Michael Duckworth has been named the new director and publisher dean of the effective June 1, 2013.
Duckworth has been publisher of Hong Kong University Press since 2009, helping to lift annual new title releases in English and Chinese, while raising the press’s visibility in many subject areas at academic conferences and trade fairs. In recent years, Duckworth has initiated expanded involvement with emerging electronic publishing models; increased productivity by adding several new positions in editorial, production and marketing; and extended fundraising efforts to support heavily illustrated titles in art and architecture.
From 1995 to 2008, he served as acquisitions editor and later executive editor at University of Washington Press, where he managed lists and developed hundreds of new works in Asian studies, American ethnic studies, Middle East studies, Jewish studies, Russian/East European studies, architecture, information sciences and regional trade books in natural history. Duckworth has served as a member of the editorial board of the Association for Asian Studies since 2000.
“We are certainly grateful for the strong interest of the outstanding candidates for the position of director and publisher of the University Press,” said UH Mānoa Chancellor Tom Apple. “Mr. Duckworth clearly has impressive expertise, academic and administrative experience and strong recognition in the global economic arena, so we enthusiastically welcome his leadership in this new capacity. Our respect and appreciation also go to William Hamilton, who retired at the end of 2012, for his dedicated service of 25 years as the director and publisher.”
—Adapted from a UH Mānoa news release