American Society for Engineering Education Appointed Editor
The trade group named Catherine Berdanier as co-editor-in-chief of its flagship journal, effective in 2028.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in People
The American Society for Engineering Education has appointed Penn State professor Catherine Berdanier as co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Engineering Education. She will serve a four-year term beginning in 2028 alongside co-editor-in-chief James Huff.
Why it matters
Leadership appointments at academic journals influence the prioritization of research topics and standards for scholarly publication in engineering disciplines. These editorial shifts often signal the future focus areas for academic development and professional engineering standards.
Catherine Berdanier will serve a four-year term following her multi-year progression through editorial roles since 2021. The appointment was finalized after a search committee chaired by Brian Novoselich reviewed candidates for the Journal of Engineering Education.
The players
American Society for Engineering Education
A professional nonprofit organization that promotes excellence in instruction, research, and public service through academic engineering education.
Catherine Berdanier
A mechanical engineering professor at Penn State who has served in various editorial capacities for the Journal of Engineering Education since 2021.
James Huff
An academic affiliated with the University of Georgia who will serve as a co-editor-in-chief alongside Berdanier.
Brian Novoselich
The chair of the search committee responsible for selecting the new leadership for the journal.
The details
The selection process for the position involved an internal review by a search committee appointed by the ASEE Board. Candidates for the co-editor-in-chief role are required to advance through a pipeline of editorial positions, including associate and deputy editor roles, before assuming leadership. Berdanier, who currently serves on the ASEE Committee on Scholarly Publications, previously moved through these editorial ranks to qualify for the leadership appointment.
Timeline
Catherine Berdanier joined the editorial board in 2021.
James Huff will begin his term as co-editor-in-chief on January 1, 2027.
Catherine Berdanier will begin her four-year term on January 1, 2028.
Market Landscape
This appointment follows the internal succession protocols established by the ASEE Committee on Scholarly Publications. The move maintains the organization's existing editorial pipeline model, which prioritizes long-term tenure track experience for its journal leadership.
Operators in engineering and academic services should note the scheduled leadership transition for 2028. Future research output and industry standards published in the journal will reflect the editorial focus established by Berdanier and Huff.
The takeaway
The editorial shift highlights the importance of internal promotion pathways in professional organizations. Operators should track how the editorial board updates its publication criteria in late 2027 to stay informed on emerging engineering standards.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership and organizational changes, see People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Knowledgespeak.
