AICRJ Call for Editor in Chief

The American Indian Culture and Research Journal is seeking applicants for its Editor-in-Chief position.

Key qualities and qualifications sought include an established record of scholarship in the field; managerial skills to oversee the editorial cycle and meet deadlines; the ability to recruit quality manuscripts; the ability to attract respected experts to the editorial board; the ability to work in a publishing team; and interest in, and capacity for, reimagining the journal in a shifting American Indian Studies and ethnic studies publishing environment. Applicants should have editorial or other experience with organizing and promoting research (e.g., conference or symposium organizing, leadership in research collaboration and dissemination). Applicants should be tenured members of the UCLA faculty and will work collaboratively with the editorial board, the American Indian Studies Center Director, and the AISC Faculty Advisory Committee.

The editor serves for three years. There may be flexibility in the editorship structure (e.g., a co-editorship, or a structure of overlapping incoming/current/outgoing editors).

For more information on the journal and editorial duties, see below and also: http://www.books.aisc.ucla.edu/aboutaicrj.aspx.

The editorship begins in fall 2019.

TO APPLY: Applications should include a CV and one-page Statement of Purpose, to be sent by January 7 to:

Jamie Chan, Management Services Officer
UCLA American Indian Studies Center
3220 Campbell Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Email: jchan@aisc.ucla.edu
Phone: 310-206-4380

Questions about the position may be addressed to the search committee: Jessica Cattelino, chair (jesscatt@anthro.ucla.edu); Pamela Grieman (grieman@ucla.edu); Paul Kroskrity (paulvk@ucla.edu), and Ananda Marin (amarin1@g.ucla.edu) 

TO NOMINATE A COLLEAGUE: If you would like to nominate someone for the editorship, please send the name, email address, and brief description of qualifications to Jamie Chan (see above).

ABOUT THE JOURNAL:
In print since 1971, the American Indian Culture and Research Journal (AICRJ) is an internationally renowned multidisciplinary journal designed for scholars and the general public. One of the premier journals in Native American studies, it currently publishes book reviews, literature, and original scholarly papers on a wide range of issues in the fields of history, anthropology, geography, sociology, political science, health, literature, law, education, and the arts. Currently, each issue contains six research articles, twenty book reviews, and poetry and/or a short story, for a total page count of 200. It is a quarterly journal, published by the American Indian Studies Center at UCLA and distributed by Small Press Distribution & Amazon Publisher.

Creative journal redesign—in both content and structure—is welcome.

Current Staffing Structure
.5 Managing Editor/Publications Manager        
.5 Senior Editor (reports to Managing Editor)   
.25 Book Review Editor                                      
Publications Assistant                                         

Editorial responsibilities include the following:
Shaping Content

• solicit high-quality manuscripts from potential authors and assist these authors in seeing their manuscripts to publication
• recruit guest editors for special issues
• decide which manuscripts to publish
• engage editorial board members to evaluate manuscripts, forward promising articles, and consider editing themed special issues
• help identify and appoint qualified members to the editorial advisory board
• articulate and disseminate a clear vision for the direction of the journal
• ensure ethical standards are met for all submissions

Managing Peer Review

• select appropriate reviewers for 40-50 submissions per year
• direct staff to contact reviewers; send manuscripts; and forward completed reviews. Communicate with authors about reviews, as necessary or appropriate  
• forward to staff the names of scholars to add to reviewer database
• periodically review and, as necessary, update the reviewer database

Managing Publishing Process

• engage in ongoing conversations at the American Indian Studies Center about the costs and benefits of open access publishing and other models for the journal
• consider the shifting American Indian Studies publishing environment, and, as desired, propose potential changes to the journal’s title, scope, mission, and structure
• participate in conference roundtables and other forums on academic publishing in the fields of American Indian Studies, Indigenous Studies, and Ethnic Studies