This was the result of a committee appointed by Hovde after the Department of English lamented the lack of publishing venues in the humanities.

Verna Emery was managing editor from 1977 to 1990, succeeded by Margaret Hunt who served until 2008.

In June 1992 Whalen retired and David Sanders was appointed the first full-time director of the press serving until 1996.

Press Director Sanders was succeeded by Tom Bacher (1997–2008) and Charles T. Wilkinson (2008–2014).

Under Sanders, Bacher, and Wilkinson the range of books published by the press grew to reflect the work from other colleges at Purdue University, especially in the areas of agriculture, health, and engineering.