Ron Chrisman: Pressman extraordinaire

	Book man — Ron Chrisman, director of the UNT Press, is surrounded all day by his favorite things — books. It is his job to acquire manuscripts and manage the press's operation.

It's a match made in heaven. Ron Chrisman, director of the UNT Press, loves books, and books are what his job is all about. His job responsibilities range from acquiring manuscripts dealing with Texana and multicultural topics — with an emphasis in military history — to managing the press's finances and operation.

"Ron brings an enthusiasm for publishing that is contagious," says Suzanne LaBrecque, vice provost for academic affairs, whose office oversees the press. "He keeps the UNT Press vital and on target with timely, unique books."

Chrisman graduated from Occidental University in Los Angeles in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. He went on to Syracuse University, where he got a start in editorial publishing while earning his master's degree in social sciences. When he finished his education in 1996, Chrisman worked as the acquisitions editor at the University of Oklahoma until he came to the UNT Press in September 2000.

While books are a mainstay at work, Chrisman can't think of a time when he didn't enjoy doing some leisure reading at home, too.

"I've always liked books," he says. "I'm an avid reader. I remember reading a lot in seventh and eighth grades. I was constantly reading long books. I really liked Frank Herbert and J.R.R. Tolkien. I'm a big Lord of the Rings fan."

He also enjoys woodworking.

"I've made a lot of crafts," he says. "I make things like bookcases, turned pens and bowls, and jewelry boxes. It's a nice way to unwind."

When he isn't reading or brushing up on his craftsman skills, Chrisman can be found playing board games or a card game with his family. He and his wife, Laure, have two sons, 3-year-old Kyle and 4-month-old Brian.

On the weekends or during vacation, Chrisman and his family enjoy traveling to different parts of Texas. He says traveling has always been a passion.

"Every now and then it's fun to get out and tootle around the state parks," he says. "I was born in Los Angeles, and I always loved trekking up north to Yosemite."

Chrisman doesn't limit his traveling to parks just in the United States, however.

"I've been to Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. I was up there for a Society for Military History conference in Calgary, so I just took the family along for extra vacation time and made the trip to Alberta to see the park," he says. "I'd say it was the best vacation we've had."

BY JAMIE EDINGER paiswri1@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue:

• Summer I enrollment dips 1.9 percent
• More changes on the way for UNT employee prescription drug plan
• UNT work attire standards relax as temperatures go up
• Verizon donates $50,000 to UNT's TAMS
• Faculty Senate holds final 2002-03 meeting
• UNT chancellor hits the books
• First Flight Week planned to help incoming freshmen learn about life on campus
• National String Project Consortium extends College of Music funding with $10,000 grant
• UNT holds first-of-its-kind bilingual education camp for high school students
• UNT professor: New Harry Potter book will continue inspiring reading, discussion between adults and children

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