Emma Liarikos ’25, an English communications major with minors in political science and marketing, is driven by a passion for connection, public service and leadership. She’s a social media assistant in Salve’s Office of Marketing and Communications, an intern at Audrain Hospitality, and a Nuala Pell Leadership fellow, actively shaping her future to make a meaningful impact.

Her journey isn’t just about academics and internships – it’s also about the personal growth and sense of purpose she has cultivated at Salve, where she has been able to explore her passions, build meaningful connections and develop the skills that will guide her future.

Discovering Salve: A Path Toward Purpose

Liarikos always dreamed of attending a small college where she could form close relationships with her professors and feel like part of a tight-knit community. When it came time to choose between Salve and another school, Liarikos knew Salve was the right fit. The opportunities for academic growth and personal connection were simply unmatched, and she felt instantly at home.

“Salve offered a way to not only enhance my studies, but also make me really feel part of a community,” shared Liarikos. “The feeling of being here is so unique to Salve, and other schools just can’t offer that.”

What truly set Salve apart for Liarikos was her acceptance into the Pell Honors program as a first-year student. The program, which offers advanced courses, early registration and unique housing options, quickly became a cornerstone of Liarikos’ academic experience.

In addition to her Pell Honors studies, Liarikos is a member of Sigma Phi Sigma, the national mercy honor society at Salve.

As part of the program, Liarikos enrolled in special honors sections and seminars of courses offered at the University, challenging herself with fast-paced classes that pushed her intellectual boundaries. It was during her sophomore year that she honed in on her major. Initially, Liarikos had arrived at Salve intending to pursue political science, inspired by her grandfather who was a state senator. But after taking a class with Dr. Donna Harrington-Lueker, professor in the Department of English, communications and media, she found her passion.

Specifically, Harrington-Lueker’s course, UNV-101 Women and Popular Culture, opened Liarikos’ eyes to how the media shapes and influences the public perception of women’s identities. “She has been so great and so encouraging,” said Liarikos. “It was through her courses that I became interested in interpersonal communication and media.”

This newfound understanding sparked her interest in digital communication and paved the way for her career goals, inspiring her to dive deeper into marketing and public relations.

Experience in the Field

Alongside her studies, Liarikos took on a work-study position in the University’s Office of Marketing and Communications as a social media assistant. In that role, Liarikos helps create “day in the life” and street style videos, gaining valuable experience in social media analytics and mastering tools like Canva. “Social media is such a powerful tool,” Liarikos said. “I have had so much fun learning these skills and it is great to see the campus community get engaged in the projects.”

While this position helped her build invaluable skills, Liarikos’ most impactful work experience came this semester with an internship at Audrain Hospitality in Newport, Rhode Island. Known for its boutique hotels, events and distinguished collection of classic cars, Audrain offered Liarikos an opportunity to explore the intersection of marketing, public relations and hospitality.

Liarikos working at Audrain’s Motor Week 2024.

At Audrain, Liarikos has been involved in projects that span from compiling vendor lists for wedding shows to managing event calendars for Newport’s bustling tourism scene. Her internship experience also included working behind the scenes for the high-profile Audrain Auto Museum car show. Her internship not only allowed Liarikos to apply the skills she’s gained in her communications courses but also to see inspiring leadership firsthand.

“I really admire my boss. She is such a go-getter, and even with so much on her plate, she still leads with grace,” shared Liarikos. “I hope to lead like that one day.”

The Nuala Pell Leadership Program

In addition to her studies and work experiences, Liarikos’ leadership journey has also been enriched by her recent acceptance into the Nuala Pell Leadership Program, which focuses on developing future leaders who are prepared to serve in the public sector. The program has provided Liarikos with an invaluable opportunity to learn more about leadership while connecting with peers and mentors who share her passion for public service.

Through monthly meetings, students engage with accomplished leaders in the public sector and explore leadership theory, ethics and the evolution of public issues. The fellowship year culminates with a visit to Washington D.C. where the leadership fellows meet with public and private-sector leaders.

“Working with people from diverse academic backgrounds has been incredibly rewarding. It has allowed me to learn from my peers, whose perspectives I might not have encountered otherwise – and I think that will make me a better leader,” said Liarikos.

Looking Ahead

As she looks to the future, Liarikos’ plans to pursue graduate school in public administration and continuing her work in the political sphere. With her strong foundation in communication and leadership, Liarikos is well-equipped to enter the world of communications, policy or public service.

Looking back on her four years on campus, Liarikos has some valuable advice for other students – especially those just beginning their academic journey.

“Salve has so much to offer, and you can really make your experience your own,” Liarikos said. “There are so many ways to get involved – whether it’s joining a club, taking on a work-study position or just being open to new opportunities. You never know where it might take you. I didn’t expect to be where I am today, but it is all of the experiences I said ‘yes’ to that got me here.”

For Liarikos, Salve has been more than just a place to study – it’s been a launchpad for a future of leadership, service and making a positive impact in the world. Guided by the principles of mercy, she is ready to carry these values with her into the next chapter of her journey.

