Publishing Department | The David J. Pecker Distinguished Professorship

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The David J. Pecker Distinguished Professorship

The David J. Pecker Distinguished Professorship enables 91��Ƶ to recruit and invite chief executive officers of major publishing companies and other industry leaders to teach and lecture within the Master of Science in Publishing Program.

The Professorship allows 91��Ƶ publishing students to learn from the most successful, innovative, and influential people in the publishing world; deepens the connection between students and the industry; exposes students to the latest insights, innovations, and trends in the business; enhances the Program’s already-glowing reputation and allows it to compete both locally and nationally.

David J. Pecker became Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Media, Inc. (AMI) in May 1999, when along with Evercore Partners, he purchased the company. Today, AMI is the leading publisher of celebrity and health & fitness magazines including Star, National Enquirer, Shape and Men’s Fitness. The company’s holdings also include Distribution Services Inc. (DSI), the leading supermarket in-store merchandiser.

Before acquiring American Media, Inc. Mr. Pecker was President and Chief Executive Officer of Hachette Filipacchi Magazines. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 1992, after being named President of Hachette Magazines, Inc. in September 1991. Prior to September 1990, Mr. Pecker had served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Hachette Magazines, Inc. formerly Diamandis Communications Inc.

Mr. Pecker holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from 91��Ƶ and attended 91��Ƶ Graduate School of Business. In May of 1998, the university awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science. Mr. Pecker is deeply committed to publishing and publishing education.

Michael Pietsch

Michael Pietsch (2023-2024) is Chairman of Hachette Book Group. HBG is the U.S. division of Hachette Livre, the world’s third-largest publisher of trade and educational books.

Earlier in his 40-year publishing career, as Publisher at Little, Brown and in editorial positions at Crown and Scribner, Pietsch published books by acclaimed writers including Michael Connelly, Malcolm Gladwell, Peter Guralnick, Stephenie Meyer, Walter Mosley, James Patterson, Keith Richards, J.K. Rowling, Stacy Schiff, David Sedaris, Donna Tartt, David Foster Wallace, and Malala Yousafzai. As CEO of HBG, Michael oversaw the acquisitions of Workman Publishing, Perseus Books, Black Dog and Leventhal, and Hyperion Books during a period of growth and transformation for HBG.

Michael serves on the boards of PEN America and Poets & Writers and is the Immediate Past Chair of the Association of American Publishers.

Former David Pecker Distinguished Professors

John Sargent

John Sargent (2022-2023), the previous CEO of Macmillan and Executive VP of the Holtzbrick Publishing Group, is the Distinguished Professor for the 2022-2023 academic year. In that time, he will deliver two lectures.

The title of the lecture is, “Words Matter: How do we decide who gets to speak them?” It will be held on Zoom.

While at Holtzbrick, Sargent ran the US operations, which included all US trade companies, the Macmillan Higher Education Group, St. Martin’s Scholarly and Reference, Hanley & Belfus Medical Publishers, and Scientific American. At Macmillan, he was responsible for publisher’s higher education business and global trade business.

He was awarded the Legacy Award by the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association in 2012 for his “constant willingness to battle Amazon…and his stance regarding e-book pricing and the DOJ.” In 2017, Sargent received the PEN American award for his continual commitment to protect publishers, authors, and intellectual property rights.

Jason Low

Jason Low (2021-2022) is a publisher and co-owner of LEE & LOW BOOKS, an independent children’s book publisher focused on producing diverse books. Joining LEE & LOW in 1997 as a web designer, Mr. Low became a publisher in 2004. LEE & LOW is the largest multicultural children’s book publisher in the country. Their passion for “beautiful and authentic diverse books for young readers” has earned them a reputation for publishing high-quality books. LEE & LOW’s website provides free classroom guides for teachers and their blog provides a space for authors, illustrators, and publishers to discuss the publishing process.

Mr. Low spoke about his experiences in publishing in October 2021.

In April 2022, he gathered a virtual panel of distinguished writers: Guadalupe Garcia McCall, Joseph Bruchac, Laleña Garcia to discuss “Progressive Publishing in an Intolerant World”

Cheryl and Wade Hudson

Cheryl and Wade Hudson (2020-2021) - In Fall 2020, they spoke to students and faculty on zoom about their publishing company, Just Us Books, its origins and accomplishments in their lecture, “From Parents to Pioneering Publishers." In spring 2021, their presentation was titled, Making A Difference Through Children's Literature.

Wade Hudson is president and CEO of Just Us Books, Inc., an independent publisher of books for children and young adults which he founded with his wife, Cheryl. His career as a writer spans more than three decades and has resulted in more than 30 published books for children and young adults. They include Book of Black Heroes from A to Z; Jamal’s Busy Day; Pass It On: African American Poetry for Children; Powerful Words: Two Years of Outstanding Writing by African Americans; the Great Black Heroes series; and We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, which he co-edited with his wife Cheryl. A second anthology, The Talk: Conversations About Race, Love & Truth, was just released in August 2020. Wade serves on a number of boards and speaks around the country about issues of inclusion, empowering Black boys to succeed through literacy and other topics. He has received numerous honors for his contributions to children’s literature, including the Stephen Crane Literary Award, induction into the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent, the Harlem Book Fair Phyllis Wheatley Award, the Ida B. Wells Institutional Leadership Award presented by the Center for Black Literature, and the Madame C. J. Walker Legacy Award given by the Zora Neale Hurston-Richard Wright Foundation.

