A reception for Donna Shear, who has served 12 years as director of the University of Nebraska Press, is 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 26.

The reception will be in the Lied Commons, 301 N. 12th St. Registration is encouraged. Colleagues are invited to submit messages for Shear through the registration form.

Shear became director of the University of Nebraska Press in 2009. Under her leadership, it has become one of the largest university presses in the country, including the acquisition of Potomac Books and collaboration with the Jewish Publication Society in recent years.

Shear has had a long career in scholarly publishing, including a stint as director of the Northwestern University Press, as a management consultant for university and independent publishers and as director of sales and marketing for the Jewish Publication Society.

Shear holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Toronto and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Rutgers University. She is active in the Association of American University Presses.

Jane Ferreyra  will succeed Shear as director of University of Nebraska Press effective Sept. 7.