Jay Soglo: GW Publishing Alumni Profile

Jay Soglo is Production Controller at Johns Hopkins University Press (JHUP) and an outstanding graduate of the Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program, College of Professional Studies, George Washington University. Starting as publishing operations assistant at JHUP after his second semester in the GW publishing program, he has already demonstrated leadership in the field, moderating a successful and dynamic session on accessibility at the Association of University Presses Annual Meeting, speaking at the GW Ethics in Publishing Conference, authoring a paper published in the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, and as a mentor to others in the field.

What was the most challenging aspect of the MPS in Publishing program? What was the most rewarding?

The most challenging aspect of the publishing program was the time-management element. Juggling a family with young children and a full-time job required an adjustment and some sacrifices – mainly my social life (temporarily).

Part way through your studies in the MPS in Publishing program, you were hired in the books production department at Johns Hopkins University Press, and within a year received a promotion. What was it like to be working in a press while completing your degree? Were you able to use assignments to inform your work or vice versa?

Working in a press while completing my degree was great. Not only was I learning publishing skills in the program, but many times they would come in handy immediately. For example, I started the production management course as I was promoted. Every lesson that semester was directly relevant to my job. The biggest advantage of working in publishing while in the MPS program was having the ability to ask a professional for advice for nearly every aspect of publishing.

Jay Soglo, MPS in Publishing graduate

What are some of the reasons you decided to pursue the MPS in Publishing degree? Why did you choose GW specifically?

During the pandemic lockdown, I decided to pursue my dream of joining the publishing industry. I had known that I wanted to pursue graduate studies for a while and wanted to commit to this career path by getting the education first. The GWU Publishing program is well-known and is the best program in my area (and probably the country)! Though I ultimately chose the online program, being in the Baltimore-DMV area also made it possible for me to attend events in person.

What advice would you give to new or prospective students to the MPS in Publishing program?

My advice to new students is to save any online resources that they might find interesting or useful. It’s easy to assume that they’ll remain available indefinitely, but they don’t. Get them while you can! Stay in touch with your professors and colleagues that you connect with. And take advantage of mentorship. If a professor suggests you do something specific, do it! They push us because they see our potential!

“All my professors were fantastic…. This program is one of the few where every professor is not just a good teacher, but a supportive and wonderful person.”

What course or what professor made the biggest impact on you during your time at GW?

All my professors were fantastic, but a special thanks to Dean Smith, whom I credit with helping me get my current job. Professor Randy Townsend‘s Ethics in Publishing capstone course really made me think about ways that I can impact the industry. Randy and Professor Tony Julian are both fabulous and excellent role models. Program Director John W. Warren has been an excellent mentor from the very beginning of my time in the program. This program is one of the few where every professor is not just a good teacher, but a supportive and wonderful person. There aren’t enough words to thank everyone!

Jay Soglo at GW Commencement '24, with wife Elana (l) and sister Denisia (r).
Jay Soglo at GW Commencement ’24, with wife Elana (l) and sister Denisia (r).

What have you found to be the value of the MPS in Publishing degree, and how are you using what you learned, as a rising publishing professional? 

For me, the value in the MPS in Publishing degree was the confidence that it gave me as a professional. Many of the skills I refined in the program were new to me, or I did not feel that they were my strongest skills. For example, public speaking wasn’t something I had much experience in, but now I regularly present in work meetings, and even spoke in front of hundreds in a few conferences!

During your Ethics in Publishing Capstone course, you researched the topic of book bans, a meaningful topic for you. You presented on the topic at our 13th Ethics in Publishing Conference in October 2023; and your article on book bans was published in Vol 3, Issue 1 of the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing. Can you talk a bit about how this project developed from a course project to a conference presentation, and to a journal article? How has this project and the process of publication had an impact on you?

When I began the project in the summer of 2022, I wasn’t sure of the topic or angle that I wanted to take. Unfortunately, around this time there were several devastating mass shootings and other really bad things in the news. Knowing that people out there were espousing hateful views in their manifestos while books focused on antiracism and inclusivity were being banned really rubbed me the wrong way. I used that anxiety and righteous indignation to write the paper, which then evolved into a presentation because I still felt very strongly that people other than my professor and classmates should be exposed to that message. Despite that, more and more news articles about censorship and book bans were coming in regularly, and so I kept writing and researching until I had a journal article. Being on the other side of the publication process allowed me to see what it was like for the authors that we serve in this industry and gave me a more well-rounded view of scholarly publishing as a whole. I consider the publication of the article my way of pushing back on censorship and putting my voice out there – something I encourage anyone who is concerned about censorship to do as well. 

“The MPS in Publishing degree [gave me] confidence as a professional. Many of the skills I refined in the program were new to me, or I did not feel that they were my strongest skills. For example, public speaking wasn’t something I had much experience in, but now I regularly present in work meetings, and even spoke in front of hundreds in a few conferences!”

We are proud that at the Association of University Presses Annual Meeting 2023, you organized and moderated a panel on accessibility with an accessibility super-star lineup. Tell us a bit about your interest in accessibility, as well as presenting at a high-profile conference such as AUPresses Annual Meeting—where your panel attracted an audience of ~500, the largest attendance of the (virtual) annual meeting!

My interest in accessibility really came about because I have autistic family members, which includes my daughter. It’s important to me that everyone have access to literacy and technology without being restricted due to ability. Accessibility is really for everyone, not just people with disabilities, but that isn’t a fact that’s well-known. I came up with the idea when I was encouraged by my JHUP colleague and GW professor Greg Britton to submit a panel suggestion to AUPresses. I wasn’t expected to be chosen, but the conference committee showed a lot of interest in the topic as well. After initially scrambling to find speakers for the panel, I was really lucky to get some of the foremost experts in the field to speak on the panel – Bill Kasdorf, Will Awad, Michael Johnson, Madeline Rothberg, and Jonathan McGlone. They are all great people and really eloquent speakers. I wasn’t expecting so many people to show up, much less being the most highly anticipated panel of the conference that year! Now whenever I must speak on a panel or in front of a group, I’m not nervous anymore because I already spoke in front of hundreds, and it went great.

GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, Vol 3 (cover)

Jay Soglo’s article, Banned But Not Beaten: Confronting Book Bans from a Utilitarian Perspective, was published in the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, Vol 3.

