33 years and still going strong

In the summer of 2008 the University of Denver Publishing Institute will celebrate thirty three years of finding and training new talent for the world of books. It was Frederick A. Praeger, the late founder and president of Westview Press, who relocated from New York to Colorado in 1975 and had the idea of launching a seminar in the West. With the support of the late University Chancellor Maurice Mitchell and former Dean of the Library School Margaret Goggin the idea took form, and Elizabeth Geiser was the lucky person they invited to organize and direct the program. Elizabeth did so for 33 years with enthusiasm and devotion. Her own work at companies as diverse in their publishing programs as Macmillan, R. R. Bowker and the Gale Research Company established a solid background in publishing for their new endeavor. And her dedication to the concept of education for publishing while a member of the board of directors of the Association of American Publishers provided the vision for what could be possible for this fledgling program. In July 1976 the first group of eighty-five students traveled from all around the country - and from abroad - to "make history" as the first of an ongoing flow of talented people destined to make a difference in the publishing world.

Since that first year, over 3,000 bright and gifted people have graduated from the Publishing Institute - many of whom have found their places in publishing houses large and small throughout the United States and around the world. They can be found at work in every aspect of our business - trade and textbooks, children's and scholarly books, design and production specialists, sales reps and literary agents, editors and marketers, and yes, even some presidents! They are the "proof of our pudding" - the "raison d'etre" of our work - and the source of our pride.

If our graduates are the source of our pride, the publishing professionals who comprise our faculty are the ones who make it happen. More than 250 executives from every area of the business have flown halfway across the country and generously shared their expertise and their enthusiasm - ensuring a steady source of new talent to invigorate our industry.

Nowhere could we find a mission so rich in "psychic income" and so important to the future health of our business!

As new director this year, I am honored to be chosen to carry on this legacy and to be among its many devoted supporters.

Joyce Meskis
Director