New Director, Staff Changes at UPM

The University Press of Mississippi is pleased to announce several recent staff changes, most notably, the promotion of Editor-in-Chief Craig W. Gill to the position of Director effective immediately. Gill replaces Leila Salisbury, UPM’s director for the previous 8 years.

Gill began his publishing career in 1990 as a marketing assistant at Northwestern University Press. After working in the editorial and marketing departments of the University of Chicago Press, he became the acquisitions editor at University Press of Kentucky. In 1997 he returned home to the south, moving with his wife and children to Jackson, Mississippi, and taking on the role of senior editor.

Craig Gill

He has served the University Press of Mississippi as senior editor, editor-in-chief, assistant director, and, now, director. During his more than twenty years as an editor he has acquired over 600 titles in fields including history, music, folklore, and Southern studies, as well as books of regional importance in Mississippi, Louisiana, and the Gulf South. Throughout his career he has been active in the American Association of University Presses (AAUP), chairing and participating on a number of panels and workshops at both national and regional meetings.

Of his new positon Gill says, “I am honored to be the sixth director in the history of the University Press of Mississippi. Having been a part of this great organization for over eighteen years, I know the high quality of its publications and the wonderful people on staff. I am fortunate to have inherited a thriving business from my predecessors, Leila Salisbury and Seetha Srinivasan, and look forward to
facing the challenges of an ever-changing publishing landscape.”

Other changes to UPM staff landscape include Todd Lape being promoted to Production and Design Manager following the retirement of longtime art director John Langston. Pete Halverson has been promoted Senior Book Designer. Jennifer Mixon was recently hired as Book Designer.

Steven B. Yates was promoted to Associate Director. Yates will also maintain his role as Sales and Marketing Director. Shane Gong was promoted to Project Manager and Valerie Jones to Project Editor. Katie Keene has been promoted to Associate Editor. Kristi Ezernack was recently hired as an Associate Project Editor. Emily Bandy was recently hired as Assistant to the Director.

The University Press of Mississippi was founded in 1970 and publishes 85 new titles annually. UPM publishes scholarly books of the highest distinction and books that interpret the South and its culture for the nation and the world. Focused on the humanities, with areas of strength in African American studies, film and popular culture, music, history, Mississippi and regional studies, comics studies, literature, and folklore.

Operating under the aegis of Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), UPM is the state’s only not-for-profit publisher. UPM is the publishing arm of the public university system of Mississippi and is supported by Mississippi's eight state universities including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; University of Mississippi; and University of Southern Mississippi