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.

14th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference

Schedule and Program for the 2024 Conference—Registration is free of charge.

Join us for 14th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference, which will be held as a hybrid conference on Thursday, October 10th, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET (in person and virtual) and Friday, October 11, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm ET (virtual only).

We are expecting 500 attendees, including ~100 in person attendees, and 21 presentations from ~40 publishing and library professionals and students from Mexico, Colombia, UK, and the United States.

The Full Schedule is now available—see the abbreviated schedule below.

Registration for the GW Ethics in PublishingConference is free of charge.

RSVP for in-person or virtual attendance.

Organized and hosted by the George Washington University Graduate Program in Publishing, College of Professional Studies, in collaboration with the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing.

Conference sponsors:
Association of American Publishers (AAP)
Association of University Presses (AUPresses)
Book Industry Study Group (BISG)
Council of Science Editors (CSE)
International Society of Managing and Technical Editors (ISMTE)
Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP)

Additional sponsorship from Scholastica.

The GW Ethics in Publishing Conference is organized by Puja Telikicherla, Licensing & Subsidiary Rights Manager, American Psychiatric Association Publishing, and Adjunct Professor, George Washington University; and John W. Warren, Director and Association Professor, Master of Professional Studies in Publishing, George Washington University. Ethics in Publishing Conference Assistant, Taylor Dent.

Attendance (in person and virtual) to the conference will be free-of-charge. Lunch will be provided to in-person attendees, and a social hour will follow the conference. We look forward to seeing you, in-person or virtually!

RSVP

Abbreviated Schedule – See the Full Schedule and Program with Bios and Descriptions of all presentations

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2024 | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

GW City View Room, Foggy Bottom Campus

Elliott School of International Affairs

1957 E Street NW Washington, DC 20052

And Virtual

9:00 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 – In Other Words: Addressing Language and Multilingualism

Says Who?: Language Discrimination in Academic Publishing

Stella Sanchez, MPS in Publishing graduate, George Washington University; Assistant Managing Editor, Aerospace Medical Association

Networks and Collaborative Alliances Towards Latin America

Edgar García-Valencia, Veracruzana University

Does the Editor Need to be a Translator to Offer Quality Multilingual Content?

Laura Rodríguez Mejía, Independent Editor, Proofreader and Translator

10:30 am – Advancing Editorial Equity in Scholarly Publishing

Moderated by Jennifer Regala, Associate Director, Publishing, Wolters Kluwer Health

Toward Decolonizing Knowledge Production in Global Public Health: Efforts by a Global Health Peer Reviewed Journal

Sonia Abraham, MA, Scientific Editor, Global Health: Science and Practice

Natalie Culbertson, Managing Editor, Global Health: Science and Practice, Bloomberg School of Public Health

Peter Waiswa, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Makerere University, Uganda, and Karolinska Institute; Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Global Health: Science and Practice

From Bias to Integrity: Fostering Equitable Science through Author Submission Guides and Policies

Steph Pollock, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Lead, American Psychological Association

Mia Ricci, Director of Publications Operations, American Geophysical Union

Cindy B. Veldhuis, PhD, Assistant Professor, Northwestern University

Diversity in OA Publishing: What Does the Data Tell Us?

Casey Pickering, Director, Product Marketing, CCC

Increasing Diversity of Editorial Boards: A Literature Review and Case Study Analysis

Tammy Brodie, Editorial and Peer Review Coordinator, The American Association for Thoracic Surgery

Elizabeth Brown, Editorial Coordinator, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)

12:00 pm – Lunch

1:15 pm – Afternoon Welcome

Liesl Riddle, Ph.D., Dean, College of Professional Studies, George Washington University

1:30 pm – AI and Responsible Publishing

Moderated by Wendy Queen, Director, Project Muse

The Rights-Ethics Relationship in the Era of AI

Simone Taylor, Chief, Publishing, American Psychiatric Association

One Step Ahead: Proactive Versus Reactive Approaches to Avoiding Research Integrity Issues

