ANNUAL MEETING
The AUPresses 2024 Annual Meeting was held on June 11-13 in Montréal, Quebec.
The 2024 Annual Meeting Program Committee, co-chaired by Michelle Sybert (Notre Dame) and David Aycock (Baylor), developed a robust schedule of speakers, educational sessions, and social events that made the most of our time together. Four hundred and sixty-nine individuals attended sessions, participated in networking events, and visited with sponsors and exhibitors.
AUPresses 2024 included an opening banquet where speaker Kimberley Stephenson, Trade Buyer Bookstore Services, McGill University Bookstore, spoke to attendees about the status of independent bookselling in Canada. Sessions started with an opening plenary with Guillaume Lajoie, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Université de Montréal, and Peter Schoppert, Director, National University of Singapore Press, who held a conversation on AI and Publishing. Charles Forsdick, James Barrow Professor of French at the University of Liverpool, Adjunct Professor in Translation Studies, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, and Chair of the Editorial Advisory Board and a non-Executive Director at Liverpool University Press, gave a closing plenary on Bibliodiversity in Translation and Publishing.
Event highlights included an opening reception; a 5K run/walk; daily meeting space for participants in the mentorship program; networking and newcomers lounges; a speed networking session; and daily special breakfast groups with assigned breakout rooms. These breakfast gatherings included groups and areas of interest such as BIPOC Networking, New Press Directors, LGBTQ+ Networking, and Small Press. And AUPresses hosted three publishers from Ukraine to speak on Scholarly Publishing in a War Zone and the Creation of Open Educational Resources.
Ten companies sponsored AUPresses 2024 at various levels (Gold, Silver and Bronze), and 32 companies showcased their products and services in the exhibit hall.
SPECIAL GROUP MEETINGS and Pre-Meeting workshops
Directors’ Networking Luncheon and Meeting
Fifty-nine Press Directors registered for this casual networking luncheon and meeting held on June 11 in Montréal in advance of AUPresses 2024. Veronica Klipp (Wits) opened the meeting, discussing Publishers’ Archives: Making the Past and Present Visible. Attendees went into breakout groups which consisted of a mix of new and seasoned Directors, where new Directors had the opportunity to ask the seasoned Directors questions. After the breakout groups, Barbara Kline Pope (John Hopkins) and Alan Harvey (Stanford), spoke about the Implications of AI. The luncheon was sponsored by Simon & Schuster.
Business Operations Meeting
For the first time AUPresses worked hosted the Business Operations Meeting in conjunction with the in-person Annual Meeting. AUPresses Events Manager Alexis Fagan worked with the planning committee to plan all the logistics for the meeting. There were 32 registrants. Kim Schmelzinger (Cornell) presented the AUPresses Annual Survey Statistics. Gabriela Beres (Michigan) and Susan Doerr (Minnesota) led a panel will discussing how UPs handle state taxes, post-exhibit reconciliation, and how to manage selling and displaying at academic exhibits. Brenna McLaughlin, AUPresses, Kate Kolendo, AUPresses, and Zoe Wake Hyde, Community Development Manager at Knowledge Commons, presented on how to best leverage UP Commons.
Journals Assembly
The Journals Committee hosted a pre-Annual Meeting workshop in Montréal for the journals community to engage in structured networking and conversations about a variety of topics relevant to journals publishing. The Assembly opened with a presentation by the Canadian Association of Learned Journals (CALJ) on their work and current challenges and trends in journals publishing in Canada. This pre-meeting workshop was organized by the AUPresses Journals Committee.
MEETING MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
The AUPresses Professional Development Committee, co-chaired by Megan Mendonca (Princeton) and Bethany Wasik (Cornell), paired 64 mentors and mentees through the AUPresses Mentorship Program.
ANNUAL MEETING GRANTS
In 2024, the Association funded several programs for qualified member staff to attend the Annual Meeting. Read more about their experiences in the Association’s blog, Digital Digest.