Alumni Profile: Tia Gracey

Tia Gracey is Associate Editor for Political Science Today at the American Political Science Association (APSA). An outstanding graduate of GW’s Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program (December 2023), she served valiantly as Managing Editor of our GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, shepherding the second and third issue of the journal to publication. We are blessed with an abundance of talented students in the Graduate Program in Publishing at George Washington University, and we are especially pleased to share the insights of one of our stellar graduates in this alumni profile.

What was the most challenging aspect of the MPS in Publishing program? What was the most rewarding?

This might seem contradictory, but I think the most challenging aspect of the program was the most rewarding to me. There is so much to be involved with in the Publishing program, and it is something I definitely tried to take advantage of, so trying to find a balance between doing all that I could in the program—classes, the book club, the journal—and my own capabilities was challenging.

Tia Gracey- MPS in Publishing Graduate

During your time in the program, you have been instrumental in advancing the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, first as the E-Publishing Committee lead, and then as the journal’s Managing Editor. What led you to become involved in the journal, and especially, what led you to pursue the opportunity as Managing Editor? How has this experience had an impact on you?

I was first able to get involved with the journal simply by paying attention to the emails that [Program Director] John Warren sends out. Though they may be lengthy sometimes, there is so much information hidden within them that is vital for students. John had sent one out at the beginning of the Fall 2023 semester, and after being two semesters deep in the program, I felt that I finally had my feet under me. It was a new opportunity for me that would also help me gain the practical experience that I was missing. People who know me know that I put my all into everything once I set my mind on something, so I went into being the E-Publishing Committee Lead with a lot of ambition. I was constantly reaching out to Lois Jones, the Editor-in-Chief for the journal, about what more I could do or if there was anything else I could help with. This ambition was what helped me become a candidate for Managing Editor. I knew that quite a few of the leads were leaving the journal because their time in the program was up, and I had fully expected to just continue as E-Publishing Committee Lead. Imagine my surprise when Lois had reached out asking if I wanted to be Managing Editor. It didn’t take me much deliberation to decide that it was an opportunity I would be ecstatic to take. I’m still so honored to this day that Lois thought of me, because I was finally able to discover the path I wish to take in my publishing career.

Your dedication to the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing has been inspiring. You led or helped lead efforts to publish two issues within a year, a much faster pace of what we had accomplished previously. I loved how you even thought to create charms for GWJEP for graduation! What advice do you have for new students who might consider getting involved in the journal?

GWJEP - commencement charm

For any new students that are considering joining a GWJEP committee, I would simply say do it if you can. The journal runs on the students’ ambitions and efforts. Without it, no issues would ever be published. If you wish to learn practical publishing skills and can manage your time well enough to gift some to the journal, then I would say put your best foot forward and go for it!

I would also say to keep an open mind. Many students go into the journal wishing to be on the Editorial Committee, and I can completely understand why they do. The Editorial Committee, however, is not the only committee that makes the journal run. If you have your heart set on one committee, though, make sure to let the Editor-in-Chief and the Managing Editor know so they can do their best to fit you in there.

In your second year of the program, you were hired at the American Political Science Association (APSA) as Associate Editor. What are some of the skills and experience you learned in the MPS in Publishing program that you have been able to apply to your job at APSA

Quite a lot of my skills I’ve learned from the classes in the program, particularly E-Publishing Tools, which taught me Adobe InDesign, and Book Design, which taught me about printing needs and requirements. My past jobs have helped me learn website management, and the rest of my job is very administrative. Another big reason that I was able to get hired was because of my role as E-Publishing Committee Lead for the GW journal. If I not been committee lead or included that role in my resume, I’m not sure that I would have gotten as far as I have. I owe my current role to both the program and the journal.

“For any new students that are considering joining a GWJEP committee, I would simply say do it if you can. The journal runs on the students’ ambitions and efforts.”

What advice would you give to new or prospective students to the MPS in Publishing program?

GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, Vol 3, Issue 1

I would recommend that students pay attention to the opportunities they are given. Sometimes they might be hard to see, but pay attention to the emails and your classes. Attend the Publishing CareerBuilders, go to information sessions, meet as many people as you can. You have the opportunity to submit the papers from your capstone to the journal, which would get you published. You can be a part of the journal, a part of the book club and make quite a lot of connections there, you can also find some opportunities from the Society of Scholarly Publishing. Once you start looking for these kinds of opportunities, so many will start popping up around you. Just make sure you have the bandwidth to be able to handle them.

Prior to your Publishing degree, you completed a Master in Liberal Arts at McDaniel College. What are some of the reasons you decided to pursue the MPS in Publishing degree? Why did you choose GW’s program specifically?

Even during the MLA program at McDaniel, I knew that I wanted to get another degree, I just wasn’t sure in what. I have always loved books and writing, all the way back to elementary school. Originally, I thought that I wanted to be an author because I loved writing and the art that I was able to create. I quickly figured out this wasn’t the case while I was writing my thesis for the completion of my degree. While I love writing, and I think I always will, I discovered that I would rather help other people create beautiful works of art rather than forcing myself to do it. It was exhausting. I would rather enjoy writing when I want to instead of forcing myself to do it as a career.

“I would recommend that students pay attention to the opportunities they are given… Attend the Publishing CareerBuilders, go to information sessions, meet as many people as you can. You have the opportunity to submit the papers from your capstone to the journal, which would get you published. You can be a part of the journal, a part of the book club and make quite a lot of connections there, you can also find some opportunities from the Society of Scholarly Publishing.”

What course or what professor made the biggest impact on you during your time at GW?

Tony Julien is to whom I accredit quite a lot of my successes. Through his classes, E-Publishing Tools and E-Publishing Technologies, I have not only learned how to use 2 different Adobe Programs, but I also have more confidence in exploring Adobe programs in general. He influenced me to apply to be a part of the E-Publishing committee, even though I didn’t have any background or knowledge. His willingness to help students learn put me at ease and helped tremendously when I was doubting myself during his classes. My journey through the journal and into the publishing field was directly impacted by his teachings and the energy he puts into teaching. Though difficult, his classes were worth it, and I learned invaluable skills from him during my time in the program.

What have you found to be the value of the MPS in Publishing degree, and how are you using what you learned, as a rising publishing professional? 

