UC Press leadership transition
May 22, 2017 •
Vice Provost for Academic Personnel and Programs Susan Carlson sent the following announcement on May 18.
Colleagues:
I am writing to share news of an important leadership transition at the University of California Press. Alison Mudditt, current Director of the UC Press, is leaving the Press in early June to become the CEO of the Public Library of Science (PLOS). As of June 7, 2017, current Director of Publishing Operations, Erich Van Rijn, will assume interim leadership responsibilities as he also continues in his current role. The University of California Press is one of the most forward-thinking scholarly publishers in the nation. As many of you will know, for more than 100 years, it has championed work that influences public discourse and challenges the status quo in multiple fields of study. Academic leaders at the University of California are excited to support the continuing excellence and innovation of the Press during this transition.
Alison Mudditt
Alison Mudditt has been an exceptional leader for the Press. She joined the UC Press six years ago, at a time when it was redefining its position in the rapidly changing world of academic scholarship. She has been a strong and successful leader, helping to implement leaner and more efficient operations and, in collaboration with her UC Press colleagues, developing a new mission and vision for the Press, one that embraces the research, teaching, and public service mission of the UC. In partnership with the Press Board of Directors, she managed the Press development of a venture fund to spark innovation and creativity, and the results are a profusion of forward-looking publications and digital products. The distinguished upcoming fall season of titles is expected to bring in increased revenues and, over the last two years, the Press has launched two innovative digital products—Collabra and Luminos—that are transforming models of publication across the nation and around the globe. Alison Mudditt will be much missed at the Press, but she leaves it poised for continuing success. We wish her well in her new role at PLOS and look forward to future collaborations with her in our shared sphere of adventurous academic publishing.
We are fortunate to have experienced and capable interim leadership in Erich Van Rijn, who is currently Director of Publishing Operations at the UC Press, and will continue in this set of responsibilities as he assumes interim leadership. In his current role, he oversees the editing, design, and production functions of the Press and has oversight responsibility for the press’s information technology infrastructure. Erich joined UC Press in 1997 and held several positions in marketing and sales, including Assistant Marketing Director, before moving into his current role. His career in the publishing industry spans 25 years in both general and academic publishing including previous positions at Oxford University Press and HarperCollins Publishers. Erich will work with an experienced and committed group of UC Press colleagues. The UC Press’s tagline is “Advancing Knowledge, Driving Change” and in the coming months the talented staff at the UC Press will do just that!
A national search for a new Director will begin soon, under the leadership of the UC Office of the President. Please contact me if you have questions or comments!
Susan Carlson
Vice Provost for Academic Personnel and Programs
