New Director of Ateneo de Manila University Press (Memo U2324-012)

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Rica Bolipata-Santos as Director of the Ateneo de Manila University Press (AUP) beginning 1 August 2023.

Rica has been teaching with the English Department for more than 25 years now. She brings to the AUP the wealth of her experience as a writer, editor, columnist, bookseller, publisher. A seasoned university administrator, she served as Executive Director of the Ateneo Library of Women’s Writings (ALIWW) from 2005 to 2013, Director of the AUP from 2013 to 2015, and Director of the University Communication and Public Relations Office (UCPRO) from 2016 to 2019. She also teaches with the departments of Fine Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Theology.

Rica received her PhD in English Studies (Creative Writing) at the University of the Philippines. She obtained her undergraduate degree in the Humanities and masters degree in English Literature from the Ateneo de Manila University.

On behalf of the Ateneo de Manila, I wish to thank Rica for her Ignatian generosity in accepting to lead once again the AUP. Rica will start working at the AUP on 1 July 2023 for a one-month transition and turnover with the current AUP Director.

We take this opportunity as well to express our profound gratitude to Ms Maria Karina A Bolasco for shepherding the AUP for seven years since 2016. Under her leadership, the AUP has produced high quality publications and reached unprecedented heights after being named Publisher of the Year, for the fifth consecutive year, at the 40th National Book Awards in May 2023 where she also received the Lifetime Achievement award by the Manila Critics Circle. With our prayers, we wish Karina well in her future endeavors.

We express our deep appreciation for the work done by the AUP Search Committee whose members are Dr Jonathan O Chua (Chair), Dr Filomeno V Aguilar Jr, and Dr Maria Mercedes T Rodrigo.