I remember towards the beginning of my time in the program, I had attended a few Publishing CareerBuilders and one thing that I constantly heard from publishing professionals was that “It wasn’t what you did, it was who you know.” At that time, I didn’t fully understand. Did that mean that my accomplishments and efforts didn’t mean as much? Would I only be able to break through by getting my name out there? How do I get my name out there if I can’t break through? Since getting my foot through the publishing industry door, I can honestly say that one of the biggest pieces of value of the MPS program is who you know. The publishing industry is a lot smaller than you think it is. By taking advantage of the opportunities that the program offers, I was able to start making more connections one by one, and not just connections with my fellow students. All the professors are publishing professionals, the publishing book club members are not just limited to GW students, and authors outside of GW submit to the journal as well. There are plenty of opportunities that GW provides to meet and learn from people outside of GW that, once I started taking advantage of these opportunities, I was finally able to make some headway in forging my path through the publishing industry.

“Although it may be tiring at times, and life can get in the way, try and be as active in the community as you can. It will help so much in the long-run and can even be helpful in the short-run.”

For your Ethics in Publishing Capstone project, you researched ethical issues surrounding Chat GPT and publishing, and you presented your research at the 13th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference. What was it like to present at this conference, and do you plan to continue your research in this area, perhaps as a journal article?

This was my first time ever presenting at a conference. I won’t lie, I was nervous, and it was a little nerve-wracking. Publishing professionals from all over the world were going to attend this conference. What right did I have to present my purely theoretical capstone in front of 500+ people when I hadn’t even broken into the publishing world yet? [Ethics in Publishing professor] Randy Townsend always encourages his students to submit to the journal and to present at the Ethics in Publishing Conference, and since I had chosen to do a presentation and not a paper, it would have made sense for me to present at the conference, but I was doubtful of myself and my own capstone. It wasn’t until Randy had reached out to me to invite me to present with the other students that I realized, if Randy, who is a publishing professional and educator in the ethics of publishing, enjoyed my presentation and wanted me to present my theories, then why should I continue to doubt myself?

Tia Gracey, MPS

When it came time to present my capstone, I was still nervous, but less so with my new-found confidence. For the people who know me, it is obvious that I can talk for hours about something I am passionate about, and that transfers well even over a screen. I just had to remind myself that once I got into my presentation, I would be fine. I simply needed to make it past my introduction, and then I could get into the meat of it. Funnily enough, my family and friends who watched me told me that I forgot to introduce myself. I guess I was just too excited and nervous to wait.

I’m not sure if I want to turn my presentation into a paper, since most of it was theory. It’s also due to the subject, as the ethics of AI and ChatGPT are constantly evolving day to day. I have discussed with Lois Jones, the Editor-in-Chief of the GW journal, the possibility of writing an article on the ethics of mental health illnesses, specifically ones that include vivid hallucinations, and their representation in video game publishing. Now that I am finished with the journal, I might have time to do this!

Can you share some of the articles or publications that you have written or published?

The two issues published by the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing are ones I am particularly proud of, as I was able to prove to myself that I can lead a team composed of different committees and that striving to be a Managing Editor is the right direction for me. Those two issues can be found here:

GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, Volume 2 – Issue 1

GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, Volume 3 – Issue 1

I would also like to include the magazines that I’ve been able to successfully publish at my job as Associate Editor of APSA, where I have successfully printed and electronically published 3 issues of the quarterly membership magazine:

Political Science Today, Volume 3 – Issue 4

Political Science Today, Volume 4 – Issue 1

Political Science Today, Volume 4 – Issue 2

Finally, I would like to include the video and slides for my capstone.

Thank you, Tia!

Scholarly Publishing Journals and Your Career

Publishing CareerBuilder: Scholarly Publishing Journals and Your Career
Friday, March 22, 2024, 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET
Eventbrite: RSVP

As publishers, we develop expertise in publishing the work of others, in acquisitions, editorial management, peer review, and in myriad roles that add value to authors and extend scholarship. In our upcoming Publishing CareerBuilder, we will explore the impact of getting involved with and contributing to publishing journals. We’ll discuss the benefits of writing for and publishing an article in publishing journals, serving as a peer reviewer, serving on an editorial board or as Editor-in-Chief. Join us as we explore the impact these activities can have on one’s career and the impact these journals have on the publishing ecosystem. Our webinars in the popular Publishing CareerBuilder series focus on career opportunities, publishing roles and sectors, and job search strategies. Publishing your research and articles about publishing forces, issues, and best practices contributes to the advancement of the publishing ecosystem and has a positive impact on your career.

EIC’s and managing editors of the Journal of Electronic Publishing, Learned Publishing, Publishing Research Quarterly, and the student-managed GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing will share their experience as well as ways that you can get involved.

Panelists

  • Dr. Alyssa Arbuckle, Co-Editor, Journal of Electronic Publishing; Cluster Co-Facilitator, INKE Partnership
  • Tia Gracey, Managing Editor, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing; Associate Editor, American Political Science Association
  • Jocelyn Hargrave, Editor, Publishing Research Quarterly; Lecturer in Publishing, University of Derby
  • Lois Jones, Editor-in-Chief, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing; Peer Review Director, Journals, American Psychological Association (APA)
  • Jodie Martire, Associate Editor of Publishing Research Quarterly, Ph.D. candidate, University of Queensland
  • Michelle Urberg, PhD, MSLIS, North American Editor for Learned Publishing, on behalf of Society for Scholarly Publishing; Client Success Manager, LybLynx

This event is sponsored by GW’s Graduate Program in Publishing,is free of charge, and is open to current and prospective students, alumni,and members or aspiring members of the publishing, library, and scholarly communication community.

Co-moderated by Nicole Mintzand John W. Warren

Bios

Dr. Alyssa Arbuckle (she/her)

Dr. Alyssa Arbuckle (she/her) is the Co-Editor of the Journal of Electronic Publishing and a researcher with the Implementing New Knowledge Environments Partnership, where she co-facilitates its Connection cluster. Until 2024, Alyssa served as Co-Director of the Electronic Textual Cultures Lab at the University of Victoria as well as Co-Director of the Digital Humanities Summer Institute. Alyssa holds an interdisciplinary PhD from the University of Victoria; her dissertation focused on open social scholarship and its implementation.

Tia Gracey (she/her)

Tia Gracey (she/her) is the Managing Editor for the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing and the Associate Editor for the American Political Science Association. She has recently earned her Master’s in Professional Studies in Publishing at George Washington University and, before that, earned her Master’s in Liberal Arts at McDaniel College. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and has recently picked up studying Japanese in her free time.

