Virtual Series Issue Editor, (2020 - 2022) - Call for Nominations
Deadline, March 15th

Nominations are now being sought for an editorial position for SPSSI Virtual Series Editor (SPSSI-VSI), hosted by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI). SPSSI is a professional community of scientists from psychology and related fields who share a common interest in applying psychological theory and practice to social issues and problems involving persons, communities, groups, and nations. This position should be an excellent introduction to editor roles, therefore late-early to mid-career scholars are particularly invited to apply as well as those who are under-represented minorities or international scholars.

The Mission: Develop a series of electronic, virtual publications that will normally be available for reading and download in online access formats for 3-5 months only. It is envisioned as an outlet for timely reflection on existing scholarship, research, and theory related to significant social issues that are getting wide attention from the public and policymakers.

The Project: VSI Editor will be responsible for production of up to four special online collections (virtual issues) per year, each built around a specific, timely theme and made up of approximately 5 to 8 articles previously published in the Journal of Social Issues (JSI), Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy (ASAP), and Social Issues and Policy Review (SIPR). The VSI editor will develop a flexible publication calendar based on timely events, (e.g. mass shootings, immigration, the refugee crisis), historically significant anniversaries (e.g. Brown v. Board of Education, the 50th anniversary of the Stanford Prison Study), calendar events (e.g. Earth Day), major policy initiatives (e.g., health care, welfare reform, major Supreme Court cases) or other considerations, and identify and select appropriate articles from JSI, ASAP, and SIPR to be bundled for inclusion in each virtual issue. The VSI Editor will work independently, but past and current editors of SPSSI’s journals will be available for consultation. Editor may, at their discretion, select an advisory committee to help with selection of themes or review of published articles for potential inclusion in the virtual issues. The VSI Editor will coordinate their efforts with Wiley staff for online posting of each issue, and with Wiley staff and SPSSI’s Communications Director to publicize the limited open access availability of all included articles. 

Editorial tenure and skills: The term for the SPSSI VSI Editor will begin immediately and will run through December 2022. The Editor will need scientific, editorial, interpersonal, technological, and organizational abilities and, above all, will be motivated to support and enhance the work of scholars concerned with the application of psychology and other social sciences to contemporary society. 

How to apply: Nominations (self-nomination and otherwise) are welcome—please type “VSI Editorial Search” in the subject line of your email to Anila Balkissoon, SPSSI Executive Director (abalkissoon@spssi.org) not later than March 15, 2020. In the case of self-nominations candidates should email a copy of their CV, a brief statement describing their interest in and vision for this project, and contact information for two referees. Review of applications will start immediately, and will continue until the position is filled. Any questions with regard to the role of the VSI editor may be referred to SPSSI's current VSI Editor, Masi Noor (m.noor@keele.ac.uk).