Editor’s Note

The editor’s note from last month described the “creeping changes” that archival journals have experienced as they strive to obtain reviews and editorial support. To summarize, there are early career people with considerable technical savvy, current knowledge of a segment of the literature, considerable motivation to succeed and a reasonable amount of discretionary time. Meanwhile, there are others who possess good judgment and considerable experience, but have less discretionary time; yet they are willing to guide early career people and desire to contribute to the academic and professional community. This has created a possibility for a new mentoring relationship among participants of this journal.

At the January 22, 2007 meeting of specialty editors of this journal, a proposal for a new kind of editorial board was developed. Members would include former specialty editors and reviewers with considerable experience. This group will provide guidance on policy and assist with challenging reviews. In addition, each editorial board member will be responsible for mentoring a newly appointed specialty editor. The level of interaction will be enough to familiarize the board member with the specialty editor’s entire academic life, so the board members can advise on how to synergize editorial responsibilities with other aspects of academic life. This would be in addition to regular advice on recruiting reviewers, tracking review progress and making the inevitably difficult decisions.

Good mentoring is vital to the future of all organizations. It is an effective way to pass wisdom down the generations of enthusiastic and energetic young scholars who carry on important work in the future. Most academic mentoring occurs within institutions or as part of the advisor/advisee relationship that continues after a Ph.D. student graduates. In our journal, we have the opportunity to transcend traditional mentoring boundaries in a way that few other organizations can duplicate. Our business is necessarily about bringing together all scholars and practitioners who share our common interest. The details of reviewing manuscripts and tracking their progress require a group effort that can build relationships. Thus, mentoring can flourish between institutions and beyond international boundaries. Let us be ardent about making this happen! Those who wish to assume the privilege and challenge of mentoring as an editorial board member, please contact me at [email protected].