Early Career Grants
These grants covered registration fees (excluding pre-meeting workshops and add-on event fees) and up to $1,000 in travel expenses for an individual to attend their first in-person Annual Meeting. Grant awardees must have had more than six months but less than three years of experience in scholarly publishing. 2024 Early Career Grants were awarded to:
India Miraglia, Acquisitions Assistant, Cornell University Press
Andrew Webster, Electronic Publishing Production Specialist, Johns Hopkins University Press
Rachel Laney, Editorial, Design, and Production Coordinator, University of Virginia Press
Amanda Muscente, Journals Coordinator, Catholic University of America Press
Kristin Rawlings, Senior Editorial Associate, University of Chicago Press
Via Justine De Fant, Publicity and Development Manager, University of Guam Press
James Chan, Sales Specialist, University of Nebraska Press
Next Step Registration Grants
These grants were awarded to individuals attending their first in-person AUPresses Annual Meeting. Grants covered the full meeting registration fee (pre-meeting workshops and add-on event fees were not included). 2024 Next Step Registration Grants were awarded to:
Caroline McKusick, Associate Editor, Stanford University Press
Sarah Rous, Senior Project Editor, American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Equity, Justice, and Inclusion Grants
These grants waived the Annual Meeting registration fees (excluding pre-meeting workshops and add-on event fees) and reimbursed lodging and travel expenses up to $1,000. Grants are awarded to members who identify as a member of an underrepresented group within the Association. 2024 Equity, Justice, and Inclusion Grants were awarded to:
Carah Naseem, Associate Editor, Rutgers University Press
Cabrini Cruz, Textbook Project Lead & Managing Editor, University of Guam Press
Kathie Jiang, Marketing & Client Management Assistant, University of Pennsylvania Press
Melissa Yamaguchi, Production Editor, University of Hawaii Press
Jess Merrill, Textbook Lead Designer and Production Manager, University of Guam Press
Business Operation Grant
These grants reimbursed up to $500 for travel expenses and waived the Business Operations Meeting registration fee. Grants were awarded to individuals from smaller (group 1 & 2) presses. Grants were awarded to:
Jenn Schultz, Business and Operations Manager, Syracuse University Press
Lorena Magana-Aguilar, Financial Analyst III, University of California Press
AUPRESSES REGISTRATION PROMOTIONS
In addition to the grants noted above, the Association offered a registration promotion via the Small Press Program. Regular member presses that reported under $1.5 million annual net sales were eligible to receive one complimentary registration to the Association’s in-person Annual Meeting. The Association also offered the popular Buy 3 Get 1 Newcomer Free promotion to AUPresses members.
DIRECTORS SUMMIT
Planning for the 2025 biennial in-person Directors Summit is underway. The event will once again be hosted Rosemont, Illinois, at the Big Ten Conference Center from October 22-24, 2025. The summit will begin with an opening dinner and introductory remarks on October 22, continue with a full day of programming on October 23, and conclude with a half-day session from on October 24. There will also be a group activity scheduled for October 23.
WEBINARS
In 2024-2025, the following webinars were held to share information and resources. These are available to our member presses in the Webinar Library on our Resources website.
Public Scholarship: Strategies for Amplifying Academic Publication’s Impact beyond the Academy
In May 2024, Christopher Schaberg discussed how public scholarship benefits audiences beyond the academy. Such scholarly work is increasingly recognized by institutions, professional associations, and funding agencies; for example, the National Science Foundation rewards projects that show broader impacts on society, and the National Endowment for the Humanities dedicates extensive grant opportunities to public humanities projects. Across disciplines, scholars can become versed and skilled in the arts of public impact by learning how to focus and frame their expertise in ways that that can reach—and help—broad audiences. Organized by Christopher Schaberg, Washington University in St. Louis. The session drew 101 registrants.
Getting the Most out of the AUPresses Annual Meeting
In May 2024, this session was a virtual pre–AUPresses Annual Meeting webinar. Whether it’s your first AUPresses Annual Meeting or your tenth, you can get more out of the meeting with a bit of preparation. This pre-meeting webinar was a conversation about what you can do in advance of the meeting to get the most out of your time in Montreal. Speakers provided a general overview of the meeting, with descriptions of the various types of sessions, social events, and plenaries. Finally, they talked about networking—the outreach you can do in advance of the meeting, how to approach the big social events while in Montréal, and what you can do to sustain those relationships once you’re back at home. Panelists including Jaden Young (Princeton), Caitlin Tyler-Richards (Washington), Ken Carpenter (Harvard), and Meagan Levinson (Cornell). The session drew 83 registrants.
