Michelle Chen
@michellechn.bsky.social
Senior Editor at the Univ Press of Colorado (Utah State UP & U of Alaska Press) acquiring books in composition & rhetoric, folklore, & polar studies. Formerly at OUP (music), Palgrave (politics) & Bloomsbury (33 1/3). Based in Brooklyn. Opinions my own.
"Well, I'm off to buy a tree from the communist tree co-op down the street!" might be the most Brooklyn thing I've ever said.
December 6, 2025 at 4:57 PM
"Well, I'm off to buy a tree from the communist tree co-op down the street!" might be the most Brooklyn thing I've ever said.
A real life photo of all my late peer reviewers coming out of the woodwork before the holidays
December 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
A real life photo of all my late peer reviewers coming out of the woodwork before the holidays
Everything about this article is spot on. University Presses are not a "bespoke ornament" but an integral part of the academic ecosystem. The claim that UPs "don't serve undergraduates" creates a (frankly head-scratching) false barrier between research & teaching--one informs the other & vice versa.
Why Close Bucknell University Press? (opinion)
Erosions of shared governance, narrow definitions of “student-centeredness” and a broader abandonment of a liberal arts ethos all lie behind the closure announcement.
www.insidehighered.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Everything about this article is spot on. University Presses are not a "bespoke ornament" but an integral part of the academic ecosystem. The claim that UPs "don't serve undergraduates" creates a (frankly head-scratching) false barrier between research & teaching--one informs the other & vice versa.
Pretty proud to be part of this tbh. I've always wanted to work at a small university press and this year I got to join the amazing staff at UPC!
It's kind of amazing what just 9 people can do together, if I say so myself. #smallpress #readUP
It's kind of amazing what just 9 people can do together, if I say so myself. #smallpress #readUP
December 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Pretty proud to be part of this tbh. I've always wanted to work at a small university press and this year I got to join the amazing staff at UPC!
It's kind of amazing what just 9 people can do together, if I say so myself. #smallpress #readUP
It's kind of amazing what just 9 people can do together, if I say so myself. #smallpress #readUP
My top listened to song in 2025 was "Hands Down" by Dashboard Confessional because apparently I'm in high school
December 4, 2025 at 1:19 PM
My top listened to song in 2025 was "Hands Down" by Dashboard Confessional because apparently I'm in high school
Reposted by Michelle Chen
We have some developmental edits
December 3, 2025 at 4:28 PM
We have some developmental edits
PSA sometimes your dissertation is not a book but a series of journal articles my friend and there is nothing wrong with that
December 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
PSA sometimes your dissertation is not a book but a series of journal articles my friend and there is nothing wrong with that
Surprise surprise: my top two words were "book" and "books." What are y'all's?
This seems accurate.
My most-used words in 2025 were:
1. "lotr" (55×)
2. "book" (47×)
3. "lotreread" (41×)
4. "students" (39×)
5. "amreading" (34×)
See which words you used the most here: anisota.net/harvest
My most-used words in 2025 were:
1. "lotr" (55×)
2. "book" (47×)
3. "lotreread" (41×)
4. "students" (39×)
5. "amreading" (34×)
See which words you used the most here: anisota.net/harvest
Anisota's Annual Bluesky Harvest 2025
A recap of your year on Bluesky. Discover patterns, connections, and insights from your journey in the ATmosphere.
anisota.net
December 3, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Surprise surprise: my top two words were "book" and "books." What are y'all's?
Reposted by Michelle Chen
December 3, 2025 at 1:12 AM
"I love this weather," I insist, rubbing my red, sandpaper skin
December 2, 2025 at 11:23 PM
"I love this weather," I insist, rubbing my red, sandpaper skin
OK OK I know we all hate the corporatization of philanthropy etc. etc. but I can't help but to remind everyone this #givingtuesday that you can donate $$ to your favorite University Presses just as you can with any other nonprofit. So consider showing your local UP some love?
December 2, 2025 at 11:09 PM
OK OK I know we all hate the corporatization of philanthropy etc. etc. but I can't help but to remind everyone this #givingtuesday that you can donate $$ to your favorite University Presses just as you can with any other nonprofit. So consider showing your local UP some love?
