Meet the Fall Interns

From fact-checking to proofreading, from sending mail to tweeting, meet the twentysomethings who help bring you the Virginia Quarterly Review.

Annie Yanofsky

Topics of Study: English, Creative Writing, History

Favorite VQR task(s): Reading the content for the next issue and managing the Instagram

Current read: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

Childhood ambition: I dreamed of being a CIA agent. My dad and I made a secret keyword. He said that if I ever told him I was working on an alfalfa farm, he’d know I was actually working for the CIA.

Fictional character you most resemble (or would like to): The greatest compliment would be if someone told me I resembled Skeeter from The Help.

Favorite piece of VQR content: Either “The Breakup Museum” by Leslie Jamison (Spring 2018) or “The Weight of a Nickel” by Sarah Smarsh

Hidden talent/party trick: Contortion. In high school I competed in yoga competitions.

Literary quote you’d (maybe) consider getting as a tattoo: Wouldn’t get this as a tattoo, but love this line from “Mysterious Kor” by Elizabeth Bowen: “…but for a girl and soldier who, by their way of walking, seemed to have no destination but each other and to be not quite certain even of that.”

Unpopular literary opinion: I don’t like The Alchemist.

Go-to person for: Vegetarian recipes

Literary crush (fictional or real): Elif Batuman, author of The Idiot

Emily Sumlin

Topics of Study: Media Studies, Spanish

Favorite VQR task(s): Fact-checking!

Current read: Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera

Childhood ambition: Dolphin trainer

Favorite piece of VQR content: “Fat Swim” by Emma Copley Eisenberg

Hidden talent/party trick: I can play the Cup Song from Pitch Perfect.

Literary quote you’d (maybe) consider getting as a tattoo: “We were together. I forget the rest.” — Walt Whitman

Unpopular literary opinion: I dog-ear my book pages to keep my place.

Go-to person for: Stand-up comedy recommendations

Literary crush (fictional or real): Percy Jackson