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.
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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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.
Employers, GW Publishing faculty, CPS staff, and others invariably remark about the impressive and evident talents of GW Graduate Program in Publishing students.
Casey Aimer and Amber Avila-Aimer are exemplars of the creative talents, analytical acumen, and entrepreneurial expertise of our publishing students. In early 2021, Publishing director, John W. Warren, was in conversations with Amber, who was considering her application to the publishing program. A few weeks later, he spoke with Casey about applying to GW Publishing. As their applications indicated they both possessed MFA’s from Texas State University, in literature and creative writing, respectively, it seemed logical they were acquainted; a few weeks later, they revealed that they were in fact partners. Amber and Casey moved to the Washington, DC, area to take publishing graduate courses in person; secured jobs with local publishers; and were subsequently engaged and married during their two years of study—GW Publishing’s first married couple. Along the way, they launched Radon, a literary magazine, while working full-time and studying.
Let’s start from the beginning: You were the first couple to apply here simultaneously, and you got married while in the program! Congratulations! What are some of the reasons you decided to pursue the MPS in Publishing degree? Why did you choose GW specifically?
Amber: Like most college graduates, we had a hard time securing jobs during the pandemic. We graduated from our first master’s programs and moved into Casey’s childhood home in Central Texas thinking that we would be there for a couple of months until we secured a job. Well, two months turned into ten and we were still looking for our next opportunity. Frustrated with the job searching process, I began to investigate editing certificates to help me sharpen my editorial skills while we kept chugging out applications. It was during this search that I came across the MPS in Publishing Program here at GW. I was honestly a bit hesitant to begin another two-year program, but after a virtual meeting with John Warren, I knew that we both had to apply. John did an incredible job at making me feel supported as a prospective student and the descriptions for the courses made me feel like this program would be the perfect fit for us. We had also been gunning to leave Texas after graduation so the program being in DC was just icing on the cake.
You moved to Alexandria, VA, to study for your MPS in Publishing in person, and were able to secure jobs in the publishing industry before you even landed in DC. Why did you decide to move to DC? How were you able to find jobs before even starting the program? Was it difficult to manage work schedules while studying for your MPS degree?
Casey: That we were able to find quality jobs in scientific and university publishing before arriving in DC is a testament to this program’s prestigious influence. Both companies we ended up with have higher-ups from this program or teach in it as professors. Rather than being a program famous in name alone, the program is known for producing top publishing professionals, and anyone getting into or completing the program are known to be competent assets for any publishing firm.
The MPS degree was wonderfully considerate of our time as working adults, especially when compared to our previous full-time master’s degrees. Yes, we had to budget our time, especially when planning a wedding at the same time, but we never felt that the demands from our classes were more than we could handle on any given week. The professors here are focused on giving you the knowledge and experience one needs to function at a high level in the industry, and it is free of busy work.
Amber: Adding onto a bit of what Casey has already mentioned, we really must tip our hats off to John Warren and Nicole Mintz for helping us navigate the DC job hunt. Without Nicole’s coaching and program-specific knowledge and John’s infinite connections, I am sure we would have had a much harder time finding such great opportunities. For those of you who are planning on getting their first jobs in publishing, I highly encourage you to set appointments with them both!
“…the program is known for producing top publishing professionals, and anyone getting into or completing the program are known to be competent assets for any publishing firm.”
Casey Aimer
After only your first or second course in the program, you took an idea you developed in a course and launched your own literary journal, Radon, which recently published its sixth issue. It’s been impressive to watch your trajectory developing this journal and sustaining it into several issues. You pay authors! How did you develop this idea? Were you able to work through some course assignments in the publishing program related to your journal?
C: I’ll admit that the idea for a literary journal that combines science fiction, transhumanism, and anarchism was one I’d held in my head for years. It is everything I wished existed when I was a young writer looking for a home and finding nowhere that accepted my unique passions. Especially for sci-fi and radically political poetry that I was instructed to shy away from in all my formal BA and MFA writing education. Life is hard as a writer, and the world needed more semi-pro lit mag publishers advocating for their authors and helping them reach the next stage of their career. Though the kernel was in my mind since the 2010s, my courses here did allow me to flesh out the concept, run through the viability, and create everything from a mission statement to early webpage drafts. The encouragement to follow one’s niche passion in the publishing industry dug deep in my neurons and gave me the confidence to pursue the idea to reality.
