The Hilliard Institute

The Hilliard Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation offering sensory education programing, experiential learning, and academic research and publishing while also supporting philanthropic initiatives through fundraising and educational training and activities—all under the umbrella of the concept of Educational Wellness. 

The Hilliard Institute. 4440 Savage Pointe Drive. Franklin, TN 37064

Email Dr. K. Mark Hilliard at mark.hilliardinstitute@gmail.com

or Professor Jessa R. Sexton at thehilliardpress@gmail.com.

Current Interns

Emilee Micah Butler

Writing Intern, Hilliard Institute

2025–2026

Emilee Micah Butler is a homeschooler with The Academy Tutorial and a dancer with our partner studio, Studio LLL. Ever since she was young, she has always been drawn to books and writing. She published her first short story when she was in 8th grade and always has a book with her. Outside of reading and writing, Emilee Micah spends her time doing dance, musical theater, and photography. She hopes to pursue creative writing and theater in her future education.

Previous Interns

Mattea Gernentz

Editing Intern, Hilliard Press

2018-2020

Mattea Gernentz interned with Hilliard Press during her time as a student at Wheaton College, while pursuing a double-major in English Literature and Psychology. She has possessed an ardent love for the written word since a very young age and is happiest residing among towering stacks of novels and scribbled bits of poetry. Her poetry has previously been published in A Celebration of Poets, and, in addition, she has earned the merits of “excellent” and “superior” for several poems submitted to ACSI at a regional level. While she immensely enjoys composing original content, Mattea also enjoys bringing order to the manuscripts of others and finds great joy in editing.

Katherine Russell

Editing Intern, Hilliard Press

2018-2020

Katherine Russell interned with Hilliard Press while she was a student at Trevecca in Nashville, Tennessee, studying English. She has since graduated and is now a professional editor. During college, when she wasn’t studying or in class, Katherine spent her time shaping her dance talents at ballet lessons, practice, and recitals.

Bella Comer

Illustrating Intern, Hilliard Press

2018-2020

Bella Comer savors making art, listening to music, laughing, watching movies, and taking walks with friends. Her artistic loves include animation, illustrating, photography, and one of her muses: the moon. To show God’s love through her life, to be an encouragement to those around her: these are the goals of Bella’s heart. From a very young age, she’s loved working with her hands and just being crafty, and she prays she can glorify God with her art.

Mary Virginia Johnson

Intern, Hilliard Press

2018-2020

Aspiring designer Mary Virginia Johnson loves photography, interior design, and art. She worked her internship with Hilliard Press by offering those skills as well as her talents in organization and event planning.