David Hamrick has been appointed as director of the University of Texas Press at The University of Texas at Austin. He had served as acting director since March 1.
Hamrick, who had been associate director since 2008, replaces Joanna Hitchcock, who retired in February after having been director of the UT Press since 1992.
Provost Steven Leslie said the trend toward electronic book publishing is a turning point in publishing history and Hamrick is well qualified to lead the press in this direction.
“Dave has done an exceptional job as our interim director, and I know that he will excel as an innovative and effective leader of the press in the years to come,” Leslie said.
Hamrick, who received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from Stephen F. Austin University, joined the UT Press in 2001 as sales and marketing manager. He was appointed assistant director in 2005 and became associate director in 2008. His appointment as director was effective Monday, Aug. 22.
“I am thrilled and it’s a great honor to have the opportunity to be the next UT Press director as we begin our 62nd year at the university,” Hamrick said. “The landscape of scholarly publishing is changing rapidly and dramatically, so the next few years will be both incredibly challenging and incredibly vibrant and exciting.
“My vision for the press is to not only continue the best of the publishing traditions that are well established here, but to also work with the staff to re-imagine the press for the next generation at The University of Texas at Austin.”
The University of Texas Press has published more than 2,000 books over five decades. With a staff of 50 people, the press brings out about 90 books and 11 journals annually.
