Stephen Little and Bishop Saad Sirop Hanna, author of "Abducted in Iraq."
On January 1, 2021, University of Notre Dame Press acquisitions editor Stephen Little left the Press after a decade of service. Stephen came to Notre Dame Press in August 2010 after completing his Ph.D. in Literature at the University of Notre Dame. During his early years at the Press, he served as the sole acquisitions editor from 2012 to 2015, acquiring approximately 50 books a year in medieval studies, theology, religious studies, philosophy, Latin American studies, and Irish studies. During his remaining years at the Press, Stephen has honed his acquisitions skills in the fields of medieval studies, theology, and philosophy, attracting some of the preeminent scholars in these areas. His authors include: David Aers, William Desmond, Paul J. Griffiths, David Bentley Hart, Matthew Levering, Denys Turner, to name just a few.
"Over the past ten years, Stephen's impact on UNDP's publications in religion, theology, and philosophy has been profound," says Steve Wrinn, director of Notre Dame Press. "He arrived at the Press during a challenging turning point in UNDP's history and he is singularly responsible for establishing the reputation we now enjoy in these disciplines. A trusted and valued colleague, we will miss Stephen and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors."
Eli Bortz, editor in chief, notes that, “Stephen has a depth of knowledge in so many crucial areas that define this Press, that we can only aspire to compensate for a fraction of the institutional history he embodies. He represents the best of Notre Dame.”
Through the years, Stephen's dedication has been focused on the success of the Press. His commitment to his craft, the hard work and practice that he poured into it, is apparent to everyone. And his books have earned numerous awards, including:
Giorgio Caravale, "Beyond the Inquisition: Ambrogio Catarino Politi and the Origins of the Counter-Reformation" - 2018 Catholic Press Association Academic Book Award, Second Place in History
Curtis A. Gruenler, "Piers Plowman and the Poetics of Enigma" - Anne Middleton Book Prize 2019
Tomas Halik, "I Want You to Be" - 2017 Catholic Press Association Book Award, First Place in Theology; Gold Award in Philosophy, 2017 ForeWord INDIES Book of the Year Awards
Tomas Halik, "From the Underground Church to Freedom" - Gold Award in Religion, 2020 ForeWord INDIES Book of the Year Awards; 2020 Catholic Press Association Book Award, Second Place, Memoir
Saad Sirop Hanna, "Abducted in Iraq: A Priest in Baghdad" - 2018 Catholic Press Association Book Award, 1st Place in Faithful Citizenship/Religious Freedom; Foreword Reviews' 2017 INDIES Book of the Year Award, Gold, Religion
David Bentley Hart, "Theological Territories" - Publishers Weekly Best Book in Religion 2020
Sarah McNamer, "Meditations on the Life of Christ: The Short Italian Text" - 2017 Aldo and Jeanne Scaglione Publication Award for a Manuscript in Italian Literary Studies, Modern Language Association
Barbara Newman, "Medieval Crossover: Reading the Secular against the Sacred" - Choice 2014 Outstanding Academic Title
Raymond L. Sickinger, "Antoine Frederic Ozanam" - 2018 Catholic Press Association Academic Book Award, 1st Place in Biography
Jim Smyth, "Remembering the Troubles" - Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year 2017
Stephen Little adds, "It has been an honor to work alongside so many talented and dedicated individuals, and to serve Notre Dame and the academic community in this role. As director, Steve Wrinn has assembled an amazing team, and I am glad as I leave that the Press is in good hands. When I arrived in 2010, the fate of the Press was uncertain; ten years later, it is secure and has a strong future ahead of it. The colleagues and friends that I have worked with will remain in my heart and my prayers, and I look forward to their continued success."
For more information, contact: Kathryn Pitts, pitts.5@nd.edu, 574.631.3267.