Anna Jester, Director, Business Development, Wiley Partner Solutions

Jennifer Workman, Senior Business Development Manager, Wiley Partner Solutions

The Integrity Algorithm

Christopher Kenneally

2:30 pm – break

3:00 pm – From the Editor’s Desk

Moderated by Hind Berji, MPS in Publishing student; Managing Editor, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, George Washington University

How to Not Get Exploited as a Freelance Academic Editor

Bailey Harrington, freelance editor; part-time staff editor, Washington State University

From Funding to Publication: The Impact of the Geopolitical Landscape on Scholarly Communication

Andrew Bostjancic, Senior Manager Policy and External Affairs, Taylor & Francis Group

Nicko Goncharoff, Managing Director, Osmanthus Consulting

Ginny Herbert, Associate Publisher, Researcher Engagement and Experience, AIP Publishing

Protecting Their Innocence: Modifying Mature Content for Young Readers

Amy Hall, Amethyst Harbor, Inc.

Authenticity as Ethos: Why Diversity Alone Won’t Build Integrity in Publishing

Liliann Albelbaisi, Publicity Representative, Stirred Stories

Kelsea Johnson, Co-Founder, Stirred Stories

Redefining the Future of Peer Review: Black Stripe’s Community-Centered Practices and Their Impact on Open Access and Diverse Submissions

Mikayla Lee, MPS Publishing student, George Washington University

4:30 pm – Closing Remarks – Day 1

5:30 pm – In-person Social Hour to follow conference; location TBA

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2024 | 11:00 am – 4:00 pm – virtual only

11:00 am – Opening Remarks

11:15 am – Rethinking Peer Review

Moderated by Josephine E. Sciortino, Editorial Director, Canadian Science Publishing

Openness and the Ethics of Peer Engagement

Rebecca Kennison, Digital Content Editor, Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library, Columbia University Irving Medical Center

AI in the Academic Context: Intellectual Property, Peer-reviewing and Editors’ challenges

Marco Giraldo Barreto, Editor in Chief, Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano

12:30 pm – Collaborative Publishing

Advancing HBCU Scholarship, Diversifying Digital Publishing

Sara Jo Cohen, Editorial Director, University of Michigan Press

Clare Jones, Assistant Editor, Brown University Digital Publications

Diona E. Layden, Special Collections Librarian, Fisk University

La Tanya L. Reese Rogers, Associate Professor of Literature and Drama, Fisk University

Adventures in Digital Publishing: Opportunities, Challenges, Looking Ahead

Ana Maria Jimenez-Moreno, Acquisitions Editor, The Ohio State University Press

Allison Levy, Director, Brown University Digital Publications

Mae Velloso-Lyons, Associate Director, Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry, Emory University

Why Publishers Should Invest in Libraries to Cultivate Lifelong Readers

Rachel Kahn, MPS, George Washington University; Co-founder, Words for Libraries

Leo Postovoit; Co-founder, Words for Libraries

2:00 pm – break

2:15 pm – Updates from the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing

Lois Jones, Peer Review Director, American Psychological Association; Editor-in-Chief, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing

Student Committee Leads, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing

2:30 pm – Building an Inclusive Scholarly Publishing Workforce

Building an Inclusive Scholarly Publishing Workforce: What we are learning from the Workplace Equity Survey

Maribel Gomez, MPS in Publishing Graduate, George Washington University, Publishing Inventory Associate, CCC

Camille Lemieux, Manager, Data Projects, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Springer Nature

Paige Wooden, Director of Publications, American Geophysical Union (AGU)

3:30 pm – Closing Remarks

13th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference

The 13th Annual GW Ethics in Publishing Conference will be held over two days—one hybrid day, Thursday, October 12, and one virtual day, Friday, October 13. An in-person social hour will be held at the end of the first day. Presenters from Canada, Chile, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States will be presenting on topics including AI, DEIA, open access, workplace equity, multilingualism, digital publishing, open peer review, workflow, contracts, research integrity, library publishing, indigenous publishing, representation, and other topics on ethical issues in publishing.

