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Jackson School Journal of International Studies:
From Idea to Reality
Charmila Ajmera, Editor-in-Chief, Jackson School of International Studies
The impetus for the Jackson School Journal of International Studies
began in a casual conversation over a racquetball game. Jackson
School alumni, Jeff Lupo and Michael Truong saw a need for a space to
showcase the research and policy writing produced by Jackson School
students. They noted the frustration their fellow students, as well as
they themselves, felt at working for hours and hours on a paper only
to have it filed away once it was graded. Jeff and Michael took it upon
themselves to conceptualize and develop a publication that would
provide students with a space to share their work as well as gain valuable
experience with the publication process.
With support from Professors Sara Curran and Anand Yang and the UW
Center for Global Studies, Jeff and Michael developed
a written framework for the Journal, consisting of a
constitution, vision statement, organizational structure and
plan for achieving sustainability. The Journal’s founding
Editorial Board consisted of Jeff and Michael and editors,
Charmi Ajmera, Ashley Parcells, Ulysses Lin, Kelsey Barrett,
Julie Mendel, and Sarah Boone. Beginning in Winter 2010,
we introduced the Journal to our fellow classmates and
encouraged them to submit their work for publication.
As submissions began to arrive, we reached out to
members of the Faculty Advisory Board for guidance in
the editing and revisions process. Jackson School faculty
members appointed to the Advisory Board have made a
commitment to the Journal to assist editors throughout
the publication process. Each Advisory Board member has a different
academic specialty, offering a variety of perspectives on pieces received.
Members of the Advisory Board include: Professors Sara Curran, Gary
Hamilton, Reşat Kasaba, Jonathan Warren, Wolfram Latsch, José Antonio
Lucero and PhD Candidate Jessica Beyer. This panel of advisors has
provided valuable feedback on articles accepted for publication.
The Jackson School Journal seeks to involve students directly with the
publication process, as well as foster a population of interactive readers.
As the Editorial Board looks to the future, we have identified several
goals to directly and indirectly engage with the wider student body. We
are currently expanding our effort to involve students in the editing and
publishing process. This past quarter, we invited four new editors onto
the Journal editorial board: Lucas Simons, Gennie Gebhart, Tom Eddy,
and Bekah Kennel.
New editors participate in writing and editing workshops offered by UW
Libraries, and the Journal continues to provide an editing process that is
a unique experience for many undergraduate authors. Editors meet in
news and notes
ALUMNI
LILLIAN BENJAMIN (Int’l Studies MA, 2008) began working at the U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID) and was sworn in as a USAID Foreign
Service Officer in January 2010. In spring 2011 she will serve as a Health,
Nutrition, and Population officer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at
the USAID Mission in Kinshasa.
JULIE BENION (Int’l Studies BA, 1993) works in the International Trade
Office of the Washington State Department of Commerce as Special Projects
Manager. Her priorities include the Governor’s overseas trade missions;
hosting foreign trade delegations; outreach to local, U.S., and foreign
economic development partners; analysis of Commerce’s trade program
performance, and strategic policy analysis and research on Washington state
trade. Julie is Vice President of the World Trade Club (Seattle) and an advisory
board member for the Washington State Center for Excellence in International
Trade, Transportation, and Logistics.
6 CENTER FOR GLOBAL STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF OF WASHINGTON
person with authors and work extensively with them to revise their pieces.
Many university students never go through such a holistic review process,
but we have found that the end result of this experience is highly rewarding
for both author and editor. When asked for feedback about the editing
process, a past author remarked, “It’s amazing what you guys do. The fact
that you take time to really sit down with your authors... it’s just so much
more helpful than getting lost in the usual, e-mailed edits.”
And, while the Journal forges these close working relationships, we are also
mobilizing to engage the greater Jackson School community in new ways.
We are currently in the process of designing an entirely new website, which
will include online versions of the Journal, an archive of previous issues, and
will showcase other media of interest to the Jackson School
community. Some examples may include photo essays and
video clips to illustrate the impressive research and learning
that UW students pursue across the globe. Students will also
be able to post their commentaries to pieces directly onto the
site, allowing for a continuation of scholarly dialogue.
The spring 2011 issue of the Jackson School Journal of
International Studies includes more articles—which
encompass a wide breadth of topics, area studies and both
historical and contemporary issues. In addition to Research
Discourses and Policy Briefings, the Journal has added
exemplary essays specifically written for Jackson School
classes, called “Jackson School Focus.” This section profiles
the various types of essays that are common in Jackson
School classes, such as “Why Question” papers, Practical Moral Projects,
Task Force reports, Key Interest papers and other common essay styles. By
showcasing this work, we hope to create a valuable resource for students
faced with these types of research and writing assignments.
In our “Expert Insights” section for the spring issue, we feature two
individuals you may be well familiar with if you have taken the SIS 200
series: Meredith Bauer and Randy Thompson. Each is profiled in an
interview, providing advice and insights into the 200 series and giving some
background on their own academic interests and experiences. Meredith
has also written an informative and instructive piece on travel abroad, field
research and writing a thesis. Randy has submitted a sample of the writing
and research he is currently working on for his master’s thesis, which
concerns a historical figure familiar to all students in the Jackson School.
As we continue to grow and expand our written publication, we are also
expanding our number, welcoming new authors, reviewers and editors to
our team. We are thrilled to widen our reader base and collaborate with
more students both within and outside of the Jackson School.
SIDNEY BROWN (Int’l Studies BA, 2006) is currently employed as an Associate
at Cascadia Consulting Group in downtown Seattle where she assists with
research, project design, outreach, writing/editing, and has served as a
proposal and report manager.
BRITTANY GOODNIGHT (Int’l Studies BA, 2004) is enrolled in the David J.
Epstein Public Interest Law & Policy Program and the Critical Race Studies
Specialization at UCLA School of Law in Los Angeles.
CHARLEY JOHNSON (Int’l Studies and Economics BA, 2007) will graduate with
a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in
May 2011.