Editorial Books Administrator, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from, and what did you study? Where are you currently based?
I was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, where I spent most of my life. After graduating from high school, I attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Go Vols!), where I double-majored in English with a concentration in rhetoric and writing, and anthropology, while also minoring in women, gender, and sexuality studies. Following my graduation, I moved to Delray Beach, Florida, where I lived for about a year and a half. During this time, I began my publishing career at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) as an Editorial Books Administrator. Recently, I relocated to Newport, Kentucky, to be closer to my family.
Describe your current role and organization. What are your main responsibilities? What type of organization do you work for?
Currently, I work as an editorial Books Administrator in the Publications and Standards Department at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). To preface, ASCE is a non-profit professional organization dedicated to advancing the science and practice of civil engineering, representing more than 150,000 members of the civil engineering profession in 177 countries. ASCE provides a platform for civil engineers to share knowledge, develop their skills, and contribute to the betterment of society through innovative engineering solutions. Within ASCE Publications, we publish a wide range of technical resources, including journals, books, and standards.
In my role, I work within our small books editorial team to acquire and develop new content, with a primary focus on the conference proceedings program, technical reports, Manuals of Practice, and the ASCE Press line, which operates similarly to a university press. I maintain a calendar of titles under development and coordinate the peer review process for proceedings, manage manuscript submissions, and ensure all incoming content adheres to ASCE’s editorial guidelines, such as compliance with copyright, permissions, and formatting and style requirements. I also partner with relevant staff, including marketing, publication technology, and sales, in the planning and publication of these books and proceedings. Externally, I liaise with authors, editors, ASCE Institute staff, and technical committees throughout all stages of the publication process to ensure that our publications meet the highest standards of quality and accuracy.
Share your journey in scholarly publishing. What was your first role in this field, and how did you land it? What path led you to your current position? What unexpected challenges have you faced?
My current role as an Editorial Books Administrator is actually my first position in the scholarly publishing industry. However, I did not entirely anticipate being in this role. During my time at the University of Tennessee, for about half of my undergraduate career, I was uncertain about which career path to pursue. I had a few internships related to copyediting, blogging, website design, and more, but I still lacked direction on where I was meant to go after graduating. It wasn’t until my senior year fall semester, when I interned at Penguin Random House’s Berkley Imprint, that I discovered my love for publishing (even though I’ve always been an avid reader).
At Berkley, I edited and proofread manuscripts, evaluated incoming submissions and wrote readers’ reports, and collaborated with other departments (such as marketing, sales, and publicity) throughout the publication process. Working through the different stages of this process ignited my passion for publishing. After graduating, I aimed to continue this experience and work in trade publishing. However, a few months post-graduation, I stumbled upon the job posting for my current position. Although it wasn’t an exact fit for my career aspirations at the time, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and apply. Little did I know that working in scholarly publishing at ASCE would introduce me to an entirely new side of myself, helping me discover what truly motivates me and my passions within publishing.
What tools, websites, and organizations are essential for your career growth? How do you stay updated with industry trends and developments?
In the early days of my job at ASCE, I received the best advice to set Google Alerts for topics/trends that I want to stay updated on. And this is key, especially as an early career professional in scholarly communications, to keep up with such an evolving industry (which can be overwhelming at times). I’ve set up a folder in my email to direct these alerts to, and I take a bit of time every week to go through these alerts.
What do you wish you knew more about in your field?
Technologies! Even within the past 2-3 years, digital technologies have been evolving so rapidly, especially with the more mainstream incorporation of AI. Sometimes, all of the technical language can be a bit complicated and overwhelming, but with the quickly changing nature of technology, it’s vital for publishing professionals to stay up to date on the newest technologies. So, I try to dedicate time every week to researching new innovations in publishing and technology.
What motivates you in your work? What keeps you passionate about your role in scholarly publishing?
As an editorial Books Administrator at ASCE, I am deeply motivated by the impact our work has on the civil engineering community and society at large. Knowing that the books and standards we publish contribute to the advancement of civil engineering practices and the development of safer, more sustainable infrastructure is incredibly fulfilling. The opportunity to collaborate with leading experts and researchers in the field and to facilitate the dissemination of their knowledge continuously invigorates my passion for my role. Each publication is a step toward innovation and progress, so being a small part of that journey feels both inspiring and rewarding.
In addition, the continuous learning and growth this role offers me is another layer to my passion for the work I do. Civil engineering and scholarly communications/publishing are such dynamic fields, which means that there is always something new to discover, whether it’s emerging technologies, innovative methodologies, or groundbreaking research. This constant evolution challenges me to stay informed and engaged, ensuring that our publications remain at the forefront of both industries. Additionally, the collaborative environment at ASCE, where I work alongside dedicated professionals who share a common goal of advancing civil engineering, fosters a sense of community and purpose that is unmatched. This collective commitment to excellence and the positive impact we make together drives my passion and dedication to my work.
How do you balance your professional and personal life? Any fun facts or hobbies outside of scholarly communications?
Like many publishing professionals, I am an avid reader, so that’s how I spend the majority of my free time. Specifically, I love to read literary fiction, romance, and fantasy. However, I also loved to find new recipes to cook and bake on the weekends to spice up the often-monotonous routine of working 9-5, Monday through Friday. I also enjoy finding a new store, coffee shop, restaurant, park/garden, etc., once a month to expand my daily experiences and try new things.
What advice would you give to aspiring professionals in scholarly communications?
Don’t be afraid to explore job experiences outside of your comfort zone or interests! When I graduated from college, based on my previous internship experiences, I was certain that I wanted to pursue a career in trade publishing, working with fiction. However, as I applied for different jobs over the next few months, I stumbled across the job posting for my current position. Surprisingly, many of the job expectations and obligations intrigued me, even though publishing civil engineering content—which I knew little about beforehand—didn’t initially spark the same level of passion as trade publishing. Now, nearly a year and a half into my time at ASCE, I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else, and I know for certain that I have found a home in scholarly publishing. So, even if it might not be the immediate path you want to follow, try taking a risk or two and seeking out something unusual for you. You never know how your experiences, personality, and mindset could lead you to unforeseen places. Maybe you won’t have the same positive, fruitful experience as I did, but regardless, you will gain more confidence in narrowing down your career path and learning more about yourself as an aspiring publishing professional.
Also, be a sponge and absorb everything you can! This was a piece of advice given to me by a mentor at ASCE, and it helped me settle into my role and realistically give myself the space and grace to continuously learn as an early career professional in this industry.
