The university press officially became the North Dakota State University Press on Jan 1. It was previously known as the North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies Press, which was established in 1950.

“The name has changed, but the press will stay true to its mission of publishing regional scholarship,” said Suzzanne Kelley, editor-in-chief.

NDSU Press publishes peer-reviewed books on any topic or in any discipline. The books contribute to scholarly knowledge of the region or interpret regional experience. The region includes the Red River Valley, the state of North Dakota, the plains of North America, and comparable regions of other continents.

The NDSU Press also provides opportunities for students to gain skills and experience for the workforce. Students in history, English and communication classes, for example, may work on projects related to the press, such as fact checking, editing and advertising. Kelley also teaches publishing classes that give students hands-on experience editing and promoting books. This semester, the class will publish a chapbook by North Dakota Poet Laureate Larry Woiwode.

NDSU Press is scheduled to release three new books in March. They include:

·      “North Dakota’s Geologic Legacy: Our Land and How It Formed,” a scholarly treatment of geology with more than 150 full-color photos and maps. The book is by John P. Bluemle, former state geologist and director of the North Dakota Geological Survey from 1990 to 2004.

·      “A Moment with Strangers,” travel essays and photos by W. Scott Olsen, professor of English at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, and editor of the literary magazine Ascent.

·      “The Walk Across North Dakota,” a travelogue of five friends who traveled the breadth of North Dakota by foot, edited by Gwendolyn Hoberg, a lecturer at NDSU, editor, writer and musician.

An NDSU Press party and book launch is scheduled for Thursday, March 3, from 7-9 p.m. at the Harry D. McGovern Alumni Center. The event is open to the public. 

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