Jocelyn Hargrave (she/her)

Jocelyn Hargrave (she/her) is an Australian-born Lecturer in Publishing at University of Derby. Her research intersects book history (early modern to nineteenth century), editorial theory and practice, and contemporary publishing studies, with particular focus on educational and academic publishing. She is the author of Teaching Publishing and Editorial Practice: The Transition from University to Industry (Cambridge University Press, 2022), The Evolution of Editorial Style in Early Modern England (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019), and numerous articles published in international journals such as Publishing Research Quarterly, Journal of Scholarly Publishing, Media History and Logos. Jocelyn is a practising editor, with more than twenty-five years’ experience working in the publishing industry; in July 2023, she was appointed Editor of Publishing Research Quarterly.

Lois Jones (she/her)

Lois Jones (she/her) is Editor-in-Chief, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, and Peer Review Director for the Journals Department at the American Psychological Association (APA), where she oversees the peer review strategy and operations for 90 journals. Lois is focused on ensuring a transparent and ethical peer review process for authors, while providing reviewers and editors with the exceptional support they need in the constantly changing landscape of scholarly publishing. She is a 2014 graduate of the MPS in Publishing from GWU and a 2017 Early Career Fellow for SSP.

Jodie Martire (she/her)

Jodie Martire (she/her) is a PhD candidate at The University of Queensland. Her doctoral research focuses on minority-language publishing in Australia and its role in communities’ defense of their linguistic human rights. She has over 20 years’ experience in the book trade as a writer, translator, editor, publishing manager, and bookseller, and she is currently the Associate Editor of Publishing Research Quarterly (responsible for book reviews).

Michelle Urberg (she/her)

Michelle Urberg (she/her) is a publishing professional, a trained librarian, and a musicologist. She has deep knowledge of metadata standards, metadata creation in the library and publishing software industries. She has worked in academic libraries, as a metadata librarian for the ExLibris business unit of ProQuest (Clarivate), and an Implementation Project Manager for ESBCO Information Services. She is currently an independent consultant and the Client Success Manager for LibLynx and the North American Editor of Learned Publishing. Recent research projects include identifying options for standard identifiers and metadata exchange of audio-visual content and improving metadata for digital humanities projects. Michelle holds a PhD in Music History and a MS in Library and Information Science. She was previously active with Metadata 2020. She is currently active in SSP, NISO, and ACRL. She is an active member of NISOs VAMD working group.

Special Call for Papers: GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing

The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing invites publishing professionals, academics, and students to submit articles, case studies, or presentations for our upcoming special edition issue. We are specifically looking for articles addressing publishing ethics in University Press institutions and publications.

Deadline to submit for special issue: August 1, 2023.

  • Salaries/compensation/openness
  • Sustainability of presses
  • Accessibility
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Inclusive practices in language editing and design
  • Community-centered peer review practices
  • Multilingualism
  • Demographics of university publishing—staff, authors, reviewers, & editorial boards
  • Author outreach and education
  • Free speech and censorship
  • New university presses & their relationship to established university presses
  • International partnerships between presses in developed & developing economies
  • Ethics in accounting for publishing costs
  • Ethical considerations of AI in UP publishing
  • Author integrity (plagiarism, et cetera)
Cover of GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, Vol 1, Issue 1. Image of GW Templetto.

If you are interested in writing about other topics that you think would be a good fit for the journal, such as AI, DEI, accessibility, the peer review process, and sustainability, please review our Instructions for Authors or reach out to our Editor-in-Chief, Lois Jones (lijones@email.gwu.edu). While these topics may not be considered for the special issue, we are always accepting new submissions for the journal.

Please submit your paper HERE or email to lijones@email.gwu.edu.

The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing is an online, open-access journal managed by students in our Master of Professional Studies program.

Lois Jones Appointed as new Editor-in-Chief, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing

Lois Jones (pronouns: she/her) is Peer Review Director for the Journals Department at the American Psychological Association (APA), where she oversees the peer review strategy and operations for 90 journals. Lois is focused on ensuring a transparent and ethical peer review process for authors, while providing reviewers and editors with the exceptional support they need in the constantly changing landscape of scholarly publishing. She is a 2014 graduate of the MPS in Publishing from GWU, a 2017 Early Career Fellow for SSP, and a member of the inaugural editorial board for GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing. Lois will serve as Editor-in-Chief of the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, effective October 2022.

Lois Jones, MPS, New Editor-in-Chief, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing

Congratulations on becoming Editor-in-Chief of the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing—and thank you! You’ve served for the past two years on the inaugural Editorial Board. How has serving on the board informed your plans and strategies as the new Editor-in-Chief for the journal?

Thank you! I’m very excited to continue with the journal in this new capacity. At this point, the plan is to build on what we have set up by iterating our process and increasing content. Starting a journal during the pandemic was challenging, but we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished. We’ve gotten a lot of feedback from the student members about what they’d like to see next, which is another major priority. A huge part of this journal’s goal is to provide students with practical experience in editorial, peer review, publishing, and marketing.

I have three major areas of focus as I start my term: student experience, fine-tuning our existing process, and publishing more content.

While we were starting up, the outgoing Editor-in-Chief formed a series of student-led committees that formed the basis for different aspects of the journal: strategy and sustainability, marketing, editorial, and e-publishing. Those teams worked hard to get us where we are. They’ve recommended that all committees stay updated on what the other groups are working on. Early on, I think we didn’t want to burden everyone with too much information, so now we’ll work on finding a middle ground. We also want to figure out what worked best for students and increase opportunities for even more involvement.  

The second goal is to work on our process. I want to streamline our existing process and make sure that individually we’re all clear on what we’re doing in between meetings. This is a natural second step that comes after creating a new process but could be easily skipped. This is another great learning experience for students, so they get into the practice of reassessing workflows and documenting what they’ve created.

From the content standpoint, I want to start publishing more often, which is a typical goal of a newer journal, and ensure that we’re giving a platform for different ideas and career levels. I’m especially interested in ideas that push against the standard viewpoint or provide a deeper assessment of an existing issue. Fresh perspectives are incredibly important, which is another benefit of this being a student-led journal.

What have you appreciated of the impact of the journal for GW publishing students, in your interactions with them on the board, such as Aimar Galarza? What are some of your goals and expectations for students moving forward, as EIC?

I really appreciate their enthusiasm and fresh perspectives. During initial meetings, I would find that they’d question the basic assumptions of peer review and publishing, which made me reassess and either confirm or question my own approach. I’ve worked with a lot of newer graduates and early career professionals, and I find that their perspectives are a great way to never become complacent. Their ideas often push us forward in innovation and equity efforts. It’s hard to just accept things because “that’s how it’s always been” when you have smart people questioning you regularly.   

