The SDHS Press has welcomed two new staff members in recent months. Associate Editor Mary Andino started with the Press in May 2021, and Abby Wright joined us in a new role as production coordinator just after the new year. The Press is happy to once again to function with a full team of six. I invite you to meet Mary and Abby, in their own words.
Introducing Mary Andino, New Associate Editor
After living in a variety of regions across the country—West Coast, East Coast, and the Midwest—my new position as associate editor for the South Dakota Historical Society Press has brought me to Pierre and the Northern Great Plains.
I earned my PhD and master’s in history from Washington University in St. Louis; I also have a bachelor’s in history from the College of William & Mary. My time as a Graduate Fellow for the Writing Center at Washington University began my interest in publishing. My doctoral studies focused on religion and gender in pre-modern Europe, so I am excited to be immersed in and learn about the history of the American West.
I look forward to working with a great team to produce high-quality articles and books that explore the rich history of South Dakota. I also am excited to go on adventures in the state with my two dogs, Olive and Bailey.
Introducing Abby Wright, Production Coordinator and Editorial Assistant
Born and raised in Pierre, I returned to the Capital City just in time for the New Year after nearly nineteen years out of state. My boyfriend, who lived in Pierre much of his life too, and I are delighted to be back; our sometimes-sweatered sphynx cats, Dilbert and Mira, love their new territory; and I am thrilled to be the production coordinator for the South Dakota Historical Society Press!
For eleven years, I wrote for a magazine that emphasized arts, culture, and community in Brighton, Colorado. I authored and coauthored articles for six other publications, including Currents in Teaching and Learning (Worcester State University, Sept. 2019). For five years, I worked with United States Fish & Wildlife Service at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. My experiences there, particularly serving on the Cultural Resources Committee, amplified my appreciation for history alongside biology and public education and outreach.
I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and English with a Writing concentration from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2015, and I was selected by the provost to deliver the keynote commencement speech to an audience of ten thousand. In 2018, I moved to southeast Minnesota, authoring and co-authoring nearly $18 million in successful grants before my departure.
Writing has always been my passion, and over the years, I found myself yearning to be back in Pierre and South Dakota. How surreal to now work in the building I have frequented and admired over my lifetime, to rejoin the community, and to help circulate true stories that generate excitement and foster a sense of belonging in my home state.