Mary Francis has been named director of Penn Press at the University of Pennsylvania. She will assume her new position on September 23.
Since 2015, Francis has served as the editorial director of the University of Michigan Press. Before that she spent more than 16 years at the University of California Press, serving as the executive editor for music, cinema, and media studies. Earlier in her career, she held positions with Oxford University Press, Yale University Press, and Mayfield Publishing.
Additionally, Francis currently serves on the board of directors of the Association of University Presses. Recently, she chaired the AUP’s 2019 annual meeting, which focused specifically on advancing diversity and inclusion in the field.
“I am confident that Mary will be a spectacular leader, working closely and collaboratively across the Penn community to chart the future of Penn Press,” said Wendell Pritchett, provost of the University of Pennsylvania.