After contributing for several years to the Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, Assistant Professor Jerrod A. Henderson will now have a more direct role in its development following his selection as Associate Editor for the publication.
Henderson, a member of the William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department and the co-founder of the St. Elmo Brady STEM Academy (SEBA), was named to the position in January 2023.
He views this as a new way to use his skill set and to contribute to his field. He thanked Julie P. Martin, Associate Professor of Engineering Education and Assistant Vice President for Talent & Team Development at the Ohio State University for the opportunity.
“I feel the weight of responsibility associated with contributing to my field in this way. I am, however, excited to take on the challenge and responsibility,” he said. “I am also honored that Dr. Martin saw something in me and my work to initiate the conversation.”
Martin said she was happy to have Henderson aboard the journal's editorial board.
“Dr. Henderson is a nationally recognized thought leader in engineering education,” she said. “I am excited to bring his research expertise in creating inclusive climates for Black males in STEM and his research and practical experience mentoring minoritized students to the journal’s editorial board. The JWM editorial board’s vision is to create a culture of constructive reviewing in academic publishing. Dr. Henderson will play a key role in moving the field forward in that way.”
Henderson has served as a reviewer for the journal, and contributed as recently as January 2022. That article, “Factors impacting engineering advanced degree pursuit and attainment among Black males,” was a collaborative project with Erik Hines, Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems within the College of Education at Florida State University.
Henderson identified several areas of focus for his term.
“My responsibilities will include inviting experts to review manuscripts that have been submitted, monitoring the work of reviewers, synthesizing review feedback for manuscripts, and making recommendations on whether manuscripts are accepted or not,” he said.
“With JWM especially, as an associate editor, I consider myself a brand ambassador for at least two things. One, helping create a culture of constructive review within academic publishing, and two, expanding how we think about and 'do justice to' our research study participants, some of whom might be from vulnerable populations.”
He added that he was looking forward to joining the team of highly productive and thoughtful scholars.