The University Press of Florida (UPF) is pleased to announce promotions, staffing changes, and new hires in several departments.
In UPF’s Acquisitions Department, Stephanye Hunter has been promoted to editor-in-chief. Prior to this promotion, Hunter served as interim editor-in-chief at UPF for nearly two years and as acquisitions editor since 2015, acquiring titles in Latin American studies, modernist and medieval literature, dance studies, and gardening. Hunter joined the Press in 2014 as an acquisitions assistant. She holds a master’s degree in English from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in Middle Eastern studies from the University of Texas at Austin.
During her time at UPF, Hunter has expanded UPF and UF Press lists in media and culture in Latin America and the Caribbean; modernist women writers such as H.D., Mina Loy, Gertrude Stein, and Virginia Woolf; and gender and identity in medieval literature. Hunter’s award-winning book acquisitions include The Insubordination of Photography: Documentary Practices under Chile’s Dictatorship by Ángeles Donoso Macaya, winner of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) Visual Culture Section Best Book Prize; The Paradox of Paternalism: Women and the Politics of Authoritarianism in the Dominican Republic by Elizabeth S. Manley, winner of the LASA Haiti-Dominican Republic Section Isis Duarte Book Prize; and The Mariel Boatlift: A Cuban-American Journey by Victor Andres Triay, winner of the Florida Book Awards Gold Medal for Florida Nonfiction.
Mary Puckett was promoted to associate acquisitions editor. Puckett joined UPF’s marketing department in 2017, the same year she earned her PhD in religion from the University of Florida. Puckett has served as assistant acquisitions editor since December 2020, acquiring books in cultural heritage studies and historical archaeology, and she will acquire in additional areas of the Press’s archaeology list in her new role. She is currently serving as co-chair of UPF’s Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Carlynn Crosby joined UPF as acquisitions coordinator after recently completing her master’s degree in Southern studies at the University of Mississippi. At UPF, she will prepare manuscripts for peer review and publication, coordinate editorial board meetings, and supervise acquisitions interns. A native Floridian, Crosby is deeply interested in historic Florida foodways and was previously a graduate fellow of the Southern Foodways Alliance, as well as a freelance food writer.
In the Sales and Marketing Department, Rachel Welton has accepted a new role as publicist. Welton began at UPF as an editorial, design, and production intern in 2018 before being hired as an acquisitions assistant. She holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Central Florida.
Milo Brooks recently accepted a new position as rights and permissions assistant, where he will help draft contracts, negotiate sale of subrights, review permissions, and assist the director. Brooks joined UPF in 2017 as an orders clerk. He holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in acting from the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London.
Barbara Byers joins the Orders Department as customer service representative. Byers attended college at Finlandia University. Byers will interface with customers, process orders, ship books, and assist with inventory maintenance.
Please join us in wishing these staff members the best in their new roles!
The Florida Bookshelf 