IVP Academic Editors

Jon Boyd

Divisional Vice President of Editiorial & Associate Publisher

In addition to helping lead the editorial team, Jon works with authors in the humanities, professions, and social and physical sciences. He believes deeply in the good work that books can do in our world. He holds a PhD in history from Johns Hopkins, an MA in Hebrew Bible from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a BA from the University of Michigan. He is a saxophonist, a user of mechanical typewriters, and (with his spouse and their daughters) a resident of the City of Chicago.

Noel Forlini Burt

Associate Academic Editor

Noel Forlini Burt is associate academic editor for IVP Academic, working with authors in biblical studies and spiritual formation. Noel believes books pastor us, helping us to listen to the voice of God. She holds a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies and Early Christianity (Drew University), an M. Div. (Beeson Divinity School), and a BA in journalism (Samford University). Noel is certified in spiritual formation (Upper Room Academy for Spiritual Formation) and in spiritual direction (Truett Seminary).

Rebecca Carhart

Academic Production Editor

Rebecca works with a wide range of academic books, developing manuscripts and helping guide authors through the publication process. She also focuses on new editions. Over more than thirteen years at IVP, Rebecca has enjoyed advocating for authors and readers by finding ways to make books better. She has an MA in Christian formation and ministry from Wheaton College.

Zach Gordon

Associate Academic Editor

Zach enjoys working on projects in the areas of theology (historical and constructive) and interdisciplinary studies (especially theology and culture, the arts, sciences, and related fields). He is a lifelong bibliophile who is energized by the creative exchange that transforms an idea into an excellent book. When not editing, he is pursuing an analog life writing, hiking, camping, uncritically reading, and playing board games with his family of five. He holds an MA and ThM from Regent College.

Rachel Hastings

Associate Academic Editorial Director

Rachel edits a variety of books in the disciplines of biblical studies, spiritual formation, pastoral leadership, and the social sciences. She is passionate about producing excellent books that reach the church and the academy and loves helping authors craft their voices in a way that is invitational, instructional, and hopeful for readers. Rachel holds two master’s degrees in Old Testament and New Testament from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

IVP Trade Editors

Cindy Bunch

Senior Editor-at-Large

Cindy Bunch is senior editor-at-large where she acquires and develops books on spiritual formation. She is also the author of Be Kind to Yourself as well as a number of LifeGuide® Bible studies. Cindy is a trained spiritual director and lives with her husband in the Chicago area.

Al Hsu

Associate Editorial Director

Albert Y. Hsu (pronounced "shee") is associate editorial director (trade) at InterVarsity Press, where he acquires and develops books in such areas as church, culture, ministry, and mission. He earned his PhD in educational studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Al is the author of Grieving a Suicide, Singles at the Crossroads, and The Suburban Christian. He has been a writer and columnist for Christianity Today and served as senior warden on the vestry of Church of the Savior in Wheaton, Illinois. He and his wife, Ellen, have two sons and live in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Nilwona Nowlin

Associate Editor

Nilwona works with many BIPOC authors, many of whom are first timers. She's a licensed minister and has experience as a hospital chaplain, so it should be no surprise that she enjoys shepherding authors through the publishing process. Nilwona holds an MDiv, an MA in Christian Formation, and a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from North Park University and Theological Seminary. She's also a Qualified Assessor (QA) for the Intercultural Development Inventory.

Rachel Freire O'Connor

Associate Editor

Rachel Freire O’Connor is passionate about shifting the landscape of Christian publishing so that diverse and historically underrepresented voices are centered and amplified. Combining winsome guidance with editorial expertise, Rachel helps authors craft nuanced and spiritually transformative books that equip readers to live well in our modern world. She is a former high school literature and philosophy teacher and holds an MA in English Literature from Seton Hall University.

Kelli Trujillo

Trade Editor

Kelli has worked in Christian publishing for 25 years, including editorial roles in the book publishing world as well as in Christian journalism. Prior to joining IVP, she served as the managing editor of Christianity Today magazine. At IVP, Kelli seeks to acquire books that encourage deeper engagement with the spiritual life, build up the church, and wrestle with important cultural questions from a nuanced Christian perspective.

