With both academic and general readers in mind, Audet is committed to expanding the MIT Press’s legacy of field-defining and award-winning scholarship across a wide range of fields
The MIT Press is delighted to welcome Janice Audet as Editorial Director, effective January 8, 2024. With over 20 years of experience in acquisitions, management, and editorial development across trade, scholarly, educational, professional, and digital publishing, Audet’s career spans the commercial and non-profit sectors. Audet joins the MIT Press from Basic Books, where she served as Executive Editor. Prior to her time at Basic, she was Executive Editor for Science at Harvard University Press.
Outgoing editorial director Gita Manaktala—who will remain at the MIT Press in a new role as executive editor-at-large—is optimistic that the Press’s editorial program will continue to grow under Audet’s leadership.
“Janice’s experience and skills make her an ideal choice for the challenging role of editorial director,” said Manaktala. “Her leadership will help us continue to develop the MIT Press’s books program for the benefit of readers seeking authority, depth, and insight across a wide range of subject matter.”
For Audet, the Press’s commitments to scholarship, innovation, and our wide community of readers are front of mind.
“I’m honored and excited to join MIT Press as Editorial Director. I have long admired the Press’s reputation as an innovative, premier press for authors and books,” said Audet. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the tremendous team at MIT Press and look forward to continuing to build a dynamic list that engages with the scholarly community and general readership.”
In her new role as editorial director, Audet will lead a team of twenty acquisitions professionals, acquiring across fields as diverse as Arts, Architecture, and Design; Biomedicine and Public Health, Environment and Urban Studies, Game Studies, Cognitive Science, Education, Physics, Mathematics, Linguistics, Computer Science, Economics and Business, and more.
Press director and publisher Amy Brand said, “The acquisitions team at the MIT Press is renowned for their dedication, creativity, and sheer publishing acumen. Janice’s energetic drive, deep enthusiasm for university press publishing, and strengths as a strategic thinker, analytic problem solver, and collaborative team leader will guide the acquisitions department through a period of significant and exciting change.”