Notre Dame, IN—Ave Maria Press is pleased to announce three new additions to its editorial and marketing teams: Katharine (Kate) Camden as Acquisitions Editor, Patty Crawford as eCommerce Manager, and Ivy Dybas as Marketing Coordinator. Each brings deep experience and fresh vision to advance Ave’s mission of serving the Church through transformative books, digital resources, and faith-formation initiatives.
Kate Camden, Acquisitions Editor:
Camden brings more than a decade of experience in Catholic publishing, brand development, and content strategy. She joins Ave from Our Sunday Visitor, where she led trade book acquisitions and editorial development for OSV Kids. Camden also cofounded Tapestry Branding & PR and previously served at Ascension Publishing as content and brand manager— supporting multimedia launches and global faith- formation programs.
A graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville (B.A., English Literature, magna cum laude), she also completed the Columbia Publishing Course at Oxford University.
“We create books that set hearts on fire—and Kate is exceptional at cultivating authors who do exactly that,” said Josh Noem, editorial director. “We’re excited for the ways she will help us expand the Ave family of faith.”
“Good books are powerful tools for connection and grace,” Camden said. “I’m delighted to join Ave Maria Press and contribute to this beautiful mission.”
Camden is based in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Patty Crawford, eCommerce Manager:
Crawford brings nine years of experience in digital marketing and eCommerce across publishing, nonprofit, SaaS, and agency sectors. Most recently, she managed eCommerce at Franciscan Media, where she optimized a 500-product Shopify platform—growing online sales revenue by 40%. She brings expertise in SEO, UX optimization, AI-driven content strategy, and conversion growth.
At Ave Maria Press, Crawford will lead eCommerce operations, user-experience enhancements, and digital growth initiatives.
She holds a B.A. in Marketing and Communications from The Ohio State University and an M.B.A. in Business Administration and Leadership from Anderson University. Crawford is based in Evans, Georgia.
“We are poised to continue building digital momentum so that we can meet readers where they are,” said Heather Glenn, director of marketing and sales. “Patty’s strategic skillset—and her desire to accompany others in mission-inspired work—make her a perfect fit for this new role.”
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to join Ave Maria Press,” Crawford said. “I truly feel God placed this next step in my journey. I’m honored to help set hearts on fire for God through this work.”
Ivy Dybas, Marketing Coordinator:
Dybas joins Ave from the University of Notre Dame Press, where she served as social media and marketing fellow. She crafted marketing copy to expand the reach of scholarly books, created Amazon and social media ads, and developed metadata and SEO keywords for dozens of titles.
Dybas holds a B.A. in Linguistics and Literatures in English from Cornell University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Notre Dame. As Marketing Coordinator, she will ensure that Ave’s metadata is accurate, compelling, and optimized across all sales channels.
“I was drawn to Ave because of how passionately the company lives out its Catholic mission,” Dybas said. “It is a blessing to contribute to that work.”
“Her attention to detail, joyful spirit, and passion for the faith are evident in everything she does,” Glenn said. “We are thrilled to welcome her to the team.”
