artists and authors from all over the world.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Much of the road has been very smooth, thanks to wonderful support from my Department Heads and Deans throughout the last 12 years. We are preparing issue 24 right now. We have made some adjustments due to budget cuts. In general, though, the project has enjoyed success and rewards from the University and beyond.

Please tell us about your business.
I really wear two hats: I run the business administratively, overseeing the production of each magazine issue, the blog content, national advertising, social media, newsletters, and community outreach. I have also maintained representation at national conferences and forged relationships and partnerships with other literary magazines and organizations. But the real heart of the project is mentoring undergraduate students. Each semester I have a new set of undergrads from various majors who fill ten roles with the magazine. I’m constantly mentoring them, training them, helping them fine tune their messaging and their understanding of the literary field.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Oh yes! My Dean Duane Roen made it all possible. He was my direct boss when I started the project, and now he is Dean of the college I teach in and he has shown great support. My Department Head Ian Moulton spent seven years in his role, and he was so supportive with both pep talks and funding. I have faculty advisors who help me with training the students: Claire Lauer with web design, Kristin Lacroix with fiction, Mark Haunschild with poetry, and Becky Byrkit with nonfiction. I’ve had other faculty advisors throughout the years. And of course the project would not work at all without my wonderful students.

Contact Info:

• Address: Mail Code 2780
  240M Santa Catalina Hall
  7271 E Sonoran Arroyo Mall
  Mesa AZ 85212
• Website: https://superstitionreview.asu.edu
• Phone: 480-206-5404
• Email: superstition.review@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superstitionreview/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/superstitionreview
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/superstitionrev

Image Credit:
All taken with my cell phone.

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