Elizabeth Scarpelli Named Director of New University of Cincinnati Press

The University of Cincinnati Libraries is pleased to announce Elizabeth Scarpelli as director of the new University of Cincinnati Press. The director’s role is to lead and provide oversight of all Press functions including acquisitions, marketing, administration and business, as well as to build a regional, national and international reputation for the University of Cincinnati Press as an innovative 21st century academic press.

“We are very fortunate to have secured Liz to lead the University of Cincinnati Press,” said Xuemao Wang, dean and university librarian. “Her enthusiasm for this exciting, new endeavor coupled with her rich experience in academic publishing make her the ideal choice to create, share and implement a successful vision for the Press.”

Scarpelli has over 25 years of experience working in publishing. She comes to UC from Baker & Taylor and Bookmasters, both Follett Corporations, where she served as the director of publisher services managing the print-to-order program for academic publishers and university presses worldwide, fulfillment relationships for client publishers and developed programs to expand international printing capabilities and faculty services. Prior to Baker & Taylor, Scarpelli worked as the assistant press director and sales and marketing director for Rutgers University Press and the college sales manager for Cambridge University Press. She started her publishing career at Prentice Hall where she held numerous positions in higher education sales and marketing.  

“As we move forward with UC’s innovation agenda, we are excited to attract a top candidate such as Liz who will shape and pursue the research-based approach and social justice focus of the Press to strengthen further UC’s engagement with scholars, the community and academic institutions globally,” said Peter Landgren, interim senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.

The operations of the Press will be located in and supported by the University of Cincinnati Libraries. At its start, the University of Cincinnati Press will focus on two programs: peer-reviewed scholarly works in social justice and a community engagement imprint featuring the rich history of Cincinnati and its university, especially with respect to social justice themes. In addition to publishing both print and e-books, the University of Cincinnati Press will be a leader in the exploration of new modes of academic work and scholarly communication. These may involve scholarly and creative works in a global sphere in digital media, web-based interactive digital scholarship, multi-authored databases, library special collections and archives, as well as future exploration of emerging, new modes of the university’s intellectual outcomes.

“The new University of Cincinnati Press is a pioneer effort in its digital format. Its focus on social justice and innovation represents our institutional commitment to local and global engagement. We expect it to become a national and international resource,” said UC President Beverly J. Davenport.

“I am thrilled to be leading the University of Cincinnati Press within the Libraries ecosystem,” said Scarpelli. “I'm impressed by the exceptional level of support, strength of the team and unique model they presented for academic publishing and serving scholars, practitioners and students in the field of social justice. Joining this mission with regional lists and a community engagement focus will unify the entire program and provide an ideal home for my vision of how university press publishing remains relevant. I look forward to digging in to secure a solid presence in scholarly publishing for the Press and the university.”

A committee, chaired by Sally Moomaw, associate professor of early childhood education in the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services (CECH) and chair of the Faculty Senate, and comprised of faculty, students and staff members from throughout the university, led the national search for the University of Cincinnati Press director.

Scarpelli is relocating to the Cincinnati area with her family and will begin work at UC on January 9.  

More about the announcement of the University of Cincinnati Press is available online at

https://www.uc.edu/news/NR.aspx?id=23414

. Inquiries can be sent to

ucincinnatipress@uc.edu

.