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As an academic editor, Dr. Marshall works with architects and architectural historians to develop manuscripts for publication; as a project manager, she steers the book production process and runs the daily business of the Press. Her publishing background includes work with nonfiction, scholarly, and public-interest publishers. Dr. Marshall has taught literature, writing, and criticism in university classrooms and writing centres. Her research interests include representations of landscape, region, and globalization, and relationships of space and place with feminist and social justice issues.

Dr. Marshall generously shared some of her thoughts with the English department about working with the DAP. 

Tell us about your journey from Dal English to Dal Architectural Press?

I taught literature and writing and continued to work freelance in publishing after finishing my PhD. I had had my first child and was balancing work and parenthood. There were a lot of moving parts. When the DAP position came up, I realized that, barring the design component, I was very well suited to the job, and the chance to run a small academic press was very exciting. My early work in-house in academic publishing – I worked for Pearson in Toronto after my MA for a few years – was instrumental in building capacity to do this work.

What is it like to be the DAP publications manager? How would you describe your role?

Being the DAP publications manager means balancing academic editing and development, production-side issues through to distribution and promotion, meeting with Board members, running the daily business of the Press, supporting the faculty with student advising and exhibitions, and even shipping boxes – we’re a very small shop! I like the range and independence of it.

What’s your favorite thing about working at DAP?

My colleagues are wonderful. And I have great conversations with authors and students of architecture about a lot of the same issues I explored in my work in English.

How has your experience as an arts student impacted you and your career trajectory?

Just as science students are driven by curiosity about how the world works, so are arts students – how societies, cultural frameworks, ideas, and art forms work. My training in the arts embedded habits of critical questioning, contextualization, and attention to language and nuances of meaning within me; these have served me well throughout my career.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about DAP or your work?

We’re always looking for good book proposals!

Learn more about the HÂþ»­ Architectural Press and its RAIC 2023 President’s Award for Media in Architecture win in Dal News: Dal-based publishing house wins national award for showcasing unique voices of Canadian architecture