Um my post holiday inbox is terrifying can I just hang out with ya'll here instead 😂 😭
December 1, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Um my post holiday inbox is terrifying can I just hang out with ya'll here instead 😂 😭
Some interesting stats from the @publisherswkly.bsky.social annual salary report (note that sizable gender wage gap)
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
December 1, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Some interesting stats from the @publisherswkly.bsky.social annual salary report (note that sizable gender wage gap)
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Lapsed pianist here to remind you that the holidays are a great time to sit down at your instrument and remind yourself just how much you've forgotten due to the not practicing thing and then fall into a shame spiral
November 29, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Lapsed pianist here to remind you that the holidays are a great time to sit down at your instrument and remind yourself just how much you've forgotten due to the not practicing thing and then fall into a shame spiral
Did I just put on a multi-episode Chinese drama for my mother to watch so that I could edit in peace? Why yes, yes I did. #adulting #reverseparenthood
November 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Did I just put on a multi-episode Chinese drama for my mother to watch so that I could edit in peace? Why yes, yes I did. #adulting #reverseparenthood
There should be a German word for the incredible weirdness that is doing your adult job from your childhood bedroom over the holidays
November 24, 2025 at 3:46 PM
There should be a German word for the incredible weirdness that is doing your adult job from your childhood bedroom over the holidays
Sometimes you get a real gem from the catsitter 😉
November 23, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Sometimes you get a real gem from the catsitter 😉
There are *some* good things about Texas
November 22, 2025 at 5:47 PM
There are *some* good things about Texas
The way someone agreeing to take on a peer review will be the absolute highlight of my day (why yes I am mentally well why do you ask?)
Acquisitions editors might tell you that the most best part of the job is getting a really awesome proposal, but don't believe them for a second. The best part is getting people to agree to serve as peer reviewers. Saints, angels, heroes all.
November 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
The way someone agreeing to take on a peer review will be the absolute highlight of my day (why yes I am mentally well why do you ask?)
Friends with kids! Highly recommend this book about the passage of America's first anti-discrimination law. Friends with younger kids: don't feel left out because a picture book of Elizabeth Peratrovich is also ~in the works~
1st person to DM me gets a free copy bc happy #NativeHeritageMonth
1st person to DM me gets a free copy bc happy #NativeHeritageMonth
How much do your kids know about the fight for Native rights in the US? Written for grades 6-12, FIGHTER IN VELVET GLOVES is a must-read biography of civil rights hero Elizabeth Peratrovich. A great gift book this #NativeHeritageMonth for the budding activist in your life 👀
tinyurl.com/4hztcutk
tinyurl.com/4hztcutk
November 19, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Friends with kids! Highly recommend this book about the passage of America's first anti-discrimination law. Friends with younger kids: don't feel left out because a picture book of Elizabeth Peratrovich is also ~in the works~
1st person to DM me gets a free copy bc happy #NativeHeritageMonth
1st person to DM me gets a free copy bc happy #NativeHeritageMonth
For all of us battling our AI demons
November 19, 2025 at 3:05 PM
For all of us battling our AI demons
Really important point from this article. If you're going to argue that the humanities are out of touch and elitist (disagree), then maybe the answer should be MORE equitable access to a humanities education--not less.
November 19, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Really important point from this article. If you're going to argue that the humanities are out of touch and elitist (disagree), then maybe the answer should be MORE equitable access to a humanities education--not less.
Did you know that buying direct from publishers often means more royalties to an author? Don't sleep these University Press holiday sales ya'll!
Hey hey- its time for our Holiday Sale!
All books and formats 40% off with promocode HOLIDAY25
Today shop our latest titles across subjects:
upcolorado.com/new-titles
(sale ends 12/31/2025, gift orders should be placed by 12/12/25)
All books and formats 40% off with promocode HOLIDAY25
Today shop our latest titles across subjects:
upcolorado.com/new-titles
(sale ends 12/31/2025, gift orders should be placed by 12/12/25)
November 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Did you know that buying direct from publishers often means more royalties to an author? Don't sleep these University Press holiday sales ya'll!
Reposted by Michelle Chen
This is the importance of buying the books we write and teach from university presses. The same administrations that don’t care about the humanities would be just as happy to have academic publishing handled by these companies. We can save our own publishing ecosystem- but we have to do it.
"academic publishing is dominated by profit-oriented, multinational companies for whom scientific knowledge is a commodity to be sold back to the academic community who created it... The dominant four collectively generated... $12 billion in profits between 2019 and 2024."
November 18, 2025 at 12:52 PM
This is the importance of buying the books we write and teach from university presses. The same administrations that don’t care about the humanities would be just as happy to have academic publishing handled by these companies. We can save our own publishing ecosystem- but we have to do it.
She's a 10 but she has no chill when it comes to treats
November 17, 2025 at 3:19 PM
She's a 10 but she has no chill when it comes to treats