By Gary Dunham
Director of Indiana University Press and Digital Publishing
In the beginning, middle, and end, a job is always about people, especially in publishing. As I have said many times, the staff at Indiana University Press are a true delight to work with—smart, funny, and so dedicated to our authors, publications, and university. In the weeks to come, you’ll have a chance to learn more about them in our new Humans of IU Press feature on this blog.
Wait! You also might have a chance to work with them! Lots of positions and new opportunities are opening up at Indiana University Press, and I encourage you to take a look at what is available when the jobs are posted in the coming weeks. Honestly, there isn’t a better time to work with some amazing people as they redefine what a university press can and should do. Today is SUCH an exhilarating, game-changing moment in scholarly publishing. At the Press, inspired and fueled by our university, we’re blazing a trail of technological innovation, promotional creativity, organizational experimentation, and publication excellence that’s got us all excited and on our toes. We’re constantly seeking and testing new ways to work together to realize fully the promise of our technology and publications. We’re challenging ourselves and each other as we do so, and the result is a workplace afire with purpose, change, and, yes, lots of banter, scattered haikus of resistance, and really, really bad puns.
So, check the Jobs at IU site for future openings and consider applying! You won’t regret it. Don’t just take my word for it—hear about the energy and awesome work of the new Indiana University Press from the staff themselves.
Photo by Tall and Small Photography
"I have been working at IU Press for a full year and I couldn’t have imagined a better or more exciting time to start in my position. Within this past year we have created a strategic plan outlining our goals and steps for the next several years. This plan was not only approved by Indiana University but was also fully funded, giving us the resources to do some truly ground-breaking work in academic publishing and to revolutionize our acquisitions and production processes. One example of our new publishing strategy is the development of an accelerated publishing program in collaboration with our journals department which is allowing us to turn panels at conferences into peer-reviewed books by the next year’s meeting.
"As publishers our objective is to find and disseminate great stories and everyone who works here is committed to that goal. We have a wonderfully collaborative and supportive environment. Every day I meet informally and formally with colleagues from all departments at the Press to discuss projects at all stages from idea to just arriving in the warehouse. A phrase you hear frequently is 'what’s best for the book?' as we work together to find the best way to share research.
"This is also a great place to learn. When I started my background was in journal publishing, not books. Over this last year I have quickly learned many of the ins and outs of book publishing thanks to my colleagues. Everyone, from the director on down, is approachable and willing to answer my questions about a specific process. Despite being a junior member of the staff and new to book publishing I have always felt encouraged to share my ideas and thoughts on projects and procedures and I know that anything I say is listened to and fully taken into consideration. As I begin my second year with IU Press I look forward to continuing to learn and grow." —Janice Frisch, Assistant Acquisitions Editor
"Start-up fever is in the air—it’s here every morning when I come in. Academic presses may have a staid reputation, but we’re about to turn this place on its head. We’ve received the sincerest form of support a university can provide—new money to take this press to the next level—and we have a new director who is an idea machine. Mix in a staff of smart and talented professionals, and what’s going to happen? New products, in print and online; new publishing formats to increase the breadth of info we present; growing our list by embracing new authors and fields of study—all this, plus a top-to-bottom overhaul of all the stuff behind the curtain, the tools and machinery to bring these many ideas to life. I feel lucky—I’m in on the ground floor of something great." —Dave Miller, Lead Project Manager/Editor
"When you work in publishing in Bloomington, people always ask you if you work for Indiana University Press. Until about six months ago, my standard answer for the last 12 years has been, 'No, but I’ve always thought it would be a great place to work.' And, I can honestly say, that I’ve not been disappointed. The people here show real passion for their jobs, and there is always a quiet buzz in the air. Being a book lover, what could be better than working at world-renowned academic publishing house?
"Having had the opportunity to travel for the Press both domestically and internationally, I’ve spoken with lots of people who are very excited to see what the future of the Press will hold. News of our new strategic plan is starting to spread, and they can’t wait to see what happens. Given the renewed commitment of the university to the Press, you can definitely add me to that list. I honestly feel that I began working for the university at an ideal moment in time. We are on the cusp of change, and I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to help mold the future of the Press as we continue toward Indiana University’s bicentennial." —Stephen Williams, Rights and Permissions Manager
"I love books. I read everything. Novels, romances, biographies, self-help, spirituality studies, mysteries, fantasy, science fiction, young adult—anything that catches my interest (Vampires! Harry Potter!). I’ve often joked that I need a grocery cart when I visit the library. So it was a thrill when my career path in design led me to IU Press. As a designer, not much of my work has longevity. Digital design is mutable and fleeting, and most print design ends up as trash at some point. But books live for lifetimes and even longer.