AI, Video Calls, and Beyond: Exploring Technological Advances in Peer Review
In September 2024, the AUPresses Acquisitions Editorial Committee, hosted a Peer Review Week 2024 discussion diving into the intersection of innovation and technology to address these pressing issues. This session explored how acquisitions editors are leveraging video calls and emerging AI tools to support peer reviewers, authors, and press colleagues throughout the peer review process. Panelists discussed practical ways to use technology to facilitate the exchange of academic ideas, and potential uses of AI now and in the future. Panelists included Carli Hansen (Toronto), Elisabeth Maselli (Pennsylvania), Rachel Stapleton (Regina), and Noah Springer (MIT). This session drew 111 registrants.
Making Accessibility Accessible
In January 2025, the AUPresses Equity, Justice, Inclusion and Belonging Committee hosted a webinar discussing ways to make accessibility more accessible. Panelists shared successes, challenges, and resources related to publication production; workplace accessibility and advocacy; and author relationships. Panelists included Cathy Felgar (Princeton), Ana Bichanich (South Carolina), Grace Evans (Modern Language Association), Via Justine De Fant (Guam), Sara Thaxton (Arizona), and Alec Loganbill (Kansas). This session drew 145 registrants.
Workshop on AI for University Presses, Part 1—The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Part 2—AI Tools for University Publishers
In February 2025, The AUPresses Editorial, Design, and Production Committee hosted a two-part webinar discussing AI in publishing. When chatGPT burst onto the scene in November 2022, it seemed like the future was here. Machines that write text and generate art. Computers that conduct peer review. Algorithms that control marketing. Artificial intelligence (AI) seemed poised to revolutionize the publishing industry. It also raised several practical and ethical questions for university presses. The first webinar in the series, on the ethics of AI, was moderated by James Ayers (New Mexico) and panelists included Jose Esquilin (Marine Corps), Stephen Downes, National Research Council of Canada, and Samara Rafert (Ohio State). The second, on AI tools for UPs, was moderated by Nicole L. Tilford (SBL) and panelists included Leo Lo (New Mexico), James F. McGrath, Butler University, and Jeffrey Riman, Fashion Institute of Technology. The session drew 214 and 165 registrants, respectively.
Solution Seekers: Distribution Opportunities and Solutions Networking Session
In March 2025, the AUPresses Professional Development Committee hosted a networking session to share real-world experiences with selection, transitions, and problem-solving with small, medium, and large distributors. It was an opportunity for people to share their experiences, learn from each other, inform decision making and improve outcomes. Panelists included Kelly Fattman (Harvard Education), Steven Rodriguez (Vanderbilt), and Rebecca Carhart, (IVP). This session drew 54 attendees.
The State of DEIA Efforts at University Presses: An AUPresses Member Town Hall and Discussion
In April 2025, the AUPresses Equity, Justice, Inclusion, and Belonging (EJIB) Committee organized a virtual event for all members to discuss the state of the publishing industry and higher education, where university presses are at the center of that nexus, with respect to the impact of recent federal actions on workplace safety, censorship, and press business in general. The event featured a short introduction by the EJIB Committee and was followed by a roundtable with speakers and a then a facilitated discussion open to all attendees. The goal of this discussion was to bring AUPresses members together to share news and experiences, and to begin to build conversations and structures for community and industry responses in the face of these challenges. Panelists included Christie Henry (Princeton), Damita Snow, American Society of Civil Engineers, Andy Etzkorn (California), Lauralee Yeary (Oxford), Carah Naseem (Rutgers), and Victoria-Lola Montecalvo Leon Guerrero (Guam). This session drew 198 registrants.
SPONSORED WEBINARS
In 2024-2025, the Association hosted a series of webinars presented by sponsors and open to the public on our Vimeo playlist.
