Submit to the Journal

Submit your Paper or Artwork to

The Journal of Student Leadership

 

CALL FOR PAPERS - SPRING 2025 ISSUE

Submit by Friday, January 31st 

Submissions (papers, essays, reviews, poems, artwork) may be submitted to the JSL at any time, on a rolling basis, by anyone interested in expressing ideas related to leadership (e.g. students, faculty, staff, professionals, community members).

We invite you to submit artwork, performances, poems, and so forth for the Spring 2025 issue by Friday, February 28th to be considered for the Spring 2025 issue. (We are in the review process of paper submissions and are no longer accepting new  submissions for the Spring 2025 Issue.) 

Submission Guidelines

Are you an Author or Artist and want to submit your work? Carefully review the specific submission criteria below. AI-generated work is not accepted.

For Authors of Papers and Essays

Submit relevant papers from your research, academic or personal study, or coursework. Your submission should be original work that has not been published previously.  We do not accept material currently being considered by another journal.**

  • Manuscripts may be 1200-3000 words (about 5 to 12 pages in length or longer if approved by the editor). Articles should be written in 12-point font with one-inch margins and double-spaced, and for academic papers include at least a half-dozen scholarly or reputable sources.

  • Include an abstract of 100-150 words.

  • Your submission should be in MS Word format (.doc,.docx)

  • Do not include any personally identifying information on your submission document (e.g. no first and last names, course names, professor names). Be sure to check your document properties to be sure that all identifying information is removed. This helps ensure our double-blind review process. Here's a tutorial on how to check your document properties!

  • We favor cogent papers that tend to have shorter, simpler sentences.

  • We recommend submissions include references in APA Format. Submissions using Chicago format are also welcome. 

  • How to Submit?

    1. Fill out the form on the green button below and

    2. Email your "blinded" paper (no personally identifying information) to [email protected]. Including your name or a message in the body of the email itself is welcome.

Authors of papers and essays: Fill out this form

 

 

 

 

**We expect authors will not submit same papers to other journals during our review process. Papers are peer reviewed and undergo a detailed revision process, and authors are expected to work closely with JSL editorial editors to address external reviewer and staff recommendations. 

For Artists' Artwork

Accepting original Art Submissions (no elements that are copyrighted without permission) in all mediums (e.g. paintings, illustrations, photography, poems), representing leaders, leadership topics, or related themes. We're also looking for a Journal Cover!

You are required to include the following components in your art submission to [email protected]

 Filling out the form or button at the top of the page is not necessary for artists. Instead, email the following:

  1. Artist contact information including preferred published name (if accepted), institutional affiliation, preferred email, and phone number.

  2. State artistic medium (e.g. oil, charcoal, watercolor, sculpture, mixed media). Take a picture of your artwork and send it in! At a minimum, file size (preferably jpg or png) should be at least 5.5" x 7" at 300 DPI (1650 x 2100 pixels). Larger files are welcome.  Please attach the image in the email, rather than simply embedding the image in the email. For digital artwork (e.g. photography, short video of a performance, digital/vector based work), please make sure file size meets the same minimum requirements. 

  3. Short title.

  4. Short statement on leadership. Besides a title, describe (in a word, a phrase, or a few paragraphs) how your submission connects to leaders, leadership, or related themes.

  5. Short artist bio (2 to 4 sentences) to be included if your work were to be accepted for publication.

    Here are some examples below (JSL may edit for professional content and length):

    Example 1: Jane R. Doe has been published in journals such as Essais and Warp and Weave. She is currently working toward her bachelor's in creative writing at UVU and expects to graduate in 2027. She is the president of the multicultural student council and plans to work for an NGO someday. (email: [email protected]) [Email is optional]

    Example 2: Jane R. Doe is Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond. Her work focuses on leadership, social innovation, and civic responsibility. She has published in Comparative and International Higher Education and The Journal of Higher Education. (email: [email protected]) [Email is optional]

For Authors of Book Reviews

Interested in reviewing a recently published book for The Journal?  First, we recommend reaching out the Editors at: [email protected] to discuss your book review idea. 

  • Reviews are typically around 750 to 1000 words, but may be a bit longer.

  • In your review, include information about the book at the top of your submission:  title, author(s) [or editor(s)], publisher, number of pages, and ISBN

  • Cite direct quotes from the reviewed text. Use parentheses and page number only [For example, "(p. 45)"]. No author needed. If other references are included (no required) be sure to align them with APA or Chicago citation formats.

  • Include a brief bio (2 to 4 sentences) that includes your institutional affiliation, areas of interest, and current or past projects or publications (if any). 

