Today marks the start of the annual Association of University Presses (AUPresses) meeting, the agenda for which promises to spark vital conversations. A reliable highlight of the year, the AUPresses meeting is an occasion to gather with and learn from our peers in university publishing, the world over.
This year, we鈥檙e excited that two PUP authors are participating in programing. Eddie Cole, author of The Campus Color Line: College Presidents and the Struggle for Black Freedom, joins Stephanie Williams, Director, Wayne State University Press and AUPresses President-Elect 2025-2026, for an opening plenary conversation on equity, justice, inclusion, and belonging. Later in the program, Laura Portwood-Stacer, author of The Book Proposal Book: A Guide for Scholarly Author and Making Your Manuscript Work: A Guide to Developmental Editing for Scholarly Writers, and a valued member of our book proposal grant cohort of coaches, joins a panel discussion about editing. Additionally Press director Christie Henry and team members from across editorial, marketing, production, and audio publishing groups will participate in various panel discussions about AI and backlist marketing, production vendor and university relations, work-life balance mentoring, and 鈥渋ntrapreneurship.鈥�
In unsteady times, when higher education and the freedom to read face new stressors and challenges, we find immeasurable value in this community of publishers who are committed to cultivating knowledge, fostering curiosity, and advocating for free speech and the open exchange of diverse ideas and viewpoints. Here鈥檚 to ensuring the global conversations and collaborations are as robust as ever.