Indiana State University Newsroom

An Indiana State University professor has been named national editor of the Books and Media Board for the American College Personnel Association.

Denise Collins, an associate professor of educational leadership and women's studies and program coordinator of student affairs and higher education, served initially as a reviewer and then as an associate editor for ACPA before being named editor in July.

"Dr. Collins provides excellent leadership for our master's program in student affairs," said Joshua Powers, chair of the educational leadership, administration and foundations department. "This new role is a natural extension of her contribution with a potential impact on thousands of persons, right at the moment when student success in college is job one for institutions around the country."

As editor, Collins will recruit new manuscript proposals, communicate with potential authors and book editors and manage the proposal and manuscript review process, among other duties.

"It's an important role, I think, in the association, in the advancement of knowledge in student affairs," Collins said. "Student affairs works to promote student development and student success on college campuses through co-curricular work."

Collins has been a member of ACPA, one of two national associations for student affairs professionals, since 1983 and has been involved in various ways with the association throughout her professional career.

The Books and Media Board discusses current issues, gaps in student affairs literature and information ACPA members need to know.

"One of the things we focus on is to bring really current information into the hands of the student affairs community and to try to have a publication process that is timely and have books that will be of immediate use to people who are doing student affairs work," Collins said.

The board also provides an opportunity for student affairs professionals and faculty members to publish materials, even if they do not have prior publishing experience.

"We work very closely with authors through the whole process-to help them develop the idea, with manuscript writing and review. That's an important role of the Books and Media Board," Collins said.

ACPA recently published "College Student Death: Guidance for a Caring Campus" and "Making Good on the Promise: Student Affairs Professionals with Disabilities."

As editor of the board, Collins will "play a major role in the advancement of next generation scholarship for informing practice in the field," Powers said.

"In ELAF, we have always emphasized the importance of applied scholarship," Powers said. "Her work on the national stage is helping to provide resource materials for a primarily practitioner audience affirms this value and how we uniquely serve our communities."

Photo:
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Denise Collins

Contact: Denise Collins, associate professor of educational leadership and women's studies and program coordinator for student affairs and higher education, Indiana State University, 812-237-2868 or denise.collins@indstate.edu

Writer: Lana Schrock, media relations assistant, Indiana State University, 812-237-3773 or lschrock1@indstate.edu