Sales, Marketing, and Publicity

Alex Blount

Senior Sales Manager

Alex works with national accounts to sell print books from coast to coast. His time is spent with distributors, bookstores, and ministries to make sure IVP books are available far and wide. Alex earned a MA in Systematic Theology from Wheaton College.

Tara Burns

Director of Marketing

As the Director of Marketing, Tara oversees the marketing team as they craft strategic, data-driven plans built off of consumer insights. Plans are developed collaboratively with authors, incorporating impactful author activation elements. Tara has been with IVP for 5 years, having also worked within the Publicity team. Prior to IVP, she worked as a Media Director at a leading advertising agency in Chicago for over a decade, developing media strategies for Fortune 500 companies.

Krista Clayton

Director of Publicity

Krista has been at IVP for more than twenty-five years and oversees the planning and outreach of the publicity team. She has worked in various roles in publicity throughout her time at IVP and now focuses her efforts on leading the publicity team to get the word out about our books by working with authors and media to generate ideas for interviews, articles, and other online content.

Kari DeHaven

Senior Publicist IVP Academic

Karin has been at IVP for ten years and specializes in working with academic books and authors. As senior publicist Karin works to secure reviews, interviews, and excerpts in magazines, journals, and online. She holds an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary and an MA in Christian Formation & Ministry from Wheaton College. 

Alaina Gaddie

Marketing Manager

As a Marketing Manager at IVP, Alaina Gaddie develops and implements strategic marketing campaigns to connect readers with books and authors for both the Trade and Academic imprints. Alaina holds a degree in English from Friends University, where she cultivated her passion for literature, storytelling, and thoughtful engagement with faith and culture.

Alexandra Horn

Academic Marketing Manager

Alexandra Horn has worked at IVP for over 4 years and specializes in working with academic books and authors. As a marketing manager for IVP Academic, Alexandra develops and executes strategies to bring books to their target audience in the marketplace. She holds an MSW from the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a BA in Sociology, with a minor in Biblical Studies, from Biola University. She is an avid arts & crafter and a Costco member since birth.

Bethany Olsen

Associate Director of Digital Sales

Rebecca Pate

Demand Generation Manager

Rebecca has been at IVP since 2024 and has a background in higher education marketing and communications. As demand generation manager, she oversees IVP's in-house email marketing and newsletters, crafts seasonal book promotions, and produces marketing copy for all of IVP's titles. She holds an MA in Intercultural Studies and a Master of Theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Makayla Payne

Associate Social Media Manager

Makayla leads strategy and content for all social platforms across all IVP imprints. She manages the brands social presence and day-to-day engagement, oversees seasonal and campaign-specific planning, coaches authors in their own social strategy, and works closely with designers and content creators to bring IVP’s titles to life online. With a focus on authentic interaction and thoughtful responsiveness, Makayla helps foster meaningful connections between readers and the books and ideas they care about.

Sarah Vacura

Marketing Manager

As a Marketing Manager at IVP, Sarah supports both the Trade and Academic imprints, focusing on crafting and executing marketing strategies that help each book reach and impact its intended audience and collaborating closely with authors. Her work is shaped by an author‑ and reader‑centric approach and a passion for faith‑based literature, college ministry, and gospel‑centered community. Outside of work, Sarah loves visiting new coffee shops, spending time with family, and enjoying the outdoors.

Elena Wandke

Marketing Strategy Coordinator

Elena serves on the Marketing Team in two major capacities. With one hand, she develops data collection tools to monitor and reinforce the efficacy of IVP's marketing strategies, and with the other she crafts and executes marketing campaigns for titles across the Academic and Trade imprints alongside her fellow marketing managers. Elena also runs the weekly prayer meetings at IVP and relishes the gift of a Christ-centered workplace that prays. Elena holds a dual degree of English and Creative Writing from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she fell in love with short stories, writing workshops, and her husband, Alan.