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In Memoriam: Al Bertrand, Influential Publishing Leader

Al Bertrand, who served as the director of Georgetown University Press since 2018, passed away on April 20 due to a brief illness. He was 57 years old.

Before joining Georgetown, Bertrand was the associate publishing director at Princeton University Press, where he worked for eight years. His editorial journey began at Wiley-Blackwell in Oxford, where he held the position of UK editorial director focused on Social Science and Humanities publications.

During his impactful seven-year leadership at Georgetown, Bertrand was instrumental in broadening the press’s publishing portfolio. He championed titles that catered to global business and aimed to appeal to wider audiences outside of traditional academic circles. In a significant move, Bertrand also initiated the press’s first faculty editorial board, laying the groundwork for collaborative academic publishing.

Known for his passion for nurturing emerging publishing professionals, Bertrand enhanced the internship program while also engaging students as an educator. He developed and taught a course titled “The Art of Publishing” at Georgetown and participated in George Washington University’s Masters in Publishing program, where he taught a course on global publishing.

Christie Henry, the director of Princeton University Press, reflected on Bertrand’s impact, stating, “Al Bertrand shaped Princeton University Press in multitudes of ways with his intelligence, kindness and profound commitment to the mission of publishing books that better the world through the creation and exchange of knowledge.” She highlighted how his leadership contributed to the evolution of the publishing ecosystem, particularly within university presses, emphasizing the loss felt by the community: “His contributions to this press in the form of books and friendships alike will endure in perpetuity. We hold his family in our collective hearts.”

Originally from Louisiana, Bertrand grew up in Metairie. He graduated from Jesuit High School in New Orleans and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Chicago, followed by a master’s degree in classics from Princeton University. His personal life was enriched through his marriage to Claire, whom he met while studying at the University of St. Andrews.

In addition to his publishing endeavors, Bertrand actively participated in the Georgetown Community Scholars program, serving as a mentor to students. He is survived by his mother, Lucy Bertrand; his sister, Lucy Shrewsbury; his wife, Claire; and their two children, Eve and Jamie.

Source
www.publishersweekly.com