View Inside Technology and Copyright Protection in the AI Landscape
In September 2024, Bowker’s Mary Carlomagno highlighted two areas of publishing that are essential to publishing in the future: “inside view” technology and protecting copyright in the AI landscape. Copyright protection is an essential element in the changing landscape of AI. Now more than ever, creators and publishers need to protect their work from bad actors and piracy. This session drew 65 registrants.
Navigating AI in Publishing: Best Practices and Use cases for IP Management, Equity, and Accessibility
In October 2024, Knowledge E’s Andreas Chrysostomou, Kamran R. Kardan, Rodrigo Pinto, and Lucy Lu Wang provided a balanced introduction to Artificial Intelligence and its application to IP management in publishing, specifically in the context of publisher/library relationships, and examine the key issues of equity and accessibility through the lens of emerging technologies. This session drew 108 registrants.
Royalty Automation for University Presses: Your Path to an Optimized Workflow
In November 2024, MetaComet’s David Marlin hosted a webinar discussing royalty management, which has historically been a tedious and error-prone process, involving multiple spreadsheets, complex calculations, and not a few headaches. Automated royalty management systems are affordable, reliable, and easy to implement. Automation typically saves 90% of the time spent on royalty management, and most of the stress. This session drew 40 registrants.
Instant purchasing capabilities from all your channels to halve cart abandonment
In November 2024, Supadu’s Sarah Arbuthnot hosted a webinar discussing how implementing instant purchasing capabilities across all sales and marketing channels has been proven to significantly reduce cart abandonment rates by half. Supadu explored the data behind this trend, diving into why instant purchasing is so effective in retaining customers who might otherwise abandon their carts. This session drew 15 registrants.
“LET’S TALK ABOUT…” HANGOUTS
An informal and interactive way to learn more about the topics that interest our community most, the AUPresses “Let’s Talk About…” Hangout series offers lively discussions with plenty of opportunity for Q&A. Association committees organize these sessions. They are available through our member Resources site.
This year’s “Let’s Talk About…” series featured conversations about leveraging your backlist, making journals content accessible, implementing EJIB initiatives within EDP, and enhanced digital editions.
ART OF ACQUISITIONS HANGOUTS
Developed by the AUPresses Acquisitions Editorial Committee, the Art of Acquisitions Hangouts feature lively sessions with moderated panels, active audience Q&A, and Twitter chats using the #artofACQ tag. These sessions address a variety of topics of special interest to the acquisitions community, such as a discussion about acquisitions and cover designs which took place in January 2025.
DIRECTORS HANGOUTS
In response to the 2024 US presidential election and the potential changes that the new administration might impose on the higher education ecosystem, AUPresses started hosting hangouts to provide space for Press Directors to hold candid and compassionate conversations. These sessions have all followed Chatham House Rule and have not been recorded. The first two sessions were held in December 2024 and February 2025.
RESIDENCY PROGRAM
The AUPresses Residency Program provides opportunities for individuals at Association member presses to advance their professional knowledge, strengthen operations at their home presses, and foster professional collegiality throughout the community. Offering staff at member presses intensive, hands-on residencies of up to one week at other member presses, the program is one of the Association’s most effective professional development initiatives, benefitting both host and home presses alike.
The AUPresses Professional Development Committee, which administers the program, selected the following individuals for the 2024-2025 Week-in-Residence Program:
Jasmine Mulliken, Stanford University Press, hosted by John Hopkins University Press
Keara Mickelson, Edinburgh University Press, hosted by University of North Carolina Press
Suzan Kenawy, American University in Cairo Press, hosted by University of Princeton Press
Patrick Samuel, Vanderbilt University Press, hosted by Rutgers University Press
Carina Bolaños Lewen, University of Minnesota Press, hosted by Princeton University Press
Brittany Nicolaysen, Harvard Education Press, hosted by Duke University Press
DIRECTORS RESIDENCY PROGRAM
Modeled after the Association’s Week-in-Residence Program, this program provides travel funding to directors at smaller member presses to spend a few days visiting with and learning from another member press.
The following individual was selected to participate in the 2024-2025 AUPresses Directors Residency Program:
Katie Hannah, University of Tennessee Press, hosted by University of Pennsylvania Press