The editorial team of Transforming Communities (TC) is a multidisciplinary group of academic researchers, students, practitioners, and community leaders.
Editor-in-Chief
Jayme Walters, Utah State University - Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work; Director of Transforming Communities Institute
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Dr. Jayme Walters is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Transforming Communities Institute (TCI) in the Department of Social Work at Utah State University. She was awarded her PhD from the University of Tennessee, College of Social Work. She earned her MSW and a certificate in Non-profit Organizations: Development and Management from the University of Georgia and BSW from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Dr. Walters' main research regards quality of life in rural communities. She engages in community-level and organization-level research in the areas of poverty, social service provision, nonprofit capacity and management; fundraising and philanthropy; and social worker education and well-being. Professionally, Dr. Walters worked in nonprofits for nearly ten years prior to shifting into academia. Her roles included management, program development, fundraising, and grant writing.
Associate Editors
Cris Meier
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Cris Meier is an Assistant Professor of Social Work and Extension Community Resource and Economic Development Specialists at Utah State University. Cris works in rural communities in Utah to enhance existing resources and increase the capacity of the community to address their health and wellness concerns. Cris also serves as the co-Editor for Outcomes and Impacts Quarterly, an Extension Journal housed at Utah State University.
Erin Jensen
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Erin Jensen (she/her) is the Professional Development & Community Education Program Coordinator for the Transforming Communities Institute (TCI) at Utah State University. Erin graduated with an MSW from the University of Pittsburgh with a concertation in Communities, Organizations, and Social Action, and a BSW from Utah State University. Erin has a background in community-engaged economic development including community assessment, program design, and grant management.
Lynden Bond
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Lynden Bond (she/her), PhD, MSW is a community-engaged scholar who focuses on examining homelessness response systems and the intersection of housing insecurity and behavioral health. Lynden brings a decade of direct practice experience to her work and aims to partner with community members throughout her research to ensure that research centers the expertise of directly impacted people and is relevant to programs, policies, and communities. Her recent projects include evaluating transitional housing-rapid rehousing programs and conducting a point-in-time count examining prevalence of housing insecurity among hospitalized patients. Lynden is an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work.
Join the TC Editorial Board
TC is currently seeking Associate Editors to help shape the direction and quality of our journal. Apply here!
What You’ll Do
- Identify, recruit, and assign peer reviewers
- Manage review timelines and synthesize reviewer feedback
- Recommend editorial decisions
- Attend quarterly board meetings
- Contribute ideas for journal improvement
- Promote and engage with the journal in your networks
Who Should Apply
This opportunity is ideal for anyone who understands and values peer-reviewed knowledge for the public good, including:
- Researchers and educators
- Graduate students
- Community professionals and leaders
Time Commitment
Approximately 5–7 hours per month.
Help us support community-based research and practical knowledge that addresses real-world community challenges. Apply to be an Associate Editor!