In the credits of textbooks students might find a familiar name.

Aside from assigning readings and administering exams, many college professors are also members of the literary world. Usually through a university press, they write the academic books found in libraries and the textbooks used in class.

In virtually every department at Eastern there hails authors, editors and translators who serve the academic community by publishing their research.

History professor Martin Hardeman co-edited “The U.S. Constitution and the Nation” second edition – the book he uses to teach his U.S. Constitutions class from.

“At first, I was intimidated to think the professor might be critical of how I interpret his work, but through lectures, it shows that he has a better understanding of the material,” said Dan Aiston, sophomore elementary education major, who takes Hardeman’s class.

While writing a book can be an enormous project, many professors collaborate material to become co-authors or editors.

Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, has contributed to nearly two-dozen publications. He has co-authored four books and is the sole author of two.

Professors write as a primary way in which to advance their knowledge and share their research with the rest of the academic world. Through publications educators keep current in their field and demonstrate a level respected professionalism.

“My goals as a writer are twofold: one; to advance my own knowledge and understanding

of a given topic and two, to share new insights, concepts, and theories

with professional colleagues and others interested in the study of

higher education administration,” Nadler said.

After writing a book, a professor then has to convince a publisher the book can sell. The negotiation is typically done through a university press.

The Association of American University Presses consists of 125 presses located around the world that print most academic literature.

Because the number of academic books published each year is so large, often, books from university presses don’t become best sellers. Selling under a few thousand copies is average for university press.

Political science professor Ryan Hendrickson has written two books and teaches from his first book “The Clinton Wars, The Constitution, Congress, and War Powers.” This book has sold over 1,000 copies and is used at several universities.

His most recent book “Diplomacy and War at NATO: The Secretary General and Military Action after the Cold War” (University of Missouri Press, 2006) has sold about 500 copies and is featured in nearly 150 libraries. He plans to use his new book to lecture classes in the spring semester.

“It is very rewarding and I think my students benefit from it,” said Hendrickson. “It’s not a money making game, that’s for sure.”