Aimar, Ashley Warren, and Gabrielle Bethancourt-Hughes were integral for keeping the core journal functions moving. Their persistent work was valuable in pushing the journal forward and communicating the ideas and decisions between teams.

There are, as you know, thousands upon thousands of journals—your organization, APA, has nearly one hundred journals—and there are also several well-respected scholarly journals covering the field of publishing. What do you see as the special role or niche of the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing?

I see this as a great fit for several types of articles. We’re focused on getting good ideas out there, even if they’re not the typical type of article you’d see in a journal. I want people to write articles even if it hadn’t occurred to them to write about publishing before. There are numerous topics that might not seem original or interesting, but that would be fascinating to read about. This is also a great destination for articles by newer career professionals, because we have students and experienced professionals focused on helping authors and reviewers learn the process.

What are some of the challenges—and opportunities—for a student-managed journal, to produce a professional quality scholarly publication? For example, in publishing graduate students’ capstone projects along with research written on ethics in publishing by other members of the publishing community.

One of the primary opportunities is that most of the people working on this journal are newer to the field. Their primary interest might not even be in scholarly publishing, so they aren’t necessarily focused on journals long-term. That can be a challenge, but it’s also a great opportunity to view a journal from an entirely fresh perspective. Similarly, with newer career people managing the journal, each new group of students are in the process of learning how to run and manage a journal. That could be a challenge, but like I said before, it’s also a fantastic pressure to continue reassessing the process as you go.

An original goal of the journal identified by the outgoing editor, Randy Townsend, was to ensure long-term quality. One of the committees he established was Strategy and Sustainability. That student-led committee is responsible for figuring out how to ensure that the quality of the journal remains high while also having groups of students come and go. As the journal progresses, we will continue to add to the resources to support continued student engagement.

In terms of producing high-quality content, we have a mix of both student and experienced reviewers assessing each article. The reviews are then assessed by a member of the editorial board for suitability within the journal. As with all peer reviewed content, this mixture of assessment allows for several unbiased approaches to the submissions. Once accepted, the article is then edited and prepared for publication by dedicated students.

What are some of the lessons you’ve learned in your role at APA that will be helpful to you in leading the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing?

Things are always evolving. Within science, research keeps building on itself and correcting misconceptions. I find it useful to see some parts of publishing as a snapshot in time or a reality for some publishers but not all. The industry is ever-changing, so there will always be new facets to examine and discuss. Previous assumptions might not hold true within five years or even two.  

I’ve helped build different projects and launch many new services and processes, while also managing a range of personalities and skillsets. My goal is to continue forming a good process for students and authors, while encouraging both groups to think broadly.

You were a student in the MPS in Publishing program. What are some of the reasons you decided to pursue the MPS in Publishing degree? Why did you choose GW specifically?

I’ve always been interested in publishing and a colleague at APA had graduated from the program. I began pursuing my degree prior to working publishing, so it was exciting to talk to others also interested in publishing. GW’s classes cover a wide range, including areas where I didn’t have as much interest or where I had no real skill, specifically design. Even those classes were useful in that they provided me with a foundational understanding of how complex the topic was and the basics.

What advice would you give to new or prospective students to the MPS in Publishing program? And why should students consider volunteering to work on managing the journal?

Take broad classes that you wouldn’t normally gravitate toward. I’m weak when it comes to design, but I enjoyed the class. It was educational to spend time in a subject that I’m not as comfortable with. The program also gives you an idea of what part of the industry you’re most interested in pursuing and educates you on the challenges in the different aspects of publishing. Digital publishing has been a massive topic in publishing for over twenty years and the death of print has been a worry for years and years. Getting the long-term perspective from the class readings, discussions, and professors’ experience is invaluable when trying to understand the past and future of publishing.

Working with this journal is a great crash course in journal work, from peer review principles to editing and then actually releasing the content in the world. This is a wonderful hands-on method of seeing the ethical principles and general process in action.

What have you found to be the long-term value of the MPS in Publishing degree; how has it impacted your career at APA? 

I appreciated that it gave me a glimpse into all the areas of publishing. I took classes in marketing, copyright, editing, and journal management. I don’t use all of the skills daily, but the basis of understanding the different areas has helped me understand the different roles I interact with. Almost universally, graduates I’ve worked with have referred to the copyright class the most. It’s a sticky topic and I still refer to the texts we used.

12th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference

Registration is open for the 12th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference. You can find the conference schedule below.

The 12th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference, with the theme of Ethics in Action, will be held Friday, October 14th, 2022, 9:00 am to 5:15 pm EST, in a hybrid format, with in-person and online presenters and attendees.

Registration is free of charge, both in-person and virtual.

We are fortunate to have a wonderful lineup of speakers and topics on the theme of Ethics in Action, on topics such as diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, gatekeeping in publishing, representation, open access, mentorship, and more. Our plenary will feature Kimberly Ayers Shariff, Executive Vice President, Director of Strategy for Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Penguin Random House, in conversation with Tina Donnelly, recent graduate of the MPS in Publishing program. Members of the Association of University Presses, Society of Scholarly Publishing, Library Publishing Coalition, and Association of American Publishers, as well as students and alumni of both the MPS in Publishing at GW and the MA in Book Publishing at Portland State University are among our presenters. We hope to see you there.

Please RSVP for the in-person event only if you plan to attend in-person in Washington, DC.; seating is limited and we will form a waiting list after 80 RSVPs.

In-person conference location:

National Churchill Leadership Center
Gelman Library, George Washington University

Free of charge

RSVP In-Person Event

RSVP Virtual Conference

Courtyard in Fall at GW Campus
Fall on the GW Campus

Schedule subject to change; all times listed EST

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2022 | 9:00 am – 5:15 pm

9:15 am – Welcome and Opening Remarks

Puja Telikicherla, Licensing and Subsidiary Rights Manager, American Psychiatric Association

John W. Warren, Director and Associate Professor, Publishing, George Washington University

9:15 am – Plenary

Equity in Action: From Corporate Initiatives to Team Practices

Kimberly Ayers Shariff, Executive Vice President, Strategy for Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Penguin Random House

Moderator: Tina Donnelly, MPS, Managing Editorial Assistant, Penguin Random House

10:15 am – Representation and Editorial Boards

Building an Open Editorial Board

Anand Balasubramani, Journal Development Editor, American Society for Microbiology

