Arte Público Press, the country’s largest publisher of Latino literature, has named Gabriela Baeza Ventura as its new director. She takes over from Nicolás Kanellos, who founded the press in 1979 at the University of Houston and recently stepped down after more than four decades of leadership.
Kanellos grew Arte Público Press into a nationally recognized publisher dedicated to Hispanic voices and was honored with the National Humanities Medal in 2023 for his contributions to U.S. literature and culture.
Baeza Ventura has been part of Arte Público for many years, first joining while pursuing her doctorate in Spanish at the University of Houston. Over time, she became managing editor, then executive editor, later deputy director, and now steps into the role of director. She is also an associate professor of U.S. Latino literature at the university.
With this leadership transition, Arte Público Press is expected to continue its mission of publishing and preserving Latino voices, while bringing fresh vision for the future.