Open Call for Applications & Nominations:
The Review of Higher Education Editor(s) (2026-2031)

One of the leading journals in higher education, the Review of Higher Education publishes four times per year, providing a scholarly forum for the discussion of issues affecting higher education. Since 1977, the journal has been advancing the study of higher education through the publication of peer-reviewed research studies, scholarly essays, and theoretically-driven reviews that address issues and questions of importance to students, faculty, administrators and policy makers. It emphasizes systematic and critical inquiry and practical implications. Indexed in the Social Science Citation Index and other abstracting and indexing services, the Review is published by the Johns Hopkins University Press. A highly selective, top-tier higher education journal; the Review ranks in the top 10% of US-based education journals and the top 5% of education journals internationally.

For more information, see the Review of Higher Education information on the JHUP website and on the ASHE website.

Like the various institutions, organizations, and professional communities that ASHE members represent, our association is a byproduct of the colonial university system. ASHE recognizes this history and the importance of reckoning with the past. We acknowledge that our work toward inclusion, equity, and organizational diversity requires an ongoing commitment. ASHE is a diverse membership of scholars, educators, practitioners, and policymakers striving to promote inclusion in its membership across race, ethnicity, tribal/Indigenous affiliation, national origin, citizenship status, class, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion and the intersections across these identity markers. As an organization where representation matters, ASHE is strengthened by the contributions of each individual in an effort to collectively promote inclusion. ASHE continues to expand its goal of promoting inclusivity by supporting the establishment of identity-based and special interest entities to address the constantly changing demographics of our field. ASHE consciously works toward inclusivity by implementing processes and procedures that ensure diverse representation throughout the association. 

Responsibilities of the Editor(s)

The editor(s) are responsible for maintaining and enhancing the intellectual quality and integrity of the journal and, thus, are the final arbiter of all manuscript publication and editorial decisions. The editor(s) are responsible for editorial operations, including supervising and managing the submission; reviewing and copyediting processes from receipt of manuscripts to final publication; identifying, building, and supervising a strong editorial team and staff; identifying and recruiting highly qualified and committed editorial board members and manuscript reviewers; ensuring timely and constructive reviews of manuscripts; monitoring the publication pipeline to ensure editorial decisions align with the journal’s publication capacity; and monitoring and disseminating as appropriate information regarding the status and rankings of RHE within relevant indexes (e.g., SSCI). The editor(s) will also have the special opportunity to work on the 50^th anniversary volume of the journal.

The editor(s) maintain good working relationships with the Publications Committee on which the editor(s) serve as ex officio members, the ASHE Executive Director, as well as with the journal Publisher, Johns Hopkins University Press. The editor(s) hold an annual meeting of the Editorial Board at ASHE Conferences; conduct additional meetings with editorial staff and editorial board members as needed; submit an annual report to the ASHE Board and provide updates to the Board once to twice per year or more frequently as needed; recommend new appointments for the senior editorial team or Editorial Board to the ASHE Publications Committee for review; and provide periodic updates to the ASHE Publications Committee as needed for matters arising.

The Publisher provides copywriting and typesetting services.

Terms of Appointment

The editor(s) of the Review of Higher Education are appointed by the Board of Directors of the Association for the Study of Higher Education, for a five-year term (November 2026-November 2031). The editor(s) may be renewed for an additional five-year term after a review by the ASHE Publications Committee and the approval of the ASHE Board of Directors.

Funding

Under the current contract, ASHE pays an annual stipend of $40,000 divided across 4 issues per year to the editor(s) and/or the combined editorial team (i.e., disbursement is up to the editor(s)). This stipend is usually paid to the editor(s)’ institutions to assist with such institutional expenses as release time, GRA support, and/or other financial needs. ASHE recognizes that the annual stipend is unlikely to cover all institutional expenses. If there is more than one editor, the $40,000 stipend is divided among the institutions as agreed to by the editors. We recommend the editor(s) obtain institutional support in writing and submit with the application’s letter of support, per below.

