For immediate release




April 23, 2020

663 South Limestone Street • Lexington, KY 40508-4008 • www.kentuckypress.com

Funding for University Press of Kentucky Restored

Lexington, KY—The University Press of Kentucky—with significant support from the Thomas D. Clark Foundation— will continue its mission of publishing books of high scholarly merit in a variety of fields for a largely academic audience and tell the stories about the rich history and culture of Kentucky due to restored funding and generosity of the Kentucky State Legislature.

During the recently concluded General Assembly session, board members of the Thomas D. Clark Foundation spoke to the importance and significance of the Press. The bipartisan senators and representatives jointly acknowledged and sanctioned the role of the Press and delegated public funds for its continued operations. This endorsement further advocated the Press’s 75-year commitment to publishing books for and about the Commonwealth and its contribution to the education of Kentuckians of all ages and backgrounds.

Ashley Runyon, the new director of the University Press of Kentucky, has already begun to revitalize the Press with new energy and new ideas. Among recent initiatives, and in the face of the coronavirus crisis, the Press is providing open access to more than 1,000 e-books. These titles are free of charge to students, faculty, and staff across the state and at the Press’s consortium schools, including Bellarmine University, Berea College, Centre College, Eastern Kentucky University, Georgetown College, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University. Numerous open access titles are also accessible and available to K-12 students and teachers.

The University Press of Kentucky and the board of the Thomas D. Clark Foundation extends its sincere thanks to all representatives and senators for mandating funds for the Press to continue its mission to serve the Commonwealth. As stated earlier this year by Kentucky author Mike Norris, “We should honor our state and our (state’s) story by supporting the University Press of Kentucky.”  

For more information, contact: Jackie Wilson, Marketing Manager, 859-257-2817, [email protected]