What advice would you give to new or prospective students to the MPS in Publishing program?
C: Try to come live in Alexandria if possible and attend in-person classes. The additional camaraderie you receive from your fellow students and professors is exceptional. There are plenty of scholarly and scientific publishing jobs in DC, too!
What course or professor made the biggest impact on you during your time at GW?
A & C: The most impactful courses are often the ones that are the most unassuming. The professors here have a knack for making any topic relevant, exciting, and integral to your work life. Whether it’s copyright law or management, you won’t know what to do without the skills once you’re done.
“I’m incredibly lucky I was able to harness learned skills from the program and apply them to my job at the same time.”
Amber Avila-Aimer
How are you using what you learned in your publishing courses in your day-to-day work as Editorial Coordinator, AAAS (Casey); and previously at the American Psychological Association, and now as Managing Editor at Wiley (Amber)?
C: Every publishing course gave us a little more of the puzzle that is the publishing industry. The production classes set you up to help in the production arm of wherever you work, the marketing courses provide insight into the labor that is getting society to notice your authors, and editorial courses will sew-up any areas you lack in your developmental/copy/line editing skills. So, the cop-out answer is that everything we learn is relevant to our day-to-day work at publishers and will serve us well into whichever role we choose next.
A: By the time I had moved into APA full-time, I had a foundational knowledge of the scholarly book publishing industry through the accumulation of my courses in the program. This made it a lot easier to “jump right in” at APA, so to speak.
All the courses in the editorial block of the program’s offerings (Mastering Book Acquisitions, The Professional Editor, and Editing Special Projects to name a few) gave me the guiding principles and technical know-how for my role at APA. I have spearheaded projects that include peer-review outreach, comparative and competitive research, inputting data into title management systems, eBook management, and book scheduling. Most recently, I provided a developmental review of an APA title set to be published next year and received exceptionally positive feedback from both developmental editors on the project.
I’m incredibly lucky I was able to harness learned skills from the program and apply them to my job at the same time. It’s an amazing feeling to come into a job and confidently say “I’m actually quite familiar with that [insert publishing thing here].”
You have both worked with Nicole Mintz, CPS Career Services Director, and participated in events such as our Publishing CareerBuilder webinars. How did you benefit from some of the career services at GW’s College of Professional Studies and the Publishing program specifically?
C: This program’s focus on industry placement is refreshing, and helpful each step of the way. It highlights how this program truly is for professional studies and those wanting to be at the top of their game in their chosen industry. The CareerBuilders spanned a wide gambit of topics, with something for everyone no matter which niche in the industry you want to pursue.
I’d also like to highlight the yearly GWU Publishing Ethics Conference. Each October it grows and all walks of professionals across the US attend. I highly recommend everyone who can attend in person to meet fascinating and important industry professionals.
Professor Dean Smith was the recipient of the 2023 College of Professional Studies Faculty Excellence Award at the 2023 CPS Commencement Ceremony. This honor is awarded to the part-time faculty member in the College of Professional Studies who has provided extraordinary service to the students and the college. The award recognizes both enlightened teaching and meritorious efforts to advance the college and its programs.
Dean Smith has taught in the MPS in Publishing program since Fall 2012. His course, Book and Journal Publishing, is our students’ first entry into the program; for many of our students it is their first entry into the profession of publishing; a nuanced, complex, and challenging profession to summarize succinctly in a twelve-week course.
Professor Smith’s full-time role is Director of Duke University Press, one of the most prestigious university presses in the world and a rather large enterprise. He has plenty on his hands. Nevertheless, he comes to GW’s Alexandria campus once per week, from Durham, North Carolina, for his twelve-week course to teach the course in person, in addition to teaching the online course during the same twelve weeks.
In his course, Dean brings in a wide variety of guest lecturers to speak about the different sectors and roles in publishing. People such as the President/CEO of Elsevier, and SVP of Ingram Content Group, as well as well-known authors and other publishers.
