What we do

The mission of the Kent State University Press is “to advance knowledge through publishing.” We carry out our mission by publishing groundbreaking scholarship and important books of general interest and distributing them throughout the world. Our publishing operation is comprised of five functional areas: administration, acquisitions, editorial, production, and marketing.

Administration: Director Will Underwood is CEO/COO of the Press and is responsible for overall Press operations. Secretary and Journals Manager Sandy Clark maintains the front office and handles journal fulfillment. Bookkeeper Norma Hubbell manages the Press’s accounting function and provides the Director with regular financial reports.

Acquisitions: During the current staff transition Will Underwood oversees manuscript acquisition and works with authors in the early, developmental stages of their projects.

Editorial Production: Managing Editor Mary Young and Manuscript Editor Rebekah Cotton work closely with manuscripts throughout the editorial production process, during which they are the authors’ primary liaison with the Press.

Production: Design & Production Manager Christine Brooks and Asst. Design & Production Manager Darryl Crosby craft finished manuscripts into attractive and long-lasting books. They coordinate design, printing, and binding with outside vendors.

Marketing: Marketing Manager Susan Cash and Assistant Brett Neff are responsible for promotion, distribution, sales, and maintaining the Press's Web site. They work closely with authors, booksellers, and other stakeholders to ensure that Kent State University Press books are publicized widely and available to customers.