Required Qualifications for Editor(s)

• An active membership in ASHE during the application period and throughout the term of appointment
• Agreement to uphold ASHE Policies including the ASHE Ethics Policies
  • In accordance with the ASHE Ethics Policies approved by the Board of Directors in 2021 (see  for more information), the Association now requires ethical disclosures for fiduciaries, officers, directors, employees, and volunteers of the Association. If you are currently or have been within the past five years on-leave, discharged, or subject to any restrictions in your activities related to a finding of misconduct, you can disclose this information in the application form.
• A doctoral degree in education or a social science
• A tenured faculty position in higher education or a related field, or a multi-year appointment that extends, at least, to the end of the editorial term
• A widely respected record of scholarly publications in significant refereed journals in higher education and/or related fields
• Broad knowledge of the range of critical issues facing higher and postsecondary education
• Knowledge of and appreciation for quantitative, qualitative, critical, historical, philosophical, and emerging research methods
• A vision for the journal’s future and a commitment to maintaining its reputation for publishing the highest quality research on higher education
• Substantial experience as a reviewer and editorial board member for journals in higher education and/or related field(s)
• Demonstrated skills in planning and organization, management and supervision, and writing
• The ability to identify, attract, and engage knowledgeable, constructive, and dependable reviewers
• The ability to set and maintain deadlines that ensure timely review of submissions and decisions regarding publication
• The ability to encourage submissions from a wide range of scholars representing various perspectives and approaches to scholarly work
• The willingness and ability to identify, encourage, and mentor talented emerging scholars
• A commitment to providing authors with rigorous, timely, and constructive reviews of their submissions, and recommendations for strengthening their manuscripts
• A proactive approach to working with the Publisher, ASHE Publications Committee, and ASHE Executive Director to sustain smooth operation of the journal
• Appropriate support for the journal at editor’s/editors’ place of employment

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience as an assistant or associate editor of an education-related journal
• Preferred rank of full professor or comparable senior faculty status
• A flexible work schedule 

Proposed Timeline

The following is a proposed timeline for the search process. (Actual dates may differ as the process evolves):

• November 2025: Call for Applications announced and applications accepted
• February 28, 2026: Due date for applications to be assured full consideration
• March-April 2026: Interviews with selected candidates
• Late May 2026: Editor(s) recommendation furnished to ASHE Board of Directors for approval
• Summer 2026: Selected editor(s) complete contract process with ASHE Office and editor(s)’ institutions 
• Fall 2026: New editor(s) begin in November 2026 with a one-year overlap with current editors

Application Procedures

Applicants should electronically submit:

1. A letter of application describing their qualifications for the position with respect to the requirements and expectations stated above (uploaded as a PDF document)
2. An up-to-date curriculum vitae (uploaded as a PDF document)
3. Up to three representative reprints of scholarly publications (uploaded as a PDF documents)
4. A letter from their department chair/dean/provost, as appropriate, indicating institutional support (specific terms of such support, e.g., pertaining to graduate assistants, office space, course release, will be requested from finalists)  (uploaded as a PDF document)
5. Names, roles, relationships (e.g., co-author, department chair), e-mail, and phone number of three academic references (uploaded as a PDF document)

Applications and relevant materials should be addressed to the RHE Editor Search Committee and submitted via this form. Emailed applications will not be accepted.

If you are applying as co-editors, this form must be completed by each applicant. 

Submit an Application

Nominations

We are inviting members to nominate colleagues for service as the next RHE Editor. Thank you for taking a moment to recognize someone whose leadership and insight would benefit the ASHE community. We will follow up with your nominee with an invitation to submit their application. 

Please note that applications should be received by the application due date for full consideration.

Submit a Nomination

Contact Information

Questions about the editorship should be directed to Dr. Ann Austin,  Chair of the RHE Search Committee at aaustin@msu.edu, or to Dr. Heather Rowan-Kenyon (heather.rowan-kenyon@bc.edu) or Dr. Karen Kurotsuchi Inkelas (karen.inkelas@virginia.edu), Co-Chairs of the ASHE Publications Committee.

Search Committee

The ASHE Conflict of Interest Policy precludes Leadership Volunteers from participating in discussions or making decisions about colleagues with whom they have close relationships. As such, search committee members, Publications Committee members, and Board Members will be excluded from conversations and votes related to colleagues who fall into required or discretionary categories described in the ASHE Conflict of Interest Policy.