PLSA Editor/Co-editors Search

Deadline for Applications: March 30, 2026


The LSA is embarking on an open search for the first editors of the newly reorganized Proceedings of the Linguistic Society of America (PLSA), to be published through Cambridge University Press starting in 2027. 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 March 30, 2026. 
 

Background

The first volume of the Proceedings of the Linguistic Society of America (PLSA) appeared in 2016, containing papers from the 2016 Annual Meeting. Through PLSA, presenters at the LSA Annual Meeting had the opportunity to augment their presentation with a publication of record. As the PLSA enters its second decade, the LSA's new partnership with Cambridge University Press (CUP) presented us with the opportunity to transition PLSA into a peer-reviewed publication. This transition will make publication in PLSA even more valuable to Annual Meeting participants. Recognizing that conference proceedings are different from a regular academic journal, the LSA developed a unique abbreviated reviewing process for PLSA in collaboration with CUP. This will give a PLSA publication the status of peer-reviewed publication, but will not preclude authors from developing their papers further for later submission to a regular journal. For more detail, visit the PLSA page.

As the LSA launches this new phase in the history of PLSA, we are looking for a visionary inaugural editor/co-editor team to lead the transition to the peer-reviewed version of PLSA. This is a unique opportunity to build something new, and to shape the future of the Annual Meeting and the LSA's publication program. 

The first volume of the new peer-reviewed version of PLSA will be published by CUP in 2027, containing papers based on presentations from the January 2027 LSA Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
 

Position Description: Editor/Co-editors of PLSA

Editorial leadership for PLSA can be provided by a single Editor, or by a team of Co-editors. A single Editor will serve for a term of four years. In the case of there being a team of Co-editors, typically no more than half of the Co-editors will cycle off per year. This will result in a staggered system where at most half of the Co-editor team are new, ensuring editorial continuity and easier transition between Editors/Co-editors. To establish this staggered succession system, it will be necessary for the terms of some members of an initial Co-editor team to be shorter than four years. The decision about whether a single Editor or a team of Co-editors will be appointed for any specific period rests with the LSA Executive Committee. 

One volume of PLSA will be published each year, with papers pre-released on Cambridge Core as soon as they are typeset and ready. Most editorial work will be completed in the six months starting in April. 

The PLSA Editor/Co-editors will be responsible for the day-to-day editorial management of PLSA in coordination with the LSA Executive Director. Specific editorial responsibilities will include:

  • Recruiting and submitting names and CVs for PLSA Editorial Board members (which should include at least 10 members) to the Executive Committee for approval during their meeting on September 9, 2026 
  • Assigning each submission to at least one Editorial Board member for review.
  • Issuing an editorial decision about each submission based on their own editorial judgment, informed by the recommendation of the Editorial Board member (or members) who reviewed the specific submission.
  • Managing all interactions with authors up to the point that a submission is ready to be transmitted to the publisher for final typesetting and formatting.
  • Preparing an annual editorial report to be submitted to the LSA Executive Committee in time for consideration at their January meeting. A shorter version of this report may also be presented during the Business Meeting at the LSA Annual Meeting. 

The Editor/Co-Editors are entitled to participate in meetings of the Executive Committee without voting privileges. The  Editor/Co-Editors are strongly encouraged to attend the entire LSA Annual Meeting, at which the Editor/Co-Editors hold office hours and present a report at the Executive Committee Meeting and Business Meeting. An annual stipend of $5000 will be provided to the editorial leadership of PLSA, which in the case of editorial teams, will be divided evenly between Co-editors.
 

Qualifications

The Editor/Co-editors shall be members of the LSA. Although it is not a requirement, the Editor/Co-editors will typically be mid-career or senior members of the LSA. The ideal candidate(s) for this office will be individuals who are:

  • Accomplished scholars, leaders, and administrators
  • Committed to establishing a publication and editing culture that reflects the LSA’s commitment to social justice, diversity, and inclusion
  • Effective communicators with strong interpersonal skills, and 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, with a broad and open-minded view of the field as benefits the editor of proceedings for an Annual Meeting that welcomes presentations from every subdisciplinary area in linguistics
  • Comfortable with information technology and the use of electronic resources for editorial management
  • Capable of assuming the responsibilities and carrying out the duties of this position, especially given their other professional commitments
     

Applications 

The deadline for submitting applications is March 30, 2026.

Applicants are asked to supply a current CV (link or attachment), a concise summary of their qualifications and vision for PLSA (1-2 pages), and the names and contact information for three references. Co-editor teams are welcome to submit a single summary of qualifications and vision statement, accompanied by each of their CVs. Queries and applications should be directed in confidence to the PLSA Search Committee at lsa@lsadc.org with the words “PLSA Editor/Co-Editor Search” in the subject line. 

Applications will first be reviewed by the PLSA Search Committee (Andries Coetzee, Chair; Lisa Green, Jennifer Nycz, and Joseph Salmons). The Search Committee will report their recommendation to the Publications Committee, who will prepare a recommendation for consideration and possible approval by the LSA Executive Committee at their May 2026 meeting.