Joyce Meskis, owner of the Tattered Cover Book Store, will become the director of the University of Denver Publishing Institute in January 2008. She will succeed Elizabeth Geiser, who is retiring as the founding director of the program.
Founded in 1976, the Publishing Institute is an intensive four-week, graduate-level course devoted to all aspects of book publishing. The institute offers workshops on editing, marketing and production conducted by leading experts from all areas of publishing.
More than 2,700 students have attended the institute, with a high percentage of graduates working in publishing houses.
“I cannot imagine a more effective, more experienced bookperson to assume the direction and future development of the program,” Geiser says. “The institute is blessed to have someone of Joyce’s stature and experience to carry on our work.”
Meskis has owned the Tattered Cover Book Store since 1974. In addition to her duties with the institute, Meskis will continue to own and manage the bookstore. She has served on the board of directors and as president of the American Booksellers Association. Meskis has been on the association’s Bookseller School Program faculty and has taught seminars on book industry issues in Singapore, Europe and New Zealand. She also has been a regular faculty member of the Publishing Institute.
“In my youth I set a course to become a teacher, but happily got sidetracked into the book industry,” says Meskis. “Now I can blend these two passions.”
“Joyce has been a beacon of bookselling for all of us in publishing,” says Larry Kirshbaum, president of LJK Literary Management and former chair and CEO of Time Warner Book Group. “Now she will shine her great light on the Publishing Institute and all of her students will benefit.”
In addition to her work with the institute, Geiser has more than 40 years of experience in book publishing. She will continue to provide career guidance to future Publishing Institute students.