Beth Pratt named as director of the Ohio University Press
Executive Vice President and Provost Elizabeth Sayrs has announced that Beth Pratt has been named as the director of the Ohio University Press.
Pratt, who has served as interim director of the Ohio University Press since August 2020, will begin her position on March 1, 2022.
Pratt has extensive scholarly press experience and has worked at Ohio University since 2000. Before serving as interim director, she served as the associate director of editorial, design and production, and as a production manager.
Prior to coming to OHIO, she served as production editor for the University of Akron Press. Pratt earned a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Akron and bachelor’s degrees in English and psychology from Mount Union College.
“Beth Pratt has excelled in her work as the interim director, and we are pleased she is moving permanently into this important role,” Sayrs said. “The Ohio University Press is the oldest scholarly press in the state of Ohio, and her knowledge and experience will help it grow while maintaining its scholarly excellence.”
University Libraries Dean Neil Romanosky, who co-chaired the national search with Dr. Katherine Jellison, said that Pratt’s background and leadership ability make her a perfect fit to serve as the director.
“I am delighted to have Beth Pratt serving as the next director of the Ohio University Press,” Romanosky said. “She is a proven leader. I look forward to collaborating with Beth in her permanent role.”
The Ohio University Press was incorporated in 1947, 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 October 2021, the Ohio University Press was realigned to the University Libraries, reporting to Romanosky. Following the announcement of the realignment, Romanosky noted that the organizational shift enhances opportunities for “collaboration on open access publishing, amplifying historically underrepresented voices in research and scholarship, and jointly engaging with campus, local, and professional communities.”
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.