Adrianna Borgia, Managing Editor, American Society for Microbiology

Not Checking a Box: Establishing DEI as a Foundation of the American Urological Association’s Flagship Journal

Jennifer Regala, Director of Publications/Executive Editor, American Urological Association

11:00 am – Access and Open Monographs

A “Third Way” to Sustainable Open Access Publishing

John Sherer, Director, University of North Carolina Press

Sharla Lair, Senior Strategist, Open Access and Scholarly Communication Initiatives, LYRASIS

Rebecce Seger, Vice President, Institutional Participation and Strategic Partnerships, ITHAKA

Lisa Croucher, Executive Director of the Triangle Research Libraries Network (TRLN)

11:50 am-12:50 pm – Lunch Break

12:50 pm – Afternoon Welcome/Remarks

Liesl Riddle, PhD, Dean, College of Professional Studies, George Washington University

1:00 pm – Action in Accessibility

An Intersectional look at Disability in the U.S. Publishing Industry Workplace 

Rachel Done Cubillas, MA (expected June 2023) Book Publishing, Portland State University

Publishing Accessibility Support Systems

Isabella Greene, MPS (expected June 2023), Project Manager, Pubvendo

Accessibility and the Idea of Belonging

John G. Samuel, Co-Founder and CEO, Ablr

2:15 pm – Gatekeeping and DEIA

Ethical Mentorship: Bringing Early-Career to the Table (Paths in Publishing)

Rachael Levay, Editor-in-Chief, University Press of Colorado

Allegra Martschenko, Acquisitions Editor, University Press of Colorado

Brian Halley, Executive Editor, University of Massachusetts Press

Taking Action to Interrupt Racism in the Scholarly Publishing Industry (C4DISC)

Alejandra Mejía, Assistant Acquisitions Editor, Duke University Press 

Martha A. Anderson, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Head of Digital Services, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Libraries

3:15 pm – Peer Review and Preservation

Reducing Bias in Peer Review Through Automated Authorship Checks

Cynthia Hudson Vitale, Director, Scholars & Scholarship, Association of Research Libraries; Co-Founder, Ripeta

Journal Preservation: What Should be Included?

Johanna Meetz, Publishing and Repository Services Librarian, Ohio State University 

4:15 pm – Gatekeeping and Trade Publishing

Gatekeeping in Publishing 

Tina Donnelly, MPS, Managing Editorial Assistant, Penguin Random House

Systemic Barriers That Exclude BIPOC Authors From Literary Awards and the Proposed Solutions to Evoke Change

Devyn Yan Radke, MA, Communications Manager, WildBlue Press

5:00 pm – Closing Remarks

HOSTED BY:

Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program at the George Washington University

SPONSORED BY:


  GW Ethics in Publishing Conference 2021 image

CONFERENCE CO-ORGANIZERS:

See also the Call for Papers for the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing.

Alumni Profile: Aimar Galarza, MPS 2022

Aimar Galarza, originally from Villalba, Puerto Rico, is an outstanding graduate of the MPS in Publishing program, a talented writer and voice actress in both English and Spanish, and a book publicist at Pubvendo.


What advice would you give to new or prospective students to the MPS in Publishing program?

My advice to new or prospective students to the MPS in Publishing program would be to try attending most, if not all, the events that the program offers throughout the semesters, such as the Publishing CareerBuilder webinars. Also, try connecting through LinkedIn with all the guest speakers that you meet; this helps you open doors to many opportunities ahead.

One piece of advice: If you can come to GW in person, do so! It’s so rewarding to be able to engage in other GW communities and events in Foggy Bottom that you wouldn’t experience being online. I have made so many friends from different parts of the world, and I have also met fellow Latinos that I can relate with too! I’ve learned a lot from their different paths in life, and I was able to be part of lovely communities such as the GW Catholics community.

All in all, don’t be afraid of the unknown. You will never know which doors you might open.

What is the most challenging aspect of the MPS in Publishing program? What is the most rewarding?

I would say that the most challenging aspect of the MPS Publishing Program is knowing how to balance your time between full-time work and evening studies to be able to do your best in turning in projects of varying difficulties (depending on each course) every week.

The most rewarding aspect of the program is the fact that you have opportunities to network with guest speakers, classmates, and GW staff who are professionals in varying fields of the publishing industry or other types of industries. This gives you the opportunity to have a unique learning experience and opens doors to getting a job in the publishing industry.

Aimar Galarza, MPS in Publishing 2022

If you can come to GW in person, do so! It’s so rewarding to be able to engage in other GW communities and events in Foggy Bottom that you wouldn’t experience being online. I have made so many friends from different parts of the world, and I have also met fellow Latinos that I can relate with too!

What do you hope to do after graduating from the MPS in Publishing program?

Now that I have graduated from the program, I will be focusing on my job as a Book Publicist and continue learning as much as I can from the publishing industry through books, articles, and the experiences that my job provides me with. I’m excited to keep in contact with all the wonderful people that I have met throughout my GW journey, and I’m also excited to read lots of books and comics on my free time. Furthermore, I will have a wedding to plan; therefore, I’m looking forward to that next stage in my life!

What are some of the reasons you decided to pursue the MPS in Publishing degree? Why did you choose GW specifically?

There were various reasons that I decided to pursue the MPS in Publishing degree specifically in GW. One of the first reasons was the diversity of courses on the business side of publishing when comparing the curriculum to other publishing programs. I knew I liked the creative aspects of the design or the development of a story but learning about how the production side of things works, how to acquire books, and even learning about how copyright works really caught my attention. Due to the constant guidance from Director and Associate Professor John Warren in explaining how the program works, this became my second reason to attend the GW MPS in Publishing. He helped me through the transition of moving to DC with helpful information on both the program and the Virginia/DC areas, which I will forever be grateful for. The third reason was knowing that Washington, DC is a great hub for networking with professionals working in different career paths that you can learn from.

Who has made the biggest impact on you during your time at GW?

Everyone that I have met during the program were big inspirations to me, such as Nicole Mintz, classmates, and professors of each course. I have learned a lot from each and every one of them, and I will forever be grateful for the knowledge and support that they have offered.

[Program Director and Professor] John Warren has made a great impact on me during my time at GW. His dedication to what he does, his guidance, and his help throughout my GW journey as a student and professional has helped me get to where I am today.

What have you found to be the value of the MPS in Publishing degree, and how are you using what you learned, as a rising publishing professional? 

