SFA education faculty members selected as editors of national journal

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — The Association of Teacher Educators Board of Directors has selected three faculty members in Stephen F. Austin State University’s James I. Perkins College of Education as editors of its journal, Action in Teacher Education.

Drs. Heather Olson Beal and Amanda Rudolph, professors of education studies, and Dr. Chrissy Cross, associate professor of education studies, are serving as part of a team for a three-year editing term beginning in July.

The team was selected for its strong application, according to Alisa Chapman, ATE executive director.

“The board has confidence your team will be able to move the journal forward and represent ATE extremely well,” Chapman said.

The journal receives more than 250 submissions per year with a 9% acceptance rate.

Rudolph said the team’s approach will focus on current issues for teacher education while making connections with young scholars and regional units of ATE.

“For me, this is really a high point of my career, and I am so excited,” Rudolph said. “I think this is a wonderful opportunity for me and the team, as well as SFA.”

Cross said the editing term will help highlight SFA’s work in education.

“For us as researchers, this editorship will help all of us not only showcase our expertise in qualitative and quantitative research and pedagogy but also elevate the scholarship reputation of SFA in the field of research and curriculum and instruction in teacher education,” she said.

Olson Beal agreed.

“We are excited to be able to play a part in guiding research in the field of teacher education for the next three years and raise the profile of SFA on the national level."

Dr. Judy Abbott, dean of the Perkins College of Education, said Rudolph, Cross and Olson Beal are the right educators for this work.

“These three faculty members have a strong reputation for education research and have been very successful in publishing their individual and collaborative scholarly work,” Abbott said. “They also have a reputation for mentoring less experienced colleagues as those faculty members seek to establish their scholarly niche and pursue outlets for publications. I believe they will excel in coordinating this important national teacher education journal during the next three years.”

To learn more about Action in Teacher Education, visit tandfonline.com.