Thursday, October 12, 2023
9:00 am-5:15 pm EST
Hybrid Format—In-Person and Online Presenters and Attendees
GW Arlington Education Center, room 102-104, Ballston
950 Glebe Road, Arlington, VA

5:30 pm EST
In-person Social Hour to follow conference
Location TBA

Friday, October 13, 2023
11:00 am to 4:00 pm EST
Virtual: Online Presenters and Attendees

View the full Conference schedule with speaker bios and abstracts.

RSVP for the Conference.

Registration is free of charge and open to all in the publishing, library, and scholarly communication community. Lunch will be provided to in-person attendees, and a social hour will follow the event.



Event Format:
In-Person: Choose “In-Person Attendee” if you are able to travel to attend the conference at the GW Arlington Learning Center in Arlington, VA. Space is limited. (Note: In-person attendees will also receive links to the live stream and recordings.)
Virtual: The conference will be live-streamed; sessions will be recorded subject to the individual preferences of speakers. Choose virtual attendees to register and receive a link to live-stream and recordings.

The GW Ethics in Publishing conference is hosted by the George Washington University Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program, in collaboration with the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing.

The conference is organized by Puja Telikicherla, Licensing and Subsidiary Rights Manager, American Psychiatric Association Publishing, and Adjunct Professor, George Washington University; and John W. Warren, Director and Associate Professor, Master of Professional Studies in Publishing, George Washington University.

The event is sponsored by Association of University Presses (AUPresses)Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP)Association of American Publishers (AAP)Council of Science Editors (CSE), and International Society of Managing and Technical Editors (ISMTE).

Alumni Profile: Tina Donnelly, MPS 2022

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.

Photo of Tina Donnelly, MPS
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.

GW Ethics in Publishing Conference, with Tina Donnelly (l) and Kim Ayers Shariff (r, on video screen)
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.

Publishing Ethics Week 2022 Launches with Community Resources

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)
  • European Association of Science Editors (EASE)
  • George Washington University, MPS in Publishing
  • Journal of Ethics in Publishing
  • Learned Publishing
  • Paths in Publishing
  • The Scholarly Kitchen
  • Society for Scholarly Publishing

Building on this collection, SSP will highlight multiple resources from Publishing Ethics Week contributors throughout the week with a special focus on Wednesday’s “Three Ethical Challenges in Scholarly Communication” webinar, and Friday’s 12th Ethics in Publishing Conference: Ethics in Action. Additionally, SSP is sharing July’s Ask the Experts, “Ethics in Publishing” free OnDemand for this week only!

Join the conversation using #PublishingEthicsWeek22 and #EthicsinPublishing on social media!

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

GW Ethics in Publishing Conference 2021 — Call for Presentations

The 11th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference will be held on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 as a virtual event.

The GW Ethics in Publishing Conference is organized by the George Washington University Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program.

The theme of this year’s conference is Equitable Publishing. The Association of University Presses (AUPresses) and the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) are co-sponsors of the GW Ethics in Publishing Conference. Attending this virtual event is free-of-charge, and registration will open in September.

Please see the Call for Presentations and consider submitting a proposal.

We are soliciting conference presentations from (and for) publishing and library professionals, scholars, faculty, and publishing students. Topic ideas include, but are not limited to:
• Ways to enable and implement equitable, inclusive, and accessible publishing
• Efforts to make workplace practices equitable in publishing organizations, including internships and early-career positions
• Efforts to ensure diverse voices are part of the conversation about inclusion, equity, and accessibility
• Work to ensure peer review, authorship, editing, publications metrics, etc., are equitable and free of bias
• Work to make publications more accessible

Alumni and current students in the GW Publishing program are also invited to present on their Ethics in Publishing Capstone projects, including both “Making the World Better” projects and Case Studies..