  • Submit your file as an MS Word document (.docx).

We look forward to discussing a possible book review with you. Please let us know if you have any questions.

 

What Topics Are Most Interesting?

Future authors often wonder what topics would be of greatest interest to the editorial board, staff, and readers. Likelihood of publication exists for those submissions that incorporate relevant concepts of leadership into their paper. The following topics are just a subset of appropriate areas that could be addressed:

  • Ethics in leadership

  • The need for diverse leaders

  • Importance of communication in successful leadership

  • How to maintain integrity in leadership

  • Why and how people lead?

  • What practices the best leaders implement?

  • How can historical analysis help clarify the role of leadership?

  • Examples of excellent leaders and their contributions, and a broad range of other topics that relate to leadership

Need more topic ideas? See Frequently Asked Questions below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Journal of Student Leadership

The Journal of Student Leadership (JSL) is a double-blind, peer reviewed, interdisciplinary, academic journal that addresses ideas, theories, and issues of leadership. This sets us apart from other academic journals because we feature high-quality content from students, faculty, professionals, and practitioners alike. All submissions undergo peer review.

From whom will you accept submissions?

We take submissions from all who are interested. There are no prerequisites for those who want to submit.

Are only submissions on formal student leadership positions considered?

No, our definition of leadership is actually much broader. We welcome submissions on most any leadership topic.

Is artwork accepted?

We gladly accept art submissions of all mediums representing leadership, leaders, or similar themes. Consult the "For Artists' Artwork" section above and email any high-resolution files and information requested for review to [email protected].

Who is the Journal's intended audience?

  • Top Professional (MBA, JD, MD, DDS) & Graduate Programs (Education, Business, Leadership, MA, Ph.D., and Ed.D. programs)

  • Those interested in learning more about contemporary research and perspectives on leadership

What are "double blind" and "peer review"?

  • Double-blind (or masked) review means the exact reviewers and authors are unaware of each others' identities. Each is anonymous.

  • Peer review means peers at the same college, academic, or professional level review submitted work. For example, student submissions are reviewed by students, post-graduate level submissions are reviewed by post-graduates, and faculty submissions are reviewed by faculty.

May I submit my work at any time?

Yes, papers and art work may be submitted on a rolling basis--at any time; though you may notice a deadline for particular journal issues. 

Who may I talk to about writing or editing help?

  • Use the UVU Writing Center (face-to-face or online)

  • Ask a friend to read it over

  • Ask a professor or professional to read it over

  • Contact the editors at [email protected] to correspond about your paper.

Need more topic ideas?

  • Goal-Setting

  • Fighting Negativity (Individual and Group)

  • Dealing with Difficult Participants

  • Leadership Effectiveness

  • Stages of Group Development

  • Parliamentary Procedure

  • Creating a Meeting Agenda

  • Assessing Your Organization

  • Productivity for Meetings

  • Operating an Effective Organization Budget

  • Budgeting: Individual and Organization Wants and Needs

  • Event Planning 101: Marketing Your Organization

  • Social Media and Your Student Organization

  • Leading Change

  • Emotional Intelligence

  • Delegation--Utilizing Others' Strengths

  • Choosing Your Battles--Negotiation

  • Building Consensus

  • The Leaders Tool-kit: Integrity, Empathy, Genuineness, and Humility

  • Effective Listening Strategies

  • Basic Professionalism

  • Diversity & Dialogue

  • Star Power

  • Conflict Management-- Individual

  • Managing Group Conflict

  • Creating Safe and Inclusive Environments

  • Diversity--Why is it critical to your organization?

  • Diversity: A focus on Ethnic and Cultural Diversity

  • Mentoring

  • Non-Positional Leadership--Leading from the Middle

  • Building Community in your Organizations

  • Building Trust in Groups

  • Communicating your Vision

  • Creating a Shared Vision in your Group

  • Transitioning Leadership

  • Best Practices of Leadership--The Leadership Challenge

  • Keeping Members Motivated

  • Increasing Active Membership in your Organization

  • Working together: Increase involvement and develop stronger connections

  • Communication and Team building: What a team means and how communication plays a part

  • Generating Innovative Ideas

  • Creating Individual Accountability

  • Holding your Group Accountable

  • Practicing Personal Wellness

  • Authentic Leadership

  • Engaging in Productive Self-Reflection

  • Persuasion

  • Maintaining Time-On-Task

  • Balancing Your Commitments

Adapted from "Available Leadership Workshop Topics." Accessed BGSU, April 23, 2017