The value of the MPS in Publishing degree—apart from the networking side of things—is that courses provide projects and tools that anyone can use in the present for careers in publishing, marketing, or just business in general. For example, I was able to use the Strategic Prioritization tool from the Marketing Strategies course in one of my job interviews.

Aimar Galarza, College of Professional Studies Commencement, 2022

How are you using what you learned in your publishing courses in your day-to-day work at Pubvendo?

As a Book Publicist at Pubvendo, I am using the general knowledge of how book publishers work in their field that I learned during the first courses in MPS, such as Book and Journal Publishing, E-Pub, and Business of Publishing. I have also applied knowledge learned from my Book Publicity and Promotion course for writing pitch letters and knowing how to reach out to a specific audience.

Also, as the Editorial Committee Lead and Board Representative in the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, I have applied the knowledge of how to reach out to peer reviewers into my day-to-day job of reaching out to influencers or bloggers when marketing books. Every tool and piece of knowledge that the program offers are essential to succeeding as a professional.

Aimar Galarza on LinkedIn. Aimar’s Personal/Professional Website

MPS in Publishing Program at George Washington University Launches New Journal

Announcing the inaugural issue of the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing

WASHINGTON D.C.— The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Publishing program, George Washington University, is pleased to announce the inaugural issue of the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing. This new online journal is managed by students in the MPS in Publishing program, and led by Editor-in-Chief Randy Townsend, Director of Publishing Operations, PLOS, and an editorial board of publishing leaders.

Cover of the Volume 1, Issue 1, of the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing. Image shows the GW Tempietto on the campus of the George Washington University.

EIC Townsend, the editorial board, and MPS students and faculty have established a vision emphasizing equity and quality for theGW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, with an exceptional peer review process involving leading publishing, library, and scholarly communication professionals, scholars, and researchers. This new scholarly journal explores efforts to enable and implement equitable, inclusive, and accessible publishing. The editorial board includes:

  • Gabrielle Bethancourt, Assistant Editor, Wiley
  • Lois Jones, Peer Review Director, American Psychological Association
  • Josephine E. Sciortino, Managing Editor, Canadian Science Publishing
  • Julie Vo, Editorial Manager, JAMA Pediatrics
  • Aimar Galarza, GW Editorial Board Student Representative

Core to its mission, the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing (GWJEP) seeks to provide a platform for students and other industry professionals to discuss often-ignored realities of the publishing industry. GWJEP welcomes scholarly articles, case studies, and GW Ethics in Publishing Conference presentations from scholars, students, and publishing professionals on topics including diversity and inclusion, accessibility, peer review, open access, sustainability, publishing metrics, equity, and other issues of publishing ethics. The Journal of Ethics in Publishing’s first issue is set to advance ethical conversations within the industry and challenge traditional “business as usual” approaches to safeguarding content, representing contributions from both students and professionals.

GWJEP provides MPS in Publishing students an opportunity for hands-on experience managing a professional-level journal, provides a forum for students to publish their Ethics in Publishing capstone projects, and involves the wider community of publishing, library, media, and scholarly communication professionals and scholars as board members, peer reviewers, authors, and readers. This student-managed publication is an open-access resource, free for anyone to access online, and is free from submission fees or article processing charges, providing opportunities for publication from underrepresented voices.

Four student-led committees include Editorial (led by Aimar Galarza, and previously by Giuliana Macaluso); Marketing (led by Donna Prideaux, and previously by Emily Hatcher); E-Publishing (led by Julie McClenahan, and previously by Jeremy Ottley); and Strategy and Sustainability (led by Madi Neuner, and previously by Ashley Warren). Graduate student Ashley Warren serves as Managing Editor.

MPS in Publishing Director and Associate Professor John W. Warren conceived of the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing and serves as publisher. GWJEP is published on the Manifold Scholarship platform, developed by the University of Minnesota Press, the CUNY Graduate Center’s Digital Scholarship Lab, and Cast Iron Coding, with a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) is a sponsor of the journal.

To read GWJEP’s inaugural issue, and to submit articles for consideration, please visit: https://gwpress.manifoldapp.org/projects/journal-of-ethics-in-publishing.

About the GW Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program:

The Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program, College of Professional Studies, at George Washington University, is the leading graduate-degree program for current and aspiring publishing professionals. Current publishing professionals sharpen their skills and expand their knowledge through high-level coursework, while other students include post-bachelor and post-graduate students who have earned their degrees in other disciplines but desire careers in publishing. Coursework emphasizes “real-world” learning, participation, and group work utilizing creative and analytical approaches. Skills and topics include acquisitions, editing, copyright and permissions, business and management, marketing, design, production, and digital technology. Created in 2006, with the addition of a flexible, online program in 2012, more than 450 alumni work as leaders in the field in all publishing sectors and specialties. The program’s curriculum is taught by internationally-recognized leaders in publishing, who help to prepare students for managerial and leadership positions across all segments and specialties in the publishing industry.

For media inquiries about the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, please contact Donna Prideaux, Media Lead, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing at gwpress@email.gwu.edu.

For more information, and media inquiries, about the MPS in Publishing program, please contact John W. Warren, Director and Associate Professor, at jww@gwu.edu.

GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing: Meet the Student Committees

The Journal of Ethics in Publishing is excited to introduce the four student-led committees working to help launch the journal. Each of these four committees deal with different aspects of the journal: Editorial, Marketing, E-Publishing, and Strategy and Sustainability. We recently asked the four committee leads to describe what their committees are charged with, what they’ve accomplished thus far, and what role they will play as the journal continues to evolve and work towards publication.

Giuliana Macaluso

Editorial Committee

Lead: Giuliana Macaluso

Editorial Committee members: Christine Benson, Aimar Galarza, Kaitlyn Longstaff, Mariko Hewer, Olivia Haase, Ashley Elizalde

Editorial Board Liaison: Josephine Sciortino

The Editorial Committee of the Journal of Ethics in Publishing has been charged with stewarding the fair, unbiased double-masked peer review of journal submissions; identifying opportunities to recognize referee contributions; and developing guidelines to maintain journal integrity.

The committee has been hard at work establishing processes to optimize its operations. With the ethical imperative of the journal ever on our minds, the committee’s regular meetings involve discussion around best practices for peer review. We’ve also engaged in research and leveraged professional networks to identify peer reviewers whose expertise and values align with the mission of the journal. In preparation for the first issue of the journal, our inaugural articles have been identified and sent to peer reviewers to solicit feedback—and we’ve already received a reviewer report!