Picture of the GW Kogan Tempietto
Kogan, Tempietto

Presentations will include panels as well as “PechaKucha” style, short talks.

The 11th Ethics in Publishing Conference co-organizers are Puja Telikicherla, Licensing & Subsidiary Rights Manager, American Psychiatric Association Publishing, and Adjunct Professor, George Washington University; and John W. Warren, Director and Association Professor, Master of Professional Studies in Publishing, George Washington University.

Deadline for presentation proposals/submissions: September 8, 2021.

We will endeavor to accommodate as many presentations as possible. Registration for the conference will be free.

Call for Presentations: https://forms.gle/qFmtYMpE318UvgwcA

Congratulate Jeremy Ottley, CPS Distinguished Scholar Award recipient

Remarks from CPS Commencement, May 15, 2021

The CPS Graduate Distinguished Scholar Award is awarded to a graduating student who demonstrates academic excellence while exemplifying the core competencies of the College, which are:

  • Develop ways to engage with individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives and promote an inclusive environment for the betterment of their profession.
  • Foster collaboration in professional situations by knowing how to incorporate other’s views, motivations, interests, and strengths in the pursuit of solutions.
  • Lead by creating innovative practices and inspiring others to join them in delivering better results.
  • Practice professional ethics by advocating for and making choices that uphold the principles and values of their fields.
  • Think strategically in researching and analyzing data and contexts to set goals, solve problems, and formulate and implement shared visions.
  • Communicate complex information and ideas to, and solicit and incorporate feedback from, a variety of audiences.

I’m extremely proud to announce the CPS Distinguished Scholar award recipient: Master of Professional Studies in Publishing student, Jeremy Ottley.

Jeremy Ottley, CPS Distinguished Scholar Award Recipient
Jeremy Ottley, MPS in Publishing, CPS Distinguished Scholar Award Recipient

Students in the Publishing program, and throughout the master’s and certificate programs of College of Professional Studies are a talented group. Jeremy Ottley is an exemplary student; his contributions have benefited his peers as well as our faculty.

In particular, let me highlight his Ethics in Publishing Capstone project. The Ethics in Publishing course, over the course of only eight weeks, asks students to conduct either an Applied Ethics Project (that “makes the world better”) or a Case Study/research project.

Jeremy, in these short eight weeks, researched a paper investigating the remarkable lack of university presses in Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s). His case study began with a question: why are there no university presses at HBCUs? This emerged from his career search, as he was interested in potentially working at a HBCU Press. But there are none.

During the course of his research, Jeremy interviewed several prominent publishing executives, professors of civil rights history; literary activists; and scholars, while also conducting literature and archives research.

To say the project was accomplished is an understatement. His project emerged as a fully-formed paper ready for publication in a scholarly journal.

Though he had a self-confessed trepidation of public speaking, he nevertheless contributed to class WebEx meetings and activities with insights, on topics from diversity in publishing to publishing technologies, to production. His posts to students on discussion boards have been encouraging and insightful.

In his professional capacity, Jeremy is a digital production specialist at Project Muse, Johns Hopkins University Press. His expertise in technology and production aspects of publishing, which are often inscrutable to many students but provide excellent career prospects, have been beneficial to a wide range of students. He has a bright career ahead in publishing.

Please join me in congratulating this year’s recipient of the CPS Distinguished Scholar Award, Jeremy Ottley.

John W. Warren
Director and Associate Professor, MPS in Publishing

GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing announces Editorial Board

The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing is proud to announce that Lois Jones, Josephine Sciortino, and Julie Vo have joined Editor in Chief Randy Townsend to form the journal’s founding editorial board.

