NASPAA + JPAE Webinar Recap
On November 4, 2024 NASPAA and the Journal of Public Affairs Education (JPAE) hosted the webinar “Tools & Strategies for Doctoral Students & New Faculty: Publishing & Reviewing.” Moderated by JPAE co-Editors-In-Chief, Professor of Public Administration and MPA Director Sara R. Rinfret (Northern Arizona University) and Professor of Public Administration Sarah L. Young (Kennesaw State University), the webinar provided valuable tips and strategies for publishing, becoming an effective reviewer, and how to respond to reviewers’ feedback.
The panel included Associate Professor of Public and Nonprofit Management Sean McCandless (University of Texas at Dallas), Professor of Public Administration Staci Zavattaro (University of Central Florida), and Assistant Teaching Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Seth Wright (Penn State Harrisburg), who shared practical advice with over 70 attendees. The panelists highlighted best practices for contributing to the public service field through publishing.
A key takeaway from the panel was the consensus that reviewing other scholars' work is one of the best ways to improve one’s own research and writing. By critically analyzing others' manuscripts, early-career scholars can sharpen their understanding of effective argumentation, recognize common pitfalls, and refine their ability to communicate ideas clearly. The panelists also shared valuable lessons they wished they had known as doctoral students about the publishing process. They stressed the importance of closely following the journal’s instructions for authors, as overlooking these details can severely slow down publication timelines. Additionally, they encouraged scholars not to hesitate to reach out to journal editors with a brief synopsis of their article to determine if it’s a good fit for the journal, potentially saving time and effort.
Thank you to JPAE for facilitating this important discussion.
The most recent issue of JPAE can be found here. If you are interested in becoming a reviewer for JPAE please contact Sarah.Young@kennesaw.edu.
Stay tuned for future events aimed at addressing critical aspects of academic and professional development in public service education.