Dean is a devoted mentor to students and an outstanding professor. He has been instrumental in introducing students to job opportunities. Here are some words of support from Dean’s students, typical of what I hear from his students every year.
From Isabella Greene, our CPS Graduate Distinguished Scholar:
Dean encouraged me to be bold in my pursuit of publishing jobs and to keep an open mind throughout the program. He really set the tone for what ended up being a fantastic program.
From Casey Aimer:
Dean exemplifies excellence and a commitment to the program that exceeds all others. His immense love for publishing and preparing the next generation of professionals propels him to travel from North Carolina to teach each week. His class is the cornerstone of the first semester and is the perfect introduction to the program.
And Kelley Robbins:
Tapping his own personal and professional network, Dean brings in longtime publishing professionals to speak to his students during class sessions and share their insights about the industry and areas of expertise. He goes above and beyond the basic requirements of being an instructor and serves as a springboard to help launch students into their publishing careers. I consider him both a friend and mentor and can’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.
Join me in congratulating Professor Dean Smith for the 2023 CPS Faculty Excellence Award.
Tina Donnelly, MPS, is an Assistant Managing Editor at Penguin Random House, where she assists department heads with all aspects of audiobook production and record keeping, as well as supports the Managing Editorial team on audio and large print projects and metadata maintenance. She is a talented 2022 graduate of the MPS in Publishing program at George Washington University, and the program’s newest instructional assistant. In the latest in our series of alumni profiles, Tina shares her experiences in the GW Publishing program, her work on DEIA issues, and her work at PRH.
Tina Donnelly, MPS (2022)
Your current role is Assistant Managing Editor at Penguin Random House, where you work with audiobook and other products. Can you tell us about your work at PRH? What are some aspects you learned in the MPS in Publishing program have been helpful in your work?
As Assistant Managing Editor, I handle a variety of tasks within the audio department. While my main responsibility is maintaining the metadata of our thousands of audiobooks published each year, I also manage things such as web copy edits/updates, Canadian pricing conversions, and ONIX feeds, as well as proofing and reporting on titles in our Random House Large Print imprint, which is also handled by Audio. I enjoy my job immensely not only because I love books and audiobooks, but also because I get to work in so many different parts of the production and post-production process: all of which helps get our books into the hands of readers around the world.
Most everything I learned in the MPS in Publishing Program has been helpful in some way at improving my performance at Penguin Random House. One thing is simply a more thorough understanding of the publishing industry, and how a book goes from an author’s head to the hands of readers. A more solid knowledge of this process, not to mention the business behind it, went a long way in helping me understand just why we do the things we do at PRH. Additionally, the lessons on understanding brand image and audience interaction were essential at improving some of the more marketing-focused responsibilities at my job, such as celebrity narrator announcements and cover reveals.
…Getting to interact with the professors, all of whom are experts in their field and talented beyond measure… made understanding the real-world application of the material so much easier. Additionally, the professors’ stories and examples of working in publishing helped me to prepare for navigating 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 learning about areas of the industry that were not initially as interesting to me. As a reader and a lover of books, I was much more interested in the courses that focused on acquisition, copyright law, editing, and audience interaction. The more technical courses, ones that focused on coding, software, and technologies, were a bit more difficult for me. Thankfully, I had some truly gifted teachers that helped me along in areas that I struggled with, so it was more challenging than undoable, and I got exposure to a side of publishing that I otherwise would not have experienced.
The most rewarding part of the program was getting to interact with the professors, all of whom are experts in their field and talented beyond measure. The ability to learn lessons through the professors’ experiences in the field made understanding the real-world application of the material so much easier. Additionally, the professors’ stories and examples of working in publishing helped me to prepare for navigating the field.
What are some of the reasons you decided to pursue the MPS in Publishing degree? Why did you choose GW specifically?
I wanted to pursue a degree in publishing not only as an advantageous career move, but also because I have a genuine passion and interest in the field. As an avid reader, I have always wanted to work in publishing, and so I pursued a degree in the field. I firmly believe a degree in publishing will go a long way in securing one a position for an already highly sought-after job, not to mention that it will help tremendously with upward movement within the industry.
