Every day, university presses worldwide step up to educate and enlighten, motivate and inspire, support and act.
During University Press Week 2024, we explore the myriad ways our community’s publications and platforms give context to current issues and events, offer solutions to global challenges, and present diverse voices in a broad range of disciplines. It’s not hard to see how the work of these mission-driven publishers helps all to stride forward with purpose.
This week, the University of Illinois Press (UIP) is highlighting exciting content, projects, and initiatives from our journals and books departments that allow our us and our authors to #StepUP. Make sure to check out blog posts from other university presses in the Association of University Presses’ (AUP) UP Week blog tour and browse the #StepUP gallery and reading list here.
Please allow us to introduce you to acquisitions editor Mariah Schaefer, who is responsible for acquiring music and dance titles in the following series: American Composers, Music in American Life, African American Music in Global Perspective, Women Composers, Women’s Media History Now! Below is an interview with Mariah, wherein she elaborates on how she chose academic publishing and what she wishes authors knew about her job.
Q: How long have you been at Illinois Press and how did you get into academic publishing?
I began my work at the press while I was completing my master’s in library and information science at the iSchool at Illinois, when I did a semester-long practicum in editorial management in Spring 2019. After that, I was hired as a freelance proofreader and proofread eight book projects for the press before being brought on full-time as an assistant acquisitions editor in November 2020. I am coming up on four years in the acquisitions department, and I am beyond thrilled to be the new acquisitions editor for music and dance (and to continue acquiring for the Women’s Media History Now! series)!
My path to academic publishing was not very straightforward, but the short version is that I studied journalism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and then attended the Columbia Publishing Course in New York the summer between graduating from college and starting library school. It was at that six-week course that I realized I wanted to work in publishing, so I approached the press as soon as I got back to campus to ask about internship opportunities. After my practicum, I spent Summer 2019 interning at Macmillan in New York and realized that academic publishing was more in line with my interests and personality.
Q: What do you wish potential authors knew about your job or publishing?
I am responsible for shepherding lots of projects through the publication process and do not have an assistant acquisitions editor working with me at the moment. I strive to be as conscientious and responsive to emails as possible, but it oftentimes feels as if there are not enough hours in the day to get through my inbox! I appreciate everyone’s patience as I adjust to this increased workload.
Q: Of the many projects you’ve been involved with at the Illinois Press, do you have any favorites or any that are most memorable?
It’s hard to pick just one! The other day, I was thinking about how most of the projects I enjoyed proofreading in graduate school were music titles and how I assisted Laurie Matheson with her music and dance acquisitions for a year and a half (from early 2021 to mid-2022). Looking back, it almost feels like fate that I would take on those lists from Laurie years later. As many people have pointed out to me since news of this transition was made public, my new appointment is a big deal, and I have big shoes to fill. I do not take that responsibility lightly, and I am so grateful for Laurie’s trust and guidance as I continue to steward a wonderful list (and to take it in new and exciting directions).
Q: What do you do in your spare time (if you have any)?
I have two hobbies that I like to cultivate in my spare time: film photography and embroidery. I have been shooting film since 2013 and have amassed a small collection of Nikon cameras. I share my photos on my Instagram account (@mariahshootsfilm), which sometimes feels like work. I started embroidering in 2023 and was surprised to find out I was good at it, given that I am kind of clumsy and not very crafty! After I embarked on this embroidery journey, I found out that both my grandmothers (who passed away before I was born) also did embroidery, which might explain why the skills came naturally to me!