Editor(s)-in-Chief of the Journal of the American Philosophical Association

The American Philosophical Association invites applications for the position of editor(s)-in-chief of the Journal of the American Philosophical Association (J-APA), its flagship research journal. Launched in 2015 in cooperation with Cambridge University Press, J‑APA is now a leading international journal publishing scholarship in all topics, areas, styles, and traditions of philosophy. The Journal of the APA is a fully open access journal.

Professor Heather Battaly, the journal’s current editor-in-chief, completes her term on December 31, 2027. An editor-in-chief or co-editors-in-chief will be appointed in spring 2027, in time for a transition period beginning no later than July 2027. The initial term of appointment is January 1, 2028, to December 31, 2032; this term may be renewed once, for a second five years.

J‑APA’s Editor-in-Chief selects and leads a team of associate editors, who recruit referees and evaluate submissions in light of referees’ reports. In recent years there have been six to ten associate editors, but the journal is open to other editorial models under new leadership. The editorial team also relies on the expertise of two dozen internationally distinguished advisory editors, and additional administrative support is provided by CUP. Editorial decisions are made independently of APA leadership. Policies are set by a governing committee made up of the editor(s)-in-chief and representatives of CUP, the editorial team, and the APA’s Board of Officers. For more information, visit the journal’s web site.

The APA provides funding to support the editorial team, and some support from the home institutions of the editor(s) would be welcome though not required. The allocation of funds and nature of institutional support, if any, will vary according to circumstances and will be negotiated with the selected candidate(s).

Candidates should be philosophers with outstanding records of research and also with the breadth, energy, vision, and management skills needed to build on the journal’s successes and to continue to set benchmarks for publishing in all topics, areas, styles, and traditions of philosophy. Membership in the APA is not required at the time of application but is required prior to and throughout the term of appointment.

Applicants or co-applicants should submit their CVs and a two-page cover letter using the Journal Editor-In-Chief Application Form. The cover letter should highlight editorial experience, if any, as well as any administrative experience relevant to the day-to-day running of an editorial operation. It should sketch a vision of the future of the journal, its aims and scope, in the context of recent trends in philosophy and the publishing environment.

Applications will be accepted until an appointment is made, but applications received by December 31, 2026, are assured full consideration. Inquiries about the editorship or nominations of strong candidates may be sent to Marya Schechtman, chair of the APA board of officers and chair of the search committee, at [email protected]. 

Equal Opportunity Statement

The APA will not discriminate against applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status. Women, racial/ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, veterans, and members of other underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.