Lois Jones, MPS
Lois Jones, MPS

Lois Jones (pronouns: she/her), a 2014 graduate of the Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Publishing program at the George Washington University, is Peer Review Manager for the Journals Department at the American Psychological Association (APA), where she co-manages the Peer Review program, which includes 90 journals and 20 Peer Review Coordinators. 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.

“I’m very excited to join the first editorial board for the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing,” says Jones. “I look forward to helping build the journal and am eager to see the different topics that arise from authors. I love learning about new ideas and experiences, so I can’t wait to get started.”

Josephine Sciortino, MPS
Josephine Sciortino, MPS

Josephine E. Sciortino is Managing Editor at Canadian Science Publishing, the largest nonprofit scientific journal publisher in Canada, where she manages a team of scientific publishing and production editors for eight scientific journals. She has worked in scholarly publishing for over 20 years with various biomedical societies in the management of their specialty journals, including the Canadian Urological Association Journal (as the inaugural managing editor) and the Canadian Medical Association Journal. She graduated from the GW MPS in Publishing Program in May 2019, and currently teaches the program’s The Professional Editor course.

“This new journal will fill a gap in the literature with its focus on ethics in publishing,” says Sciortino. “We have a lot to cover and we’re keen on making this journal a home to this research and on contributing to the overall conversation.”

Julie Vo is the Editorial Manager for JAMA Pediatrics and has been working in peer review management and journal editorial processes in scholarly publishing for seven years. Previous to working with the American Medical Association, she worked on three journal titles with the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, and as the Associate Managing Editor on STEM CELLS with AlphaMed Press. Julie is a member of the Council of Science Editors (CSE) and currently serves as a Director on the CSE Board; and is a member of the International Society of Managing and Technical Editors (ISMTE), having served on the North American Conference Programming Committee in 2018 and 2019.

Julie Vo
Julie Vo

“I am thrilled to be joining this elite team of editors under Randy’s leadership,” says Vo. “The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing presents a great opportunity to work with students of the Master of Professional Studies in Publishing as an educational tool for developing hands-on skills and advance communication among scholarly publishing professionals on ethical issues. Ethical publishing promotes better science and maintains the integrity of scholarly research; the open-access Journal will be an important addition to the existing conversation and hopefully will serve as a resource as our field navigates various topics in ethics.”

The journal is currently recruiting a student member to complete the editorial board. “This is an exciting time for the journal,” says Townsend. “Julie, Lois and Josephine will help establish a solid foundation for the journal built on principles of integrity, equity, transparency and scholarship. Together, we will develop a publishing experience strengthened by student contributions and enriched by strategic partnerships to advance discussions around ethics in publishing.”

“This strong, dynamic and talented Editorial Board is precisely what we need to develop the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing into a leading voice in the field,” says John W. Warren, Director and Associate Professor of the MPS in Publishing program. “Along with Randy Townsend’s expertise in ethics, diversity, peer review, and journal management, Lois Jones, Josephine Sciortino, and Julie Vo are leaders in the field of ethics and publishing and will bring a strong editorial vision to the new journal.”

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.

GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing announces Randy Townsend as Editor-in-Chief and Society for Scholarly Publishing Sponsorship

The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing is excited to announce Randy Townsend, MPS, as the journal’s inaugural Editor-in-Chief (EIC), along with sponsorship of the new journal by the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP).

Randy Townsend, MPS

The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing is hosted by the Masters of Professional Studies in Publishing program, within the College of Professional Studies at The George Washington University. This student-managed publication, which will be an open-access resource, free for anyone to access online, 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.

As EIC, Townsend will be responsible for setting the vision for the Journal of Ethics in Publishing, developing peer review strategy and working with peer reviewers, soliciting and overseeing submissions, maintaining high editorial quality, and collaborating with faculty and students of the Master of Professional Studies in Publishing at the George Washington University.

