Abstract
This issue of ROPPA is the last for which I will serve as Editor-in-Chief. I became Managing Editor in 2001 upon the kind invitation of Mary Guy, who was forming her editorial team after ROPPA’s founding Editor-in-Chief, Steve Hays, decided to give up the helm of the journal he helped found at the University of South Carolina. It has been my privilege and pleasure to serve two 3-year terms leading ROPPA, beginning with the March 2007 issue. After 12 years of helping shape ROPPA’s content and focus, I believe it is time to pass the torch to a new editorial team. I am very excited that Paul Battaglio has been appointed by SAGE Publications to a 3-year term as Editor-in-Chief. I am certain that Paul will do an excellent job in building upon ROPPA’s past accomplishments and continuing its recognition as the top-ranked public human resource management journal and as a top-tier public administration journal.
Paul Battaglio is joined by an excellent team at SAGE. Leah Fargotstein, Social Sciences Journals Editor, and Biswa Jyoti Sur, Production Editor Supervisor, work hard to produce and promote ROPPA. I am very thankful to you both for all you have done to make my leadership of ROPPA enjoyable and productive. I am also grateful to the University of Georgia’s Vinson Institute of Government, which provided support to ROPPA from 2001 until my retirement in 2010. I am also indebted to the numerous persons at the Vinson Institute who assisted me in managing ROPPA: Jason Fleury, Dan Lasseter, Ilka McConnell, Elizabeth Winslow-McAuliffe, Christine Rush, Paul Battaglio, Jared Llorens, Raj Shah, and Alex Daman. Thanks to all of you.
I am also grateful to my current and past Editorial Team, Board of Editors, and Advisory Board members for your extensive contributions to ROPPA. Of particular note is Meredith Newman who has served as Associate Editor since 2001. Meredith has been a tireless supporter of ROPPA and is largely responsible for our increased international presence. Also, I would be remiss in not formally thanking Mary Guy for recruiting me to start the journey of editing ROPPA with her. Mary’s vision for the journal has helped guide me throughout the past 12 years. Mary, thank you.
I believe ROPPA has a very bright future: Our articles are indexed in the Social Sciences Citation Index and our board and focus is increasingly diverse and international. Articles in ROPPA now not only address public human resource management in the United States, but the world. Additionally, while ROPPA addresses practical issues facing public human resource managers, it also tests new theories of human resource management and public management through sophisticated methodological investigation and inquiry.
It has been my distinct privilege to lead ROPPA. My best wishes go out to Paul Battaglio and his editorial team for much future success.