I look forward to seeing the Editorial Committee’s role in the journal continue to solidify and evolve as we move toward the journal’s launch—and over the coming years. This is an integral and enthusiastic committee that affords members experience that will be useful in any publishing profession. And we’re always looking for new members! If you’re interested in learning more about the editorial side of journal publishing, I highly encourage you to join!

Emily Hatcher

Marketing Committee

Lead: Emily Hatcher

Marketing committee members: Sarah Godlin, Corrine Gosling, Abby Norton, Caitlin Monday, Haley Mullins, Nicole McConnell, and Donna Prideaux.

The Journal of Ethics in Publishing’s first marketing committee has been tasked with strategizing, designing, and implementing marketing strategies for the journal. Throughout the past couple of months, the committee has met weekly to brainstorm ideas, discuss content strategy, and begin to establish the journal’s identity as a whole. So far, we’ve created a customer persona, social media strategies, and a content calendar, and we’re continuing to work on setting up social media accounts and starting a weekly email newsletter.

This group is extremely passionate and energetic and I’m so excited to see how the committee will continue to celebrate and amplify the journal.

Jeremy Ottley

E-Publishing Committee

Lead: Jeremy Ottley

E-Publishing committee members: Taryn Boss, Melody Johnson, Lismarie Cuevas, Tyana Anglin, Stephanie Luna

The E-Publishing Committee for the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing has been charged to develop and maintain the online journal presence, ensuring discoverability, appropriate indexing, and successful implementation of industry standards. So far, we’ve been developing a taxonomy for our content to support an indexing strategy, a set of author guidelines to better prepare manuscripts for the platform, as well as a Corrections and Errata policy. Lately, we’ve begun to discuss how to present special collections and how to enhance the user experience.

I look forward to continuing to build a strong digital foundation for George Washington University’s newest born-digital publication.

Ashley Warren

Strategy and Sustainability Committee

Lead: Ashley Warren

Strategy and Sustainability committee members: Ambriah Underwood, Julie McClenahan, Elizabeth Von Mann, Madison Neuner, Maeve Hayden, and Sydnie Koetje-Simin

Board Liaison: Lois Jones 

The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing’s Strategy and Sustainability Committee has been charged with being the Journal’s moral compass, guiding it through industry disruption while establishing and protecting a legacy of excellence and a tradition of quality. We strive to ensure the Journal serves its readers and the publishing industry for many years to come, while never compromising its values or integrity. 

Currently, the Strategy and Sustainability team is working to develop the initial processes that will provide the Journal with critical assets for the future.  In sub-committees,  members are developing student volunteer recruitment and retainment methods; evaluating the competition and searching for potential hurdles; considering long-term peer reviewer relationships; creating data matrices; and actively working to find grants and other funding opportunities.

Our committee looks forward to working together, and with future student volunteers, to help the Journal of Ethics in Publishing find perennial success.

The four committee leads work closely with our Editorial Board Student Representative, Gabrielle Bethancourt-Hughes, to help drive initiatives and establish a solid foundation for the journal.

While there have been many accomplishments, there is still so much work to be done! If any of the above committees interest you, we will be accepting new members in the fall; we will send out a request for volunteers when the time comes. This is a great opportunity to gain real-world experience, work more closely with your peers, and help to publish important content.

Gabrielle Bethancourt Appointed to GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing Editorial Board

The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing proudly announces Gabrielle Bethancourt to the Editorial Board as the student representative to the board’s founding membership. 

Gabrielle Bethancourt - photo
Gabrielle Bethancourt

Gabrielle is a second-year student in the MPS in Publishing program at GW. She holds a Certificate in Editing from the University of Chicago, and taught high school English for five years before assuming her current role as a technical writer/editor. Gabrielle obtained her BA in English from Tulane University and served as an Editor for the Tulane Literary Review. She currently resides in New Orleans with her husband and one-year-old daughter.

“It is an honor to be selected as the student representative on the editorial board,” says Bethancourt. “My time in GW’s MPS in Publishing program has already supplied me with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the publishing world, but this is a unique opportunity to advance industry standards in ethics. It is also a great privilege to work with such accomplished professionals in the field. I look forward to serving my student community as a representative and the publishing community at large with this new journal.”

Gabrielle joins board members Josephine E. Sciortino, Lois Jones and Julie Vo, who were announced earlier this month as inaugural members of the editorial board by Editor-in-Chief Randy Townsend.

“To successfully launch this journal, strong editorial leadership is critical, and it’s imperative to have student representation on the editorial board, working alongside publishing experts,” says John W. Warren, Director and Associate Professor of the MPS in Publishing program, College of Professional Studies. “Gabrielle’s contributions were important, as well as those of her peers, to the launching of this journal, and her accomplishments in the program make her a natural fit for joining the board. My vision for the journal has always been to provide opportunities for our students to learn the ends and outs of journal management, while contributing to the research and literature of ethics in publishing. Student support and enthusiasm for the journal has been remarkable.”

In addition to Gabrielle’s editorship, the journal is also launching student-run committees to target 4 key objectives.

  • Editorial, led by Giuliana Macaluso, will steward the fair, unbiased double-masked peer review of journal submissions, identify opportunities to recognize referee contributions, and develop guidelines to maintain journal integrity.
  • ePublishing, led by Jeremy Ottley, will develop and maintain the online journal presence, ensuring discoverability, appropriate indexing, and successful implementation of industry standards.
  • Marketing & Promotion, led by Emily Hatcher, will cultivate a strategy to raise visibility of the published content, helping further ethical discussions presented by authors, and ensuring the journal brand consistently reflects values of integrity, equity, transparency, and scholarship.
  • Strategy & Sustainability, led by Ashley Warren, will be the moral compass guiding the journal through industry disruption while establishing and protecting a legacy of excellence and a tradition of quality.

“With Gabrielle joining the editorial team and the formation of these four committees, we are honoring our commitment to offer real-world experience and leadership opportunities to the publishing students, strengthening and adapting skills to the development of the journal,” says Townsend. “These committees will help establish the journal’s personality and characteristics. I am inspired by the enthusiasm surrounding the journal and looking forward to publishing great content.” 

The Journal of Ethics in Publishing, managed by students in the GW Publishing program, welcomes articles, case studies, and conference presentations from scholars, students, and publishing professionals on topics including, but not limited to, diversity and inclusion, accessibility, peer review, open access, sustainability, publishing metrics, equity, and other aspects and issues of ethics in publishing. If you are interested in submitting to the journal, please see the Call for Papers for more information.