University Press of Kansas grows intern program with One Day One KU
One Day One KU supports paid internships that give students real-world experience in scholarly publishing.
Kelly Chrisman Jacques started working at UPK as a part-time graduate student employee in the production department in 2007, and she is now UPK's director.
"In 2025, with the support of One Day One KU donors, the press hired four part-time student interns — our largest number of interns to date."
— Kelly Chrisman Jacques, Director, University Press of Kansas
"UPK is committed to paid internships and eager to grow our annual intern cohort," Chrisman Jacques said. "In 2025, with the support of One Day One KU donors, the press hired four part-time student interns — our largest number of interns to date."
Last year, UPK raised over $7,300, with gifts from 28 donors. It costs $2,000 per semester for the press to host an intern, meaning that these gifts can pay almost four interns. As a nonprofit with 10 full-time employees, the press relies on sales revenue and a modest subsidy from its board of trustees to cover operational expenses.
Two of the current staff were former interns. Production Editor Erica Nicholson was UPK's first official intern, starting in 2017. Acquisitions Editor Alec Loganbill began as a production intern in 2021 and now leads the press's new trade imprint, Plainspoken Books.
The press strives to continue hiring the brightest and most curious students. In Chrisman Jacques' words, gifts are a great way to "make a big impact," and with more support, the program can expand to even more students.
"UPK proudly hires students to work alongside staff in the press's mission to expand the impact of sound scholarship," Chrisman Jacques said.
One Day One KU is back: On April 28-29, 2026 from noon to noon, join Jayhawks everywhere in helping the university we love to do extraordinary things — save the date!
