Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation Editor’s Vision: Ecological Perspectives on Consultation Scholarship During a Time of Need

Abstract

I am honored and humbled to serve as the sixth Editor for the Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation (JEPC). The longevity of the journal, having recently celebrated its 30 year of publication, reflects the historical and enduring importance of consultation practice and research across a variety of contexts and settings. Previous editors Howard Margolis, Joseph Zins, Emilia Lopez, Stephen Truscott, and David Shriberg individually and collectively entrenched JEPC as the primary interdisciplinary publication outlet for consultation research. JEPC was established in 1990, amidst growing recognition that consultation and collaboration amongst educators could help support positive educational outcomes for all students, including students with and without disabilities (Truscott et al., 2015). For the past 30-plus years the journal’s contributing authors, many of whom are giants in consultation research, have tackled a breadth and depth of topics related to educational and psychological consultation ultimately highlighting the value of consultative service delivery as an indirect support for clients, most often students in schools. My connection to JEPC developed when I was a school psychology doctoral student at the University of Maryland. In conjunction with the intensive school consultation training that I received at that time under the instruction and supervision of Dr. Sylvia Rosenfield, the journal’s content shaped my conceptual understanding of consultation and my paradigm for school psychology practice. Presently, as a graduate educator, the content informs my training of future school consultants. I published my first peer-reviewed publication in JEPC, and I have served as an Ad Hoc reviewer, Editorial Board member, special issue Guest Editor, and Associate Editor for the journal. In April of 2019 I applied to be JEPC Editor, and I submitted a vision statement highlighting my perspectives on the journal’s history, present, and future. However, much in the world has changed since that time, making the context for beginning this Editorship in January of 2021 different than I could have ever expected.