UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State University Press has announced the hiring of a new member of its acquisitions team. Tristan Bates, who recently served as senior editorial associate at the University of Chicago Press, will acquire books in religious studies, Jewish studies, Pennsylvania and mid-Atlantic history, and the history and culture of the German diaspora.

Bates holds a doctorate in comparative literature from the University of Chicago and worked in several roles at the University of Chicago Press before being promoted to senior editorial associate in 2019. Prior to taking a full-time position at the University of Chicago Press, they served as writing lector and consultant at the University of Chicago Writing Program, humanities core course instructor in the University of Chicago Collegiate Division, and liberal arts course instructor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Tristan started in their position at PSU Press on Feb. 6 and will remain based in Chicago.

“We are so happy to welcome Tristan to the Acquisitions Department of PSU Press,” said Editor-in-Chief and Assistant Director Kendra Boileau. “They bring an impressive combination of academic credentials and scholarly publishing experience, as well as some truly exciting ideas for taking their lists forward.”

Founded in 1956, Penn State University Press publishes high-quality books, journals and graphic novels of interest to scholars and general readers, with a focus on the humanities and social sciences. To learn more, visit psupress.org.