U. of North Carolina Press Director to Retire

Kate Torrey will retire this summer as director of the University of North Carolina Press. She joined the publishing house as editor in chief in 1989 and became director in 1992.

“It has been a real privilege (and a lot of fun) to lead UNC Press for the last 20 years,” she tells The Chronicle via email. “In making this move, I am convinced that it is the right move at the right time, both for me personally and for the press institutionally. That said, I will very much miss getting to work with authors and the chance to interact regularly with terrific colleagues, both here and in the wider AAUP community.”

“My successor is in for a treat: S/he will inherit an exceptional staff, a great Board, an enviable freedom from bureaucratic strictures, and a very strong list—with lots of exciting books in the pipeline.”

Asked if she will keep her hand in, as a consultant perhaps, Torrey says she plans to “keep up with university press publishing by reading lots of really good university press books!” adding that she will start her retirement by “doing some more volunteer work, both in the non-profit sector and in the political arena this fall.”

A search committee has been formed and plans to send out a formal announcement in the next couple of weeks.