"I feel very proud and fortunate to spend my days with colleagues who care so deeply about the important job we do publishing scholarly work from new authors as well as seasoned ones. Being a part of a university that cares deeply about supporting the mission of a scholarly publisher gives me great hope for the future. I am excited to see what lies ahead for IUP as we become even more technologically savvy, and expand our very important trade/regional list. But I think my personal favorite thing about working at IUP are the blurring of lines between departments, as we form collaborative cross-departmental teams to work on new initiatives, as well as the partnerships we are strengthening or forming with other departments on campus. It’s an exciting time to be a member of the IU Press team!" —Jennifer Witzke, Senior Artist and Book Designer
"Right now I’m really excited to be working on helping shape the APP (Accelerated Publishing Program). The program’s purpose is to quickly bring publications to market and re-present content in a different format to reach a broader audience. It’s exciting to be able to help shape this—it can be challenging too—going from concept to finished product in a short period of time can be difficult but I enjoy a good problem to solve. I’ve had to continually up my technical skills during this process, and have had the full support of the Press in doing so.
"I am enthusiastic about the Press’s views on continuing education and skill-building. Since the new Press has been around, I’ve been given the opportunity to learn XML and XSLT, with the aim toward developing our own XML transformations. Being afforded the time to learn these new skills on the job is refreshing and significantly contributes to my job satisfaction—I love learning new things and being given the chance to grow and help shape the future of the Press is fulfilling." —Dan Pyle, Online Publishing Manager
"When I first started at the Press as an intern, I quickly realized that IU Press was a special place. Every person I worked with was (and still is!) passionate about his or her job and believed in the mission of the Press. Over the last few years at the Press, we’ve come together even more closely, breaking down departmental lines and collaborating to make each book or journal the best it can be. In part, this happened naturally when IU renovated the third floor of the Wells Library and moved the Press into the heart of the campus. With the Press integrated on one floor, we began reaching out to our cube buddies across the hall to solve problems or best resolve an author’s questions. Our new director, Gary Dunham, and all the department heads also actively encouraged us to learn more about our colleagues, to communicate more closely, and to watch for ways we can work together more efficiently.
"By forming these close-knit, interdepartmental relationships, we’re poised for a very exciting 2017 and beyond. By bringing all of our skills and knowledge together, along with the support of the university, we’re ready to take on new opportunities and frontiers in publishing, such as producing cutting-edge books from special issues of our journals, creating crowdsourced books, developing communities of research and scholarship around our books and authors, and publishing and promoting the phenomenal research taking place on IU’s campus. With the upcoming Indiana and IU bicentennials, we’re embracing our Hoosier roots and pursuing projects that reveal the heart of the state and the people who live in it, while continuing our dedication to publishing the best scholarship from around the globe. It’s exciting to work with a passionate group of colleagues to connect some of the best emerging and established scholars with readers and fellow scholars who will appreciate and build upon their research." —Michelle Sybert, Marketing Manager/Journals
"The Press has been around for over 65 years, but in the last few years a lot of things have been changing. I seem to have joined the team right at a critical juncture. We’ve really been looking at what it takes to stay relevant as a university press as media consumption and university systems are changing.
"We’ve moved to a different building, become part of IU libraries, 'acquired' a new director, and have seen a lot of staff turnover and reorganization. To paraphrase a classic TV show, 'We can rebuild it. We have the technology. We can make it better than it was. Better, stronger, faster.'
"It’s the right time to embrace change and make IU Press into something more. I personally look forward to exploring new printing and publishing technologies as we look to make our products more widely accessible. I look forward to the new subject areas and disciplines we will be exploring and bringing to readers—both academic and general audiences. We have the right team in place to have IU Press take advantage of all its untapped potential." —Laura Hohman, Production Coordinator/Vendor Liaison
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