Mark W. Fraser, Ph.D., M.S.W. Named New Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research

January 13, 2009, PRESS RELEASE

The President of the Society for Social Work and Research, Sarah Gehlert, Ph.D., announced the appointment of Mark Fraser, Ph.D., M.S.W., as the editor-in-chief of the society's newly established e-journal, the Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research (JSSWR). Dr. Fraser is currently the John A. Tate Distinguished Professor at the School of Social Work of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Dr. Gehlert stated that "In filling the position of founding editor-in-chief for the new journal, SSWR sought someone who is a both an intellectual leader in the field as well as a good manager. Dr. Fraser's scholarship is characterized by keen attention to every aspect of the research process, from conceptualization through analysis and publication. In acknowledgment of this, SSWR bestowed its Distinguished Achievement Award to Dr. Fraser in 2008. Moreover, Dr. Fraser has experience managing large research projects and has assumed administrative responsibilities within his school. He was involved in SSWR's original working group on publications, out of which came the idea for JSSWR. He understands the issues involved in open-access publication, the challenges and merits of electronic submission, and the importance of a review process that is both timely and in-depth."

Dr. Fraser also has an exciting vision for JSSWR. He has articulated several ways to help ensure that the journal becomes a preferred outlet for the publication of high-quality research. These include the careful assignment of reviewers, developing an efficient review process, and maintaining strict time-lines for reviews. Fraser has stressed the importance of the editorial board's composition in helping to ensure that JSSWR does not become too narrowly focused on any one method or substantive area, but reflects fully the breadth of our field. He plans to structure the review process to help mentor junior faculty and researchers in nonacademic settings in the fine-art of reviewing, training them on how to provide substantive and yet supportive feedback to authors.

Dr. Fraser received his BA in History from DePauw University (1968), his MSW from the University of Denver's Graduate School of Social Work (1976), and his PhD from the School of Social Work at the University of Washington (1981). He is the John A. Tate Distinguished Professor for Children in Need, and serves as Associate Dean for Research at the School of Social Work of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. In addition, he leads the Making Choices Project, an early intervention program for high risk children and their families. Dr. Fraser is the author or editor of nine books and more than 100 journal articles and chapters. He has received grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Institute of Education Sciences, foundations, and state and local agencies. He recently served as Editor of the Practice Resources Book Series of NASW Press, and he is a member of the Editorial Board of the Human Services Series of Sage Publications.