“Salve has a great curriculum where you can study different topics and fields, which leaves you with lots of unique and well-rounded experiences for when you graduate,” shared Liarikos.

Author Michelle Barry ’07, an English communications major, just released “Ashgarden,” the third book in her YA science fiction series, “Plotting the Stars.” Described as a mix between Frances Hodgson Burnett’s “The Secret Garden,” and Jeanne DuPrau’s “City of Ember,” the series follows Myra Hodger, a young heroine at a lunar academy in a future where Earth’s plants have turned toxic, and humanity now lives in space.

In the interview below, Barry shares with us her inspirations and her path to literary success.

Q&A with Michelle Barry ’07

Q: Could you tell us a little bit about the Plotting the Stars series?

A: It was a long journey from the first draft of the first book to its publication, and now with the third book going out into the world, it’s really surreal.

The story takes place hundreds of years in the future at a Lunar boarding school for those gifted with STEM-fueled magic. The reason humanity lives on the Moon (and other settlements throughout the solar system) is because the plants on the Old World (Earth) became toxic due to pollution, and humanity had to evacuate. In her first year at her magical school, the main character, Myra, discovers she has powers related to plants, which are forbidden.

Q: Who is it geared for and what kind of world and challenges does it present to readers?

A: The books are middle grade and geared to middle school readers, however, I think they could be a fit for anyone in elementary school or older! The main themes of the trilogy orbit around climate change, corporate greed and the importance of the STEM fields. However – to me – the books have always been ones of friendship, and how relationships can evolve as we get older.

Q: How and when did you get the idea for this series? What were you doing in your life when you got inspired to write it? 

The idea for the first book, “Moongarden,” began as a retelling of “The Secret Garden,” one of my all-time favorite novels. However, the inspiration to create this story actually occurred while I was visiting Salve! My family and I return to Newport often and love walking the school grounds, around town and along the Cliff Walk. I don’t remember exactly where we were, but during one visit, we walked past a beautiful home with a huge wall enclosing the yard. Vines and flowers were growing over the wall, and it struck me as so reminiscent of the imagery of “The Secret Garden.”

In that moment, it reminded me of the feeling of magic the garden holds in that book, and it made me want to capture that in my own story. From there, the idea for “Moongarden” began to grow. As the plot developed, I decided to weave many of my favorite tropes into the story – magic, magical boarding schools and found family.

Q: You have been working in the insurance industry as a marketing and business development communications pro for the past 10 years, and you have two children. How do you balance the day-to-day work that entails with not only writing books, but managing to raise a family as well?

A: Lots of coffee! I think that no matter what you’ve got going on in your day-to-day life, there are always plenty of excuses to not find the time to write. It can be really daunting to start writing. But if you’ve got a story you are passionate about telling, you just really have to be disciplined and make the time. That process might look a little different for everyone, but for me, setting a routine is critically important. In the early years, I would get up really, really early (like 4 a.m. early) to write several days a week before work, or before the kids woke up. More recently, my writing time has migrated to late nights, usually somewhere post 10 p.m. until around midnight, especially if I’m on deadline. So again, lots and lots of coffee!

Q: How did Salve inspire or influence the direction you took with your writing or your life?

A: I always knew during my time at Salve that I would pursue a career that had to do with books and/or writing. Eventually, I landed on an English communications major, and it was a natural fit. I loved learning about the different ways to tell a story – from a newspaper article to a press release to a marketing brief. I’ve always loved books, but it honestly never occurred to me until much, much later that I could be an author. I think a lot of the publishing process is very mysterious – when I do my book talks at schools and bookstores, a large part of my presentation is usually explaining how a book becomes a book. Understanding the process I think makes it less daunting and feel more possible.

So while the idea of writing my own book didn’t occur to me until years after graduation, the things I learned at Salve very much prepared me to be able to do so once I realized I could.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are here at Salve?

A: Start writing! And never doubt that it’s possible to be published. Imposter Syndrome is a real thing no matter if it’s your first ever draft or you’re a New York Times bestselling author. It’s normal to be nervous when starting to tell a story but just keep putting one word in front of the other, and don’t get bogged down trying to make the plot or the writing perfect from the start – that’s what revisions are for! But you can’t edit a blank page. Just keep going and before you know it, you’ll have a finished book!

Q: Who are your favorite authors?

A: Oh I have so many! Suzanne Collins, Rick Riordan, Leigh Bardugo, V.E. Schwab, Taylor Jenkins Reid – to name a few, and I know I am missing many. Science fiction and fantasy have always been my favorite to read, but I’ll dabble in almost any genre.

Q: Can we expect to see a fourth book in the Plotting the Stars series? Or maybe another story universe altogether?

A: I would love to tell more of Myra’s story. I also think it would be fun to do a “Plotting the Stars” prequel – the parents of the main characters of the story definitely had their own adventures in their day! But there are no immediate plans at the moment. I do have a couple projects in the works, both middle grade novels, and hope one or both will end up on a bookshelf one day!