Eric Brandt is a publishing executive with a PhD from Columbia University and over twenty-five years of experience in acquisitions and marketing at university presses including Columbia, Yale, and Stanford, as well as at major trade publishers such as HarperCollins, Macmillan, and Basic Books. In leadership positions, he has published New York Times best-selling books, created publicity campaigns for internationally renowned authors, secured grants for digital publishing initiatives, and worked to make existing books open access. He is a strong believer in the mission and value of scholarly publishing.

I acquire books in history and politics, with a special focus on American history and politics across five centuries. I also oversee series on Early Modern German and on Southern African history and my portfolio includes academic and trade books on the history and culture of Virginia. As a transnational historian by training, I am excited about manuscripts that put historical developments in broad temporal and geographic contexts and particularly welcome examinations of Americans’ experiences and legacies abroad.

I acquire books on the early modern and Enlightenment periods, the history of science, the environmental humanities, and contemporary culture. My list is unified by a focus on interdisciplinary projects as well as those that address issues of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and disability to advance our understanding of both human diversity and the complex history of marginalization. 

I hold a B.A. in English literature from Vanderbilt University and an M.F.A. in creative writing (poetry) from the University of Virginia. Prior to joining UVA Press in 2004, I worked for InteLex Corporation, a pioneer in humanities electronic publishing.