National search for director of the Ohio University Press launched

Ohio University has launched a national search for the next director of the Ohio University Press, the oldest scholarly publisher in Ohio.

The Press has been realigned to report to the dean of University Libraries effective Oct. 15, 2021. Both the Press and University Libraries have expertise in scholarly publishing and communications, creating important intersections between their work and exciting opportunities for collaboration for the new director of the Press. The Press previously reported to an associate provost.

“I am very excited about this new alignment of the Ohio University Press with the University Libraries,” said Dr. Neil Romanosky, Dean of Ohio University Libraries. “I’m confident that together, the Press and the Libraries can advance the University’s academic, research, and community engagement priorities in new and powerful ways by exploring and amplifying these intersections in our work.”

While the two have independent missions and will continue to remain distinct units, Romanosky said there is the potential for collaboration on open access publishing, amplifying historically underrepresented voices in research and scholarship, and jointly engaging with campus, local, and professional communities.

The Press publishes 35 to 40 books a year. It was incorporated in 1947 and formally organized by Ohio University President Vernon Alden in 1964, and has since established itself as a leading publisher of books about Africa, Appalachia, Southeast Asia, and the Midwest, and many other topics. Its books are regularly covered by prominent national and international news and review media, as well as academic journals and literary and cultural outlets.

In recent years, the Press has partnered with the State Library of Ohio, the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, the Ohio University Center for International Studies, the Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland museums of art, and Old Cove Press.

Romanosky will co-chair the search committee with Katherine Jellison, Ph.D., professor of history and a former member of the Press’s editorial board. Other committee members include:

• Araba Dawson-Andoh, subject librarian for African Studies and current member of the Press’ editorial board;
• Jeff Kallett, Ohio University Press sales manager;
• Joseph McLaughlin, Ph.D., associate professor of English and chair of the Swallow Press editorial board;
• Nukhet Sandal, Ph.D., associate professor of political science and a Press series editor; and
• Assan Sarr, Ph.D., associate professor of history and current member of the Press’ editorial board.

The goal is to bring candidates to campus at the end of fall semester.

Ohio University Libraries is a catalyst for research, knowledge discovery, student success and transformation at Ohio University. A member of the Association of Research Libraries and one of the 115 largest research libraries in North America, the Libraries has locations and staff on the Athens campus and all regional campuses, as well as robust online collections and services to support the University’s students, faculty, staff and communities.