Abstract
Welcome to the second issue of 40th volume of the American Journal of Evaluation (AJE), the beginning of my term as editor of the journal. As background on me, I have conducted evaluations using qualitative and quantitative methods for government and nonprofit agencies and have also contributed to the scholarship of evaluation, including serving as an AJE section editor (professional values and ethics) under Sharon Rallis’s editorship and serving on editorial boards of other evaluation journals.
I am humbled and excited to follow Sharon Rallis as AJE editor, just as she expressed this about following Tom Schwandt. It’s worth noting that Sharon oversaw important developments for the journal, with large increases in the readership and in the number manuscripts submitted for review each month, as well as navigating new developments confronting journals, such as opportunities in the digital age and the increasing emphasis on “impact factors” for journals.
We now have the opportunity and responsibility to build on Sharon’s accomplishments, which makes me particularly grateful to be part of a first-rate editorial team. First, Rachael Lawrence (University of Massachusetts) is continuing as the managing editor of the journal. For associate editors, Jori Hall (University of Georgia) is continuing in this role, and she is being joined by Sebastian Lemire (UCLA), Gregory Phillips, II (Northwestern University), and Justus Randolph (Mercer University). There are seven AJE sections curated by section editors. We are fortunate to have the services of the following colleagues: Leslie Cooksy (Sierra Health Foundation), long a leader in the evaluation community, is the section editor of Book Reviews. Brooks Bowden (North Carolina State University) is the section editor of the new section Economic Evaluation, focusing on methods for assessing economic efficiency. Jill Chouinard and Fiona Cram are section coeditors of Ethics, Values, and Culture, previously titled professional values and ethics but now including also culture and cultural responsiveness. Laura Peck (Abt Associates) is section editor of the new Experimental Methodology section, addressing methods and practices associated with evaluations that use designs that randomize treatment and control units. Deborah Rugg and Zenda Ofir are section coeditors of the new section International Developments in Evaluation, focusing on issues shaping evaluation around the world, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Tarek Azzam (Claremont Graduate University) is the section editor for Method Notes, with an interest in identifying methodology issues most relevant to practitioners. Anne Vo (Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine) continues as section editor of Teaching and Learning of Evaluation, which highlights empirical research on the teaching of evaluation and articles showcasing lessons learned and best practices in this arena.
With this team, we will continue positioning AJE as the scholarly arm of the American Evaluation Association that is (1) a top source for the most important and relevant information for members of the evaluation community and (2) an influential voice representing the expertise and values of evaluators in policy discussions that affect the evaluation community. We encourage your involvement in our AJE mission, as a contributor, as a reviewer, and as a voice advocating for ways that AJE can better serve this mission.