Cheryl Willis Hudson is publisher of Just Us Books, Inc., an independent publishing company she founded with her husband Wade that focuses on Black interest books for young people. She has authored over 25 books for children including AFRO-BETS ABC Book; Good Morning, Baby; Bright Eyes, Brown Skin; Hands Can; What Do You Know, Snow!; My Friend Maya Loves to Dance; Brave. Black. First. 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World; and We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, which she co-edited with her husband Wade. A second anthology, The Talk: Conversations About Race, Love &Truth, was just released in August 2020. A member of PEN America and Society of Children’s Book Illustrators and Authors. Cheryl speaks on the topic of diversity in literature and served as a parenting expert for Club Mom. Her honors include induction into the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent, the Harlem Book Fair Phyllis Wheatley Award, the Ida B. Wells Institutional Leadership Award presented by the Center for Black Literature, and the Madame C. J. Walker Legacy Award given by the Zora Neale Hurston-Richard Wright Foundation.

Richard Sarnoff

Richard Sarnoff (2019-2020) is Chairman of Media, Entertainment, and Education for KKR’s Private Equity platform in the Americas, and serves as a member of the TMT growth equity investment committee. From 2014 through 2017, he served as Managing Director and Head of the Media and Communications industry group, leading investments in the Media, Telecom, Information Services, Digital Media and Education sectors in the US. From 2011 to 2014, Mr. Sarnoff was a Senior Adviser to KKR. Mr. Sarnoff currently serves on the Board of Directors of Chegg, Weld North, Cengage, UFC and WebMD, as well as numerous not-for-profit organizations.

Until 2011, Mr. Sarnoff was a longstanding senior executive at Bertelsmann AG, Europe’s largest media company, serving as EVP and Chief Financial Officer of Bertelsmann’s book publishing division, Random House for eight years. In 2006, Mr. Sarnoff established Bertelsmann’s digital media arm, BDMI, and as President oversaw the corporation’s global investment activities in digital media. Mr. Sarnoff served on the Supervisory Board of Bertelsmann AG, for six years. In 2008, he was named Co-Chairman of Bertelsmann’s US holding company, Bertelsmann Inc. Mr. Sarnoff holds a BA from Princeton University in Art and Archaeology and an MBA from Harvard University.

Yahdon Israel

Yahdon Israel (2018-2019) is a writer and editor and the creator of , a cultural movement that intersects literature and fashion to make books cool. He has written for Avidly, , , , and . He graduated from 91��Ƶ with a BA in English. He's a fellow of the Dyson Society, a graduate of the Pforzheimer Honors College, and the 2013 recipient of the Charles H. Dyson Award. He is the Awards VP of the , the host of the , a monthly book club that's free and open to public, and the host of , a weekly web series about books and culture.

In his first lecture, “Turning Barriers Into Bridges: How to Create Market Opportunities with Innovative Thinking,” Mr. Israel speaks from his perspective as a writer, editor, and entrepreneur about how relationships can help us create frameworks that are valued by communities larger than our own. (Photo credit: Rog and Bee)

Bette Rockmore

Bette Rockmore (2017-2018) – Professor Bette Rockmore is the former SVP of Advertising Sales for Sirius XM Radio, Inc., where she has also served as a consultant. She is the former SVP of Business Development at American Media for ten years and the Director of Direct Response Marketing for Meredith for seven years. Prof. Rockmore was also the Vice President of Special Marketing at Hachette Filipacchi Media for nine years. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Cincinnati and is an Adjunct Professor in 91��Ƶ’s MS in Publishing program. Prof. Rockmore teaches PUB 622D, the “Creating a Magazine” seminar.” Currently she consults with young adults, advising them about job searches and interviews.

Lisa Sharkey

Lisa Sharkey (2016-2017) – Lisa Sharkey is the Senior Vice President and Director of Creative Development for HarperCollins Publishers Worldwide, one of the world’s leading English-language publishers and a subsidiary of News Corporation. She joined the company in 2007 after more than two decades in television.

Susan Katz

Susan Katz (2015-2016) – Ms. Katz was formerly President and Publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books. She was appointed to that position in 1996 and has spent twenty eight years professionally committed to publishing and HarperCollins. Under her leadership, the children’s books division has earned numerous awards. She has worked with many authors and illustrators including Shel Silverstein and Maurice Sendak.

Paul Levitz

Paul Levitz (2014-2015) – Mr. Levitz is a comic fan, editor, writer, and executive. He formerly was president and publisher of DC Comics and presently teaches Publishing Comics and Graphic Novels and Publishing Transmedia at 91��Ƶ. He is currently working on a book on Will Eisner and the birth of the graphic novel for Abrams Comic Arts.

Cevin Bryerman

Cevin Bryerman (2013-2014) – Mr. Bryerman serves as publisher and vice president of Publisher’s Weekly magazine. He has been in the magazine business, working at the helm of both trade and consumer magazines, and in strategic planning, business development, and partnerships for more than 25 years. His topics included “Publishing: Self-Publishing/Where It Fits Into the Publishing World” and “The Impact of Publisher’s Weekly on the Book Industry.”

Arthur Levine

Arthur Levine (2012-2013) – In 1997, Mr. Levine launched Arthur A. Levine Books at Scholastic. He has gathered together prominent authors such as J.K. Rowling, Carolyn Coman, Lisa Yee, and Francisco Stork. Mr. Levine is a writer as well as a publisher, and has done much for literacy and publishing. He discussed his experiences and career as a publisher, and brought his hands-on experience to the 91��Ƶ students.

Michael Healy

Michael Healy (2009-2012) – Mr. Healy is presently the director of International Relations of the Copyright Clearance Center. He was formerly executive director of the Book Rights Registry. In his lectures, Mr. Healy examined the changes that are occurring in the publishing industry and its effect today on the business. He addressed such topics as “Digital Rights and Wrongs: What’s Going On with Copyright” and “The Future of Publishing in Hazardous Times.”

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