Language Co-Editor Search
Deadline for applications: January 31, 2025
The LSA is embarking on an open search for the next co-editor/editor-elect of Language. Members of the society who may wish to be considered are encouraged to contact the Search Committee to indicate their interest as soon as possible. The deadline for submitting applications is January 31, 2025.
Position Description: Co-Editor of Language
Language’s editorial leadership team consists of an Editor and Co-Editor who serve together for three years. At the end of the three-year term, the Editor cycles off the editorial team, the Co-Editor becomes the Editor, and a new Co-Editor is elected. The term of the current Editor, John Beavers, will end in December 2025, at which point the current Co-Editor, Shelome Gooden, will assume the position of Editor. The current search is for a Co-Editor to serve alongside Shelome Gooden, starting in January 2026. The Editor and Co-Editor jointly share the leadership responsibilities of the journal, which include:making or approving all decisions concerning manuscripts submitted for review;
producing or soliciting and managing the production of any additional content to be published, including announcements, obituaries, letters, and discussions;
enacting the policies and procedures established by the Executive Committee for the journal;
nominating and appointing the other members of the editorial team, including Associate Editors and a Review Editor, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee, and overseeing their activities for the journal;
evaluating the outcomes of the editorial procedures of the journal and reporting on these annually, or as otherwise needed, to the Executive Committee and the members of the Society.
The Co-Editor and Editor of Language are required to be members of the LSA. As LSA Editors, they are entitled to participate in meetings of the Executive Committee without voting privileges. The Editor is also expected to attend the entire LSA Annual Meeting, at which the Editor holds office hours and presents a report at the Business Meeting. The Editor receives reimbursement for travel expenses related to their participation in meetings and such funding as may be needed for official business of the office, subject to approval by the Executive Committee. The Co-Editor and Editor further receive annual stipends of $3,000 and $5,000, respectively. The term of office as Co-Editor begins in January 2026.
Qualifications
Language’s mission is to publish rigorous research that reflects the full breadth of research done by linguists. (See the editors’ statement here: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/794872.) The search committee will consider potential candidates who share this vision, taking into account the degree to which they have the characteristics of the ideal individual for this office, who is:
highly accomplished as a scholar, leader and administrator, locally, globally, and within the LSA;
committed to the goal that Language’s publication and editing culture should reflect the LSA’s commitment regarding social justice, diversity, and inclusion;
an effective communicator with superior interpersonal skills, a strong sense of fairness and compassion;
deeply acquainted with the concerns, historical development, and significant discoveries and research results of at least one area of linguistics;
has a broad, open-minded view of the field of linguistics as befits an editor at a high-profile generalist journal;
has broad knowledge about emergent and transdisciplinary trends and general developments in various linguistic subdisciplines and of approaches to the scientific study of language from related disciplines;
capable of exercising discrete and nuanced judgment concerning the potential impact and significance of research results, independently of potentially divisive differences that may exist among different theoretical and methodological approaches;
experienced and accomplished as a former editor of another journal, or as a member of the editorial team of Language or another journal of similar status, or has other related editorial experience;
knowledgeable and open-minded about current trends in journal publishing, including issues such as open-access, pre-registration, replication, data-sharing, etc.;
comfortable with information technology and the use of electronic resources for editorial management; and
capable of assuming the responsibilities and carrying out the duties of this position, especially given their other professional commitments.
Applications
Applicants are asked to supply a current CV (link or attachment), a concise summary of their qualifications and vision for the journal (2-4 pages), and the names and contact information for three references. Queries and applications should be directed in confidence to the Search Committee (language-editor-search@umich.edu) with the words “Language Co-Editor Position” in the subject line. Applications should be submitted by January 31, 2025.
Per the LSA Constitution, the co-editor of Language is elected by the LSA membership. Applications will be reviewed first by the Search Committee consisting of two members of the Publications Committee (Andries Coetzee, Kristen Syrett), and the current editor and co-editor of Language (John Beavers, Shelome Gooden). The Search Committee will report their recommendation to the Publications Committee, who will prepare a recommendation for consideration by the LSA Executive Committee at their May 2025 meeting. The Executive Committee will nominate a candidate to stand for election during the regular LSA elections in September 2025. The new Co-Editor's term will begin in January of 2026.