Abstract
As the Editor-in-Chief of ROPPA, along with my esteemed Associate Editors Ricardo A. Bello-Gomez (Rutgers’ University, Newark), Madinah Hamidullah (Kennesaw State University), Imane Hijal-Moghrabi (The University of Texas Permian Basin), Sean McCandless (University of Texas at Dallas), and our Book Review Editor Shilpa Viswanath (John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY) I am humbled and excited to outline our aims and vision for the journal.
We deeply appreciate the dedicated work of the previous editor, Dr. Jessica Sowa, whose contributions have been invaluable to the journal’s success. Dr. Sowa’s emphasis on not only facilitating a smooth review process but also providing personalized feedback to help authors enhance their manuscripts has been instrumental in the growth and rankings of the journal. The editorial team intends to carry forward this practice, ensuring that authors receive the same level of personal attention and guidance throughout the review process.
Our vision encompasses expanding ROPPA’s core scope in public service Human Resources Management (HRM), promoting meticulous theoretical and empirical analysis, and encouraging submissions on emerging and underexplored topics. The primary aim is to enhance ROPPA’s ranking and reputation while upholding values of rigor, inclusivity, and integrity. Rooted in service and guided by the values of excellence, inclusion, equity, outreach, and integrity, our editorial philosophy aims to provide rigorous and innovative research in public service human resources, meeting the needs of both academic and practitioner communities. In so doing, we aim to enhance ROPPA’s ranking and reputation.
Maintaining a rigorous peer-review process adhering to high academic standards is central to our commitment to excellence. We focus on exploring new and cutting-edge topics to demonstrate dedication to excellence. Inclusiveness and equity are integral; we actively encourage geographic and intellectual diversity in our publication, embracing various topics and empirical approaches. Recognizing the importance of reaching a broad audience, we commit to actively promoting and sharing our research, making it accessible and raising awareness within relevant communities. Currently ranked 10 out of 49 journals in the Social Science Citation Index, ROPPA holds a prestigious position as the premier journal in the field of public human resources management, as acknowledged by the Journal Citation Report®.
To achieve these goals, we commit to prompt submission assessments, timely reviews, and actively promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within ROPPA. We acknowledge the global nature of our field, and our commitment to global outreach is reflected in the appointment of associate editors with extensive networks in traditionally underrepresented regions. The diverse backgrounds and experiences of the editor and associate editors of our journal provide a strong foundation for increasing visibility and submissions from underrepresented regions in mainstream HR scholarship. Hijal-Moghrabi, with her connections in the Middle East, brings valuable insights into the HR landscape of that region. McCandless, with his network in the UK/EU, offers a deep understanding of HR issues specific to that geographical area. Hamidullah, based in the US, brings her extensive knowledge of HR practices and trends in North America. Additionally, Bello-Gomez, representing Latin America, enriches our journal by offering perspectives from a region that is often underrepresented. Finally, Sabharwal’s expertise and networks in Asia contributes to a broader representation of HR scholarship from this region. Through the collective experiences and connections of our associate editors, we are confident in our ability to enhance the visibility of HR scholarship from underrepresented regions. By actively seeking diverse perspectives and insights, we are committed to creating a more inclusive and comprehensive platform for HR research.
The success of ROPPA is not possible without the dedicated efforts of many, including contributing authors, the editorial team, the advisory and editorial boards, reviewers, and the team at SAGE. We express our heartfelt gratitude for another strong year for the Review of Public Personnel Administration (ROPPA). Finally, I express gratitude to my institution, the University of Texas at Dallas, for its support in hosting the journal. We are thrilled to have ROPPA back at UTD! We look forward to a successful tenure and appreciate the support of our contributors, reviewers, and readers.