The Infant Mental Health Journal: Infancy and Early Childhood (IMHJ), the official publication of the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH), is seeking applications for its next Editor-in-Chief. The IMHJ is owned by the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health (MI-AIMH) and published by Wiley. To support the journal’s continued success, MI-AIMH partners with the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health to coordinate efforts to sustain its impact.
We extend our deepest appreciation to Dr. Holly Brophy-Herb for her exceptional leadership and dedication as Editor-in-Chief. Under her guidance, IMHJ has expanded its focus to include both infant and early childhood mental health, enhanced its impact in the field, fostered a focus on diverse perspectives in infant and early childhood mental health, and embraced new strategies for engaging a broader audience. Dr. Brophy-Herb will continue in her role through Volume 46:5, with the newly appointed editor joining her in September 2025 to support a transition period before assuming full responsibilities in October 2025.
About the Role
The Editor-in-Chief of IMHJ holds a pivotal role in shaping the journal’s content, ensuring its academic integrity, and advancing the field of infant and early childhood mental health. The Editor-in-Chief leads a dedicated editorial team, oversees the peer review process, and engages with an interdisciplinary global community of researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and practitioners.
The new Editor-in-Chief will be appointed for a five-year term (2025–2030) and will receive a stipend for the editorial office. Details will be discussed during the interview process.
Key Responsibilities
- Editorial Leadership: Develop and uphold journal policies, maintain high publication standards, and oversee the editorial board.
- Manuscript Oversight: Manage the peer-review process to ensure timely and rigorous evaluation of submissions that align with IMHJ’s mission.
- Collaboration & Promotion: Work closely with the Journal Publishing Manager, editorial office, and production team at Wiley, as well as MI-AIMH, the World Association for Infant Mental Health, and the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health, to promote the journal, acquire high-quality content, and engage in professional outreach, including conference participation.
- Strategic Direction: Identify opportunities for special issues, emerging research themes, and interdisciplinary collaboration to advance the field.
- WAIMH Board of Directors: Represent IMHJ on the WAIMH board of directors.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have:
- A broad and strong interdisciplinary knowledge base in infant and early childhood mental health, including research, policy, clinical practice, and intervention strategies.
- Leadership and organizational skills to manage an international editorial team and sustain strong relationships with diverse professionals.
- Prior editorial experience, such as serving as a Senior Associate Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Board Member, with familiarity in online manuscript submission systems.
- A strong research background, including an extensive publication record and recognized expertise in the field.
- A commitment to engaging technological innovations in academic publishing and dissemination.
- High professional and ethical standards in scholarly publishing.
Application Process
Interested applicants should submit the following materials via email to Ashley McCormick, Chair of the IMHJ Search Committee (asmccormick@allianceaimh.org):
- A one-page vision statement outlining their vision for IMHJ and its future development.
- A letter of interest, detailing relevant experiences, qualifications, and leadership approach.
- A current CV or resume including contact details (mailing address, email, phone).
- Contact information for two professional references familiar with their editorial, research, or leadership work.
IMHJ is committed to fostering diverse perspectives in research and editorial leadership. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, particularly those whose work advances equity in IECMH.
Application Timeline
- Applications due by June 15, 2025
- Finalist interviews July 7-18, 2025
- New Editor-in-Chief announced by August 1, 2025
- New Editor-in-Chief begins transition period on September 1, 2025
- New Editor-in-Chief assumes full editorial responsibilities on October 1, 2025
For inquiries about the position or application process, please contact Ashley McCormick, Chair of the IMHJ Search Committee at asmccormick@allianceaimh.org.
We look forward to identifying an Editor-in-Chief who will continue the strong legacy of IMHJ and further elevate its contributions to the field of infant and early childhood mental health.