I chose George Washington University’s publishing program for several reasons, namely that their program simply looked the best. The curriculum was stacked with relevant and interesting-sounding courses, the instructors were all industry professionals, and best of all, the program was designed for “working adults,” which is what I was when applying. Plus, the program is at the George Washington University, a prestigious institution, and an affordable one at that.
Lastly, the staff and faculty while I was inquiring about the program were beyond helpful and informative; they were so patient and thoughtful in answering my many questions, phone calls, and emails. It was a level of care I had not received at other graduate programs, and it was something that really drew me to GW.
A highlight for us last year was having you present at our 12th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference—where you moderated the plenary with Kimberly Ayers Shariff, Executive Vice President, Strategy for Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Penguin Random House, and also presented your own capstone Ethics in Publishing project in a separate session! Can you tell us about the genesis and trajectory of your project, why you presented at the conference, and about your conference experience?
I took Randy Townsend’s Ethics in Publishing course in the Fall of my second year in the program. I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did; I thought it was an important and relevant class to take, but I didn’t realize how much I would gain or learn from it. I was really intrigued and impressed. One thing that stuck out to me was just how little diversity there was in publishing. I had a basic understanding that it was not as diverse as it could be, but I was a little surprised to find out just how overwhelmingly uniform the industry was. This homogeneity is reflected in both the publishing workforce and product output. This bothered me because as a big reader, I have always been able to see myself reflected in various stories, circumstances, and characters, and it saddened me that this was not the case for all readers. Or rather, that their portrayals in literature seemed limited, while mine seemed endless.
Tina Donnelly (l) and Kim Ayers Shariff (r, on screen) at the 12th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference
I was so drawn to this issue that I wanted to make it my capstone project for the course. Thus, I set out to make a case for why and how the industry can be more diverse, as well as a snapshot at its current demographics. The latter was the easy part; my own company, PRH, had just released their yearly diversity and inclusion report, and statistics for other companies were not difficult to find since this is an oft-discussed topic. The hard part came when I had to formulate my own ideas and suggestions for how to rectify the problem and move forward to a more diverse and representative publishing landscape. This is where Kim Shariff came in. Kim is the Executive Vice President, Strategy for Diversity Equity & Inclusion at PRH, and I had several conversations with her over what should be done, what is being done, and what further we can do to address this problem. Kim Shariff is an outstanding and insightful intellectual, as well as an experienced Diversity and Inclusion Officer, and she was able to give me some helpful ideas, tools, and attitudes towards tackling this issue. It is because of her guidance and advice that the presentation turned out so well, and I was proud to have her consult on it.
I wanted to present my findings at the Ethics in Publishing Conference namely because I am very passionate about this subject; it is close to my heart as a lifelong booklover who wants everyone to be able to indulge in the joys of reading. Additionally, Randy Townsend and John Warren both gave me some solid feedback on my initial capstone project, and I wanted to incorporate their suggestions to make it even stronger and more informative—more of a call-to-action, instead of mainly a passion project. I am happy to report that not only did I have the privilege of presenting my findings at the conference, but I also had the pleasure to moderate the plenary session with Kim Shariff, as well as get to see some other incredibly interesting and thought-provoking presentations from other GW alumni.
Equity in Action: From Corporate Initiatives to Team Practices (Plenary session of 12th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference)
What advice would you give to new or prospective students to the MPS in Publishing program?
The most important advice, in my opinion, is to study as broadly as you can and take classes outside of your normal interests. People move around in publishing a lot, and you never know what areas of study will come in handy later in one’s career. Also, another big piece of advice that seems basic but cannot be over-emphasized is to attend the online sessions. These are not technically required, but students will learn and gain so much more from the course if they attend the weekly online sessions. This is an opportunity to engage with other students, ask questions, clarify details of the week’s lesson and assignment, and bounce ideas of your classmates; one really goes so much farther if they can attend.
I chose GW’s publishing for several reasons, namely that their program simply looked the best. The curriculum was stacked with relevant and interesting-sounding courses, the instructors were all industry professionals, and best of all, the program was designed for “working adults,” which is what I was when applying. Plus, the program is at the George Washington University, a prestigious institution, and an affordable one at that.
What courses or professors had an impact on you during your time at GW?
Publishing Entrepreneurship with John Warren is exceedingly helpful for young publishing professionals. Even if you don’t plan to be an entrepreneur yourself, this course is great for understanding the basics of the business.
Copyright Law/Print & Cyberspace is an essential class for anyone who wants to work in publishing, no matter what area. Understanding the basic rules of copyright, trademark, and fair use is critical in any media field, and this course excellently teaches these concepts.
The Professional Editor is another course that anyone entering the publishing world should take. Even if one is not necessarily going into this department, this is an important course that covers not just editing, but also managing, proofing, team relations, and author interaction. If anyone wants to work with books or journals at all, this class is a must.
Production Management is a challenging course, but it goes without saying that this is a necessary course for anyone entering publishing. Having a basic understanding of the production process, even if one has nothing to do with the production side of things, is critical for understanding a book’s life cycle. Knowing this is vital because no matter what area of publishing one is in, production will affect them in one way or another, and it is best that one has a working knowledge of the process.
John Warren had a huge positive impact on my time at GW, not just as a professor but also as the program director. He was exceedingly helpful whenever I struggled and assisted me in navigating the program whenever I was uncertain how to proceed.
Dean Smith was also a major ally in my time at GW. As one of the first professors I had in the program, he helped prepare me for the rest of my education and gave me the confidence I needed to tackle my course load.
Both Josephine Sciortino and Rebecca Brenner were each such massive supports through their class, The Professional Editor. They each had so much wisdom and experience they shared in the course, not just about editing but also about how to successfully operate in all areas of publishing, as well as how to act as a true professional in the workplace. Their guidance and encouragement had such a positive impact on me in my last year of the program.
Greg Britton is another professor who is almost too good to be true. He is not only one of the kindest people I have ever met, but he is also an extraordinary talented professor and masterfully teaches his class on book acquisitions. His eagerness to connect with students and teach the material in a more interactive and collaborative fashion made such a difference in helping me to understand acquisitions more thoroughly, not to mention it made me much more interested in the topic.
The value of GW’s MPS in Publishing degree can truly not be overstated. The degree will not only bolster you as a candidate for publishing jobs, but it will also instill you with a sense of ease and confidence in navigating the field; one has, after all, mastered it. Personally, I have newfound respect (and responsibilities) at my own workplace because my team feels I can handle more, and they are correct.
Gatekeeping and Trade Publishing, Devyn Yan Radke, Tina Donnelly (12th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference)
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?
It is unarguable that the value of GW’s MPS in Publishing degree can truly not be overstated. The degree will not only bolster you as a candidate for publishing jobs, but it will also instill you with a sense of ease and confidence in navigating the field; one has, after all, mastered it. Personally, I have newfound respect (and responsibilities) at my own workplace because my team feels I can handle more, and they are correct. I feel surer in myself as an employee and my own capabilities. The degree itself does a lot to impress one’s superiors too; just having it shows not only that you have a strong sense of how the business operates, but also that you cared enough to pursue higher education for your career, both of which go a long way in highlighting you as a dedicated professional.
Can you provide any other tips that might be helpful for prospective students?
Take as many electives as you can manage, and try to study things that are outside your comfort zone; you’ll be surprised at how much you may enjoy them. Business and entrepreneurial classes will teach you a lot about publishing on the ground level. Furthermore, take advantage of things like online sessions, office hours, Publishing Career Builders, and any conferences that you can attend. These are all great opportunities at GW to not only network but also sharpen your skills to prepare for the publishing landscape.
In the latest in our series of alumni profiles, Wes Bryant, talented graduate of the Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program, 2022, shares his perspectives on publishing and his varied and impressive background. Wes J. Bryant is a retired master sergeant and former special operations joint terminal attack controller in the elite special warfare branch of the U.S. Air Force. He is coauthor of the book Hunting the Caliphate: America’s War on ISIS and the Dawn of the Strike Cell, a first-person account co-written alongside the former ground force commander of Iraq, retired Major General Dana J.H. Pittard. An author, editor, and defense analyst with focus on foreign policy, counterterrorism, and extremism, Wes works as a defense and aerospace professional specializing in advanced communications technologies. He holds a BA in Asian Studies from the University of Maryland, a MPS in Publishing through George Washington University, and is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration and STEM studies at George Washington University.
What was the most challenging aspect of the MPS in Publishing program? What was the most rewarding?
Wes Bryant
The most challenging aspect for me, initially, was that I was not working at a publishing house but in the technology industry, and had no real-world foundation within which to apply some of the material aside from my work as an independent author/editor. It was easier once I realized that things like acquisitions, marketing and sales, P&L forecasting, etc. share commonalities across industries. I started finding these similarities, and as I simultaneously gained more and more understanding of the publishing industry, things began coming together.
The most rewarding aspect of the program was gaining a high-level understanding of the business of publishing as well as constantly exploring business ventures across the publishing landscape—be they entrepreneurial or with established companies—throughout various coursework.
The most rewarding aspect of the program was gaining a high-level understanding of the business of publishing as well as constantly exploring business ventures across the publishing landscape—be they entrepreneurial or with established companies
What are some of the reasons you decided to pursue the MPS in Publishing degree, and why did you choose GW specifically?
As an independent author and editor, I wanted to advance my understanding within the publishing arena. I have also had budding aspirations of potential entrepreneurship in the publishing realm. I chose GW because it is a very reputable institution, and I was impressed by the program content.
What are your plans after graduating from the MPS in Publishing program?
As the program has catapulted my understanding of the business of publishing as well as my capability for industry navigation as an author and editor, I hope to continue to build on the skills and knowledge gained to excel in my career pursuits.
What advice would you give to new or prospective students to the MPS in Publishing program?
Establish what you would like to do with the MPS degree—how it will advance your knowledge and abilities and/or growth potential in your current profession. Or, as the case may be, how it could help to land you in the profession or role you want to be. Approach the program with that in mind, and then shape your class choices accordingly.
Who (or what course) has made the biggest impact on you during your time at GW?
John Warren, the program director, without doubt had the biggest impact during my time at GW. He was always there for questions, consult, concerns, or issues—and helps students guide where they would like to go, or figure that out to begin with.
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 professional?
The MPS in Publishing has given me unique business perspective. Specific to the business of publishing, I would feel empowered stepping into a role in a publishing house or even starting my own publishing operation with the understanding, knowledge, and skill gained from the program. And as an independent author and freelance editor, it has given me a skillset and knowledge base that I will continue to draw on and build upon for years to come.
The program’s business curriculum crosses boundaries and is applicable to a wide array of industries. Profit and loss analysis, for example, is critical to the core of any business. And the program focuses on business fundamentals such as operations, organizational management, and understanding product life cycle from market research to acquisition to design, development, production, distribution, sales, and marketing.
How are you using what you learned in your publishing courses in your day-to-day work at L3Harris Technologies, and as an author and editor?
My MPS in Publishing has complimented my career in the technology industry, as the program’s business curriculum crosses boundaries and is applicable to a wide array of industries. Profit and loss analysis, for example, is critical to the core of any business. And the program focuses on business fundamentals such as operations, organizational management, and understanding product life cycle from market research to acquisition to design, development, production, distribution, sales, and marketing. Additionally, in my work as an author and editor, the program has given me an incredibly broad array of tools to utilize.
The GW Publishing Book Club, organized by the Graduate Publishing program at The George Washington University, is a space for publishing students, alumni, faculty, and members of the publishing, library, and scholarly communication community to read and discuss titles on the history of the book, the history of publishing, and similar topics.
In Impermanent Blackness: The Making and Unmaking of Interracial Literary Culture in Modern America, author Korey Garibaldi explores interracial collaborations in American commercial publishing—authors, agents, and publishers who forged partnerships across racial lines—from the 1910s to the 1960s. Garibaldi shows how aspiring and established Black authors and editors worked closely with white interlocutors to achieve publishing success, often challenging stereotypes and advancing racial pluralism in the process.
John Fisher, a GW MPS in Publishing student who worked as a freelance editor with Korey on this book, will also join us for the discussion.
You may also sign up to be a member of the GW Publishing Book Club (not required for this event). Publishing Book Club members receive a 50 percent discount on the book.
GW students, faculty, and staff are invited to join us for this event, in person or via Zoom. If you are not a GW student, faculty, or staff, you will need to provide ID at the entrance to Gelman Library.
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)
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 ourInstructions for Authorsor 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.
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.
Scholarly communications and publishing organizations across the industry are invited to join the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP), The Scholarly Kitchen (TSK), and the Masters in Publishing program at George Washington University (GW) in highlighting issues of publishing ethics during the first-ever unofficial “Publishing Ethics Week,” happening this week, October 10-14, 2022.
Launching today with a special collection of resources, #PublishingEthicsWeek22 brings together events, toolkits, best practices, and original research from a host of scholarly publishing organizations:
American Chemical Society
AUPresses
Coalition for Diversity in Scholarly Communications (C4DISC)
In our latest alumni profile, talented MPS in Publishing graduate Anna Miller shares her perspectives and insights on the GW Publishing program, its impact on her career, and her plans to launch her own publishing company. Anna is a project manager at Pubvendo.
What was the most challenging aspect of the MPS in Publishing program? What was the most rewarding?
The most challenging part of the program was also the most freeing part. In each class, we were able to choose our project topics. This enabled us to really dig into what topics were important to us. This both enabled us to grow as young professionals and challenged us to really figure out what our interests were and how we wanted to use our degree to pursue those interests.
What do you hope to do after graduating from the MPS in Publishing program?
My dream is to use my degree to create my own publishing company, and I am already in the process of doing so. The freedom that we were given in our assignments to pursue our passions has led to a great foundation for starting my own publishing house. I am very excited for where this journey will take me.
Anna Miller, MPS in Publishing,2022
What are some of the reasons you decided to pursue the MPS in Publishing degree? Why did you choose GW specifically?
I decided to pursue the MPS in publishing program because I have a love for books and a love for writing. This program seemed like the perfect opportunity to blend the two into a career that I would love and enjoy. Growing up, one of my biggest goals was to pick my career based on my passions and choosing the MPS in Publishing program was a step in that direction. I chose GW because I liked that it catered to working individuals. I really wanted to get professional experience after my undergraduate degree, but I also wanted to get my Masters. This program enabled me to do with, and to do both well. Additionally, this program is affordable, which not many programs can say!
My dream is to use my degree to create my own publishing company, and I am already in the process of doing so. The freedom that we were given in our assignments to pursue our passions has led to a great foundation for starting my own publishing house. I am very excited for where this journey will take me.
What advice would you give to new or prospective students to the MPS in Publishing program?
This program is incredible and really allows you to grow into publishing in the way you imagine it for yourself. The classes provide the foundation and the knowledge, but the instructors allow you to incorporate your passions into your work. It is a lot of work, but it is extremely manageable even if you’re working full-time.
Who (or what course) has made the biggest impact on you during your time at GW?
This is a tough question. I gained so much from all of the courses. However, I have to say the Publishing Entrepreneurship course because it made me realize that I don’t have to wait twenty years to start my publishing house. I can start it now, even if it starts out small. It was so empowering hearing from all the various publishing entrepreneurs.
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?
One of the biggest values the program afforded me was connections. I actually landed my job after I emailed a guest speaker at my Marketing class inquiring about a job. Additionally, I have a wide knowledge of the publishing industry now that I use in my job daily. It has granted me the confidence to speak up at work and share my ideas, because this is a field that I am both passionate about and knowledgeable in.
One of the biggest values the program afforded me was connections. I actually landed my job after I emailed a guest speaker at my Marketing class inquiring about a job. Additionally, I have a wide knowledge of the publishing industry now that I use in my job daily.
How are you using what you learned in your publishing courses in your day-to-day work at Pubvendo and in your career?
I work for a book marketing agency, so I use the strategies I learned in Book Marketing and Book Publicity and Promotion pretty much daily! It is so fun being able to share my knowledge to help my clients’ books be successful.
The publishing program is paramount in my decision to go ahead and start my publishing company, Personal Digest Publishing. It is still in the building stages, but it is in the works due to the inspiration and knowledge provided by the publishing program and my instructors.
