Tyler Balli, Managing Editor at Ohio University Press, reports on visiting Ohio State University Press

Rationale for visit

I proposed my residency at Ohio State University Press for a few important reasons: First, Ohio State has been particularly diligent in its efforts to make books more accessible, something my own press is grappling with as well. Visiting OSU Press gave me the chance to discuss accessibility workflows with the whole staff (acquisitions editors, managing editor, EDP director, production editor) so that I could see in finer detail how this process should work.

Andrea Gapsch, Acquisitions Editor at Purdue University Press, reports on visiting Ohio State University Press

Rationale for visit

As a recently promoted acquisitions editor working to grow key lists at Purdue University Press, I was keen to shadow an established acquisitions editor, Kristen Elias Rowley at Ohio State University Press, a peer press in the Big Ten Academic Alliance. I wanted to learn more about proactive acquisitions, developmental editing, open access strategies, and metadata practices, as well as workflows that I am completely unaware of as an early careerist.

Emily Casillas, Acquisitions Editor at the University of Nebraska Press, reports on visiting the University of Illinois Press

The University of Illinois Press was particularly well suited as my residency host due to their comparable size and list areas with the University of Nebraska Press. As a newly promoted acquisitions editor, I wanted to learn more about and gain skills in scholarly list building, specifically in American studies and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. In addition, I wanted to learn how another university press handles funding and distribution of open access (OA) publications and also how to manage a successful internship program.

Jenn Bennett-Genthner, Manager of Training, Development, and Services at SUNY Press, reports on visiting Gallaudet University Press and Johns Hopkins University Press

Rationale for visit

I’m currently the sole person at SUNY Press responsible for initiating procedures for accessibility and making our works compliant with EU guidelines. The Week in Residency gave me an opportunity to meet and discuss perspectives and processes with other presses as we all work toward the same goal: frontlist accessibility by June 2025. Since Gallaudet University Press is focused on the deaf community, I thought their perspective could be very valuable while Johns Hopkins University Press has addressed accessibility in ways SUNY hasn’t yet.

Aurora Bell, Associate Editorial Director at the University of South Carolina Press, reports on visiting the University of North Carolina Press

In early February 2024 I spent the better part of a week in residence at University of North Carolina Press. It is with deep gratitude that I thank UNCP staff, especially Assistant Editorial Director Dawn Durante and Director John Sherer, for their warm welcome and candid conversations, and the Association of University Presses for funding this program. It was an unparalleled opportunity.