“I am excited to serve the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing as the inaugural Editor in Chief,” says Townsend. “I have spent much of my career focused on varying aspects of ethical considerations and the impacts of misconduct and have remained engaged as the publishing industry embraces equity, inclusion and diversity. The unusual circumstances of today have revealed new challenges to the moral compass of the publishing landscape and opportunities for both personal and organizational growth. The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing will help navigate through grey areas of uncertainty and lead discussions of introspection and evolution.”

The Society for Scholarly Publishing will be an official sponsor of the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing. SSP is a nonprofit organization formed to promote and advance communication among all sectors of the scholarly publication community through networking, information dissemination, and facilitation of new developments in the field.

SSP will support the work of the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing through mentorship of SSP members with GW publishing students; guest posts authored by GW students and faculty involved with the Journal in the SSP’s acclaimed The Scholarly Kitchen (TSK) blog (https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/); and potential programming opportunities to highlight journal content and/or the student experience at the SSP annual meeting, webinars, or regional events.

“The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing perfectly aligns with SSP’s goal of developing scholarly communications professionals for the future,” said Melanie Dolechek, SSP Executive Director.  “We are excited to be in a position to offer mentorship to the GW students and provide access to important resources for the publishing leaders of tomorrow through this collaboration. Now more than ever, a journal of this scope is critical and we look forward to fostering rich dialogue about the ever-increasing ethical challenges facing scholarly communications.”

Randy Townsend (pronouns: he, him), is a graduate of the MPS in Publishing program, in 2011, as a member of cohort 5. Townsend has worked for the American Geophysical Union for more than 14 years, with an outstanding career focuses on the execution of the Publications Department’s strategic goals, and the performance and development of an expanding portfolio of scholarly journals, requiring oversight of peer review operations and content integrity. He has been a leader in policy implementation and manages allegations of misconduct and ethical violations. Randy served as a judge for the EXCEL Awards and is on the Advisory Board for the Association Media & Publishing. He is a member of the Council of Science Editors, the International Society of Managing and Technical Editor’s (ISMTE) Programming Committee and serves as Co-Chair on the Society of Scholarly Publishing’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing has a Call for Papers from publishing and library professionals, scholars, faculty, and publishing students. Topic areas include ways to ensure publishing is inclusive; making sure diverse voices are part of the conversation about inclusion, equity, and accessibility; work to ensure peer review, authorship, editing, publications metrics, etc., are equitable and free of bias; efforts to increase diversity, for example, within the Association of University Press (AUPresses), Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP), and other publishing institutions; financial equity and sustainability, including institutional support, and access to research and publications, as ethical issues; accessibility as an ethical issue and how publishers can ensure publications are more accessible.

About the GW Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program:

GW’s Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program, since 2006, is a leading graduate-degree program designed for current and aspiring professionals. Current publishing professionals can 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. The master’s degree in Publishing integrates print and digital publishing topics, including editorial acquisitions, production and design, copyright law, marketing, distribution, technology, management and business. The program’s curriculum is taught by nationally and internationally recognized leaders; students master the skills required for traditional print publishing as well as online and electronic publishing.

 More information at https://www.cps.gwu.edu/publishing-master-professional-studies.

Contact: John W. Warren, Director and Associate Professor
Master of Professional Studies in Publishing Program
College of Professional Studies, George Washington University

Email: jww@gwu.edu / Phone: (310) 463-4658

About the Society for Scholarly Publishing

The Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP), founded in 1978, is a nonprofit organization formed to promote and advance communication among all sectors of the scholarly publication community through networking, information dissemination, and facilitation of new developments in the field. SSP members represent all aspects of scholarly publishing—including publishers, printers, e-products developers, technical service providers, librarians, and editors. SSP members come from a wide range of large and small commercial and nonprofit organizations. They meet at SSP’s annual meetings, educational seminars, and regional events to hear the latest trends from respected colleagues and discuss common and mutual (and sometimes divergent) goals and viewpoints.

Contact Melanie Dolechek, Executive Director | info@sspnet.org | 303-422-3914