Incumbent candidate for Executive Committee

Residence: Lincoln, Neb.

Professional position: Associate professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Years on board: 2 (elected in 2010)

Years of membership: 4

Biography

Sue teaches editing, reporting and multimedia at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She’s revived and grown the student ACES chapter there, increasing student membership and bringing students to ACES regional and national conferences. In 2010, her chapter hosted a regional conference. The ACES chapter she advises meets every other week and often connects editors with students. She promotes ACES among students as a way to help them learn more about editors and editing. Before joining academia, she spent more than 30 years in newsrooms as a reporter and editor. She worked for 21 years at The Detroit News including three as managing editor.

Sue seeks re-election to the board for a second term so she can continue to make ACES a strong resource for both professionals, students and academics. She understands how editors’ roles are changing and plays a part in teaching future editors. She wants to keep getting students excited about editing and sees ACES as a way to do that. She also wants ACES to continue to meet the changing needs of editors as the industry transforms.

ACES’ question to candidate

Board members must show a commitment to the organization’s goals, which center on better serving and increasing the  membership, and keeping ACES financially sound. Everyone’s skills and styles are different. Do you see yourself as stronger in developing ideas, or with putting ideas into action? Are you more comfortable working with a team, or handling a responsibility alone? And how will you organize things to commit the necessary time?

I’m firmly committed to growing membership and making ACES indispensable to members. I’ve had plenty of ideas, including holding more one-day workshops, adding online resources for members, creating templates for student chapter activities and posting resources for journalism educators. But my strength is making things happen, whether it’s organizing a regional conference, handling the ACES Twitter feed, or creating content for the website or newsletter. I’m organized and know how to get things done. After many years in newsrooms, I understand deadlines. My schedule is sometimes crazy, but ACES is important to me, so I make time for it. For example, I advise an active student chapter that meets biweekly. I’m equally comfortable working with a team or operating solo. Give me a job and I’ll get it done with little direction or need for handholding. But I also believe collaborating with a team often ends with the strongest results.

From the nomination form

How has the nominee contributed to ACES?

One nominator wrote: Sue injects energy and passion into UNL’s ACES chapter, creating a student group recognized throughout the college – even in advertising. She pushes her students to be better editors, cultivating respect for copy editing in future reporters, advertisers, photographers and other journalism positions outside of the copy desk.

Another nominator wrote: Sue helped revive the ACES chapter at UