Hannah Rose Fyan
Hannah Fyan is a University of Iowa alum with a strong foundation in liberal arts, communication, and education. She brings a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach to her work, shaped by academic experiences in writing, editing, and media, as well as hands-on roles that required organization, collaboration, and creativity. Her background reflects a passion for learning, storytelling, and supporting others through clear communication. Professionally, Hannah has gained diverse experience across tutoring, social media, editorial work, and program coordination. As an Advanced Reading Tutor at Kumon, she supports student learning by guiding reading development, answering questions, and tracking progress both in person and online. Through her role as a Publishing Assistant for Pie Press Publishing (Unforgettable Books), she has gained real-world proofreading and publishing experience from crowdfunding, promotion, and final reviews of novels, anthologies, and short stories alike. She has also served as a Social Media Producer for the University of Iowa’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where she drafted, edited, and scheduled content across multiple platforms, strengthening her skills in digital communication and audience engagement. In addition to her academic and tutoring work, Hannah has contributed to literary and educational initiatives, including reading submissions for The Iowa Review, copyediting for a literary magazine, and teaching creative writing through the Iowa Youth Writer’s Project. Her experience managing logistics for university athletics and interning in quality operations further highlights her adaptability and strong organizational skills. Hannah is driven by curiosity, creativity, and a commitment to meaningful, well-executed work across education, media, and the arts.
• Bachelor's Degree
• Entrepreneurial Management Certificate
• University of Iowa
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the amazing mentors and hands-on internships that have guided my growth. Their support, feedback, and real-world experience helped shape my skills, confidence, and professional direction.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women not to get discouraged by the dominance of the big five publishing companies. Stay true to yourself, keep honing your craft, and don’t give up—hard work, persistence, and belief in your voice can open doors and create opportunities you may not yet see.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in education currently is the continually deteriorating curriculum. Many schools are removing spelling tests, have stopped teaching cursive, and are limiting students' ability to further their education in the classroom beyond specific routes, such as AP or IB classes. This has impacted students' learning and their preparation for higher education and real-world jobs. However, this opens doors for supplemental education programs like Kumon that allow students to pursue independent learning that will give them a head start in preparing for life after high school. I hope to assist these kids in their learning journeys and hopefully encourage them to enjoy reading and writing as they move forward and beyond.
In the publishing industry, the biggest challenge is battling the monopoly that the Big 5 publishing houses have over the industry in the United States. Although independent publishing has increased and somewhat lost its reputation for bad writing, the industry is still dominated by traditional publishing through the Big 5 houses. Nonetheless, we independent publishers are working to find alternatives to counteract this monopoly. The Big 5 choose very similar stories to publish and play a lot of their publishing safely, which allows the independents to give a stage to voices that are often ignored or rejected by the mainstream. We can publish the new stuff, the writing that may not fit a perfect mold that the big publishers seek, and the works that challenge the status quo. The Big 5 have a tight grasp on the industry; however, they are constantly letting gems and geniuses slip through their fingers. We independents, will gladly continue to offer a platform for these writers to share their stories and leave an impact on their readers, thus the biggest challenge has also created the biggest opportunity in publishing.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are education, inspiration, and mentorship. I continue tutoring because I love helping kids discover a passion for reading and writing, and I find fulfillment in guiding them to reach their full potential.
Locations
Kumon/Pie Press Publishing (Unforgettable Books)
alongside Kumon, Ravenna, Michigan 49451