Making Waves at Teen Vogue
If she could, Samhita Mukhopadhyay would like to meet the person or persons who decided to admit her to the University at Albany more than two decades ago. Her grades weren’t strong, but she had decent test scores, a good essay, and recommendations, and she was one of the highest-ranked high-school debaters in the U.S.
“I don’t know who that person was, but I’m very grateful, because she or he literally changed my life. Had I not gone to Albany, I wouldn’t have met the group of people I did,” says Mukhopadhyay, who was named executive editor of Teen Vogue last February.
Associate Professor of Women’s Studies Vivien Ng played a key role in Mukhopadhyay’s success at UAlbany; “she told me, ‘You’re a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for.’” Ng guided her in reading and studying the works of many prominent feminist scholars. Something clicked, and Mukhopadhyay, who double majored in sociology and women’s studies, went on to become an A/A+ student.
"Had I not gone to Albany, I wouldn't have met the group of people I did."
Her fellow women’s-studies majors were also crucial to her career. Jessica Valenti, B.A.’01, a writer and the founder of the blog Feministing.com, reached out to Mukhopadhyay in 2005 and offered her critically important experience in writing about feminism, politics, race, and culture. Valenti also was key to Mukhopadhyay’s getting her first book deal, for a work called Outdated: Why Dating is Ruining Your Life.
In 2009, Mukhopadhyay earned a master’s degree in women and gender studies from San Francisco State University. Before she took over at Teen Vogue, she was the senior editorial director of Culture and Identities at the politically savvy Mic.com. Teen Vogue pulled her in after the magazine decided to suspend its print publication and switch to an all-digital version. One look at the magazine today and you see a major change: While the site still offers lots of beauty, fashion, and celebrity features, it now also focuses front and center on news and politics. That switch, Mukhopadhyay observes, “made a lot of waves.”
She wasn’t expecting to reach this professional level as quickly as she did. “I’m now in a position where everything I’ve been into since I went to Albany has come together. It feels very special,” says Mukhopadhyay.