MEMBER UPDATES
Each month, the Association of University Presses (AUPresses) recognizes the achievements, promotions, career moves, and retirements of members of the community through the Member UPdates section of the bulletin.
RETIRING PRESS DIRECTORS
Susan Wadsworth-Booth retired from Kent State University Press in June 2024 after nearly seven years as its Director, and 36 years in university press publishing. Clara Totten, Acquisitions Editor, stepped into the role of Interim Director.
Ellen Chodosh retired from New York University Press, where she has served as Director since 2014, in October 2024. Chodosh has spent 50 years in academic publishing, previously working as a business and publishing consultant and VP and Publisher of the Trade Division of Oxford University Press.
In October 2024, Melissa Pitts retired as Director of University of British Columbia Press. Pitts served nearly thirteen years in this role at the Press.
Gary Dunham retired from Indiana University Press at the end of 2024, having served as Director since 2014.
NEW PRESS DIRECTORS
In 2024-2025, AUPresses saw the appointment of several new Press Directors:
Anthony Roberts was named the Director of the University of Oklahoma Press effective May 2024. Roberts stepped in as Interim Director in June 2023. With over 20 years at OU Press, Roberts began as a graphic designer in 2001, transitioned to Production Manager in 2015, and was promoted to head of the Editorial, Design, and Production Department in 2020.
David Aycock became Executive Director of the Penn State University Press in August 2024. Aycock had been the Deputy Director of Baylor University Press since 2022. He served as Interim Director from May 2019 through December 2021 and was previously Associate Director for Marketing, Sales and Publicity.
Thomas Willshire became Executive Director of The American University in Cairo Press in September 2024. Willshire brings over 30 years of academic and trade publishing experience, having worked most recently at Cambridge University Press, as well as Oxford University Press, Continuum International Publishing, Random House, and Harper Collins.
Eric Schwartz joined New York University Press as its new Director in October 2024. Schwartz had been Editorial Director of Columbia University Press since 2014. He was previously an editor at Princeton University Press (2008-2013), held editorial and production positions at Cambridge University Press (2002-2008), and began his career in the production departments of Springer-Verlag and Oxford University Press.
Mat Buntin became the new Director and Publisher at Wilfrid Laurier University Press in October 2024. Buntin came to Wilfrid Laurier from University of Alberta Press, where he served as Acquisitions Editor.
Douglas Hildebrand joined University of British Columbia as its new Director in November 2024. Hildebrand had served as the Director of the University of Alberta Press for the last seven years. Hildebrand is currently serving on the AUPresses Board of Directors.
Than Saffel was named the new Director of West Virginia University Press in November 2024. Saffel had served as the Interim Director since September 2023. Prior to becoming the Interim Director, Saffel served as the Production Manager and Art Director for nearly 20 years.
Angela Leppig has left her role as Director at Gallaudet University Press for a position at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, managing the operations of their online resource, the Holocaust Encyclopedia. Kristen Harmon has been appointed Interim Director. Harmon is a faculty member in the English department at Gallaudet and has been connected with the Press for many years as an author and series editor.
IN MEMORIAM
The AUPresses community has lost a number of valued members this year.
The AUPresses community mourned the loss of Patrick Alexander, former Director of Penn State University Press, who passed away in May 2024 after battling leukemia. Alexander had retired in January 2024 after being at the Press’s helm since 2009. Alexander’s long and storied career in scholarly publishing included service on the AUPresses Board. Read this tribute from the Press.
Blanche Sarratt, University of Alabama Press’s Director of Sales and Marketing, passed away in June 2024 after a two-year battle against cancer. Sarratt had worked in the field of marketing for almost twenty years before joining the Press’s marketing department more than 10 years ago. Read her obituary.
The AUPresses mourned the loss of Melanie Schaffner, Director of Communication, Marketing, and Engagement at Project MUSE, who passed away in July 2024. Schaffner had contributed 27 years of work and dedication to Project MUSE and Johns Hopkins University Press. Please read this tribute to her work.
The AUPresses community was saddened to hear of the death of Judith Alter in July 2024. Alter was the former Director of TCU Press, serving in that role from 1987 until 2009. Read her obituary.
The Association community learned of the loss of former Princeton University Press Director Walter Lippincott in January 2025. Lippincott served as Director at PUP from 1986 until his retirement in 2005. Prior to that, he had served as Director of Cornell University Press and had also worked at Cambridge University Press. Read his obituary as well as a piece from Princeton Alumni Weekly which reflects on his contributions to the Press.
AUPresses was devastated by the loss of Al Bertrand, Georgetown University Press’s Director, who passed away in April 2025 after a brief and sudden illness. Bertrand joined Georgetown in 2018. Prior to that, he served as Editor-in-Chief and Associate Director of Princeton University Press and UK Editorial Director for Social Science and Humanities books at Blackwell Publishing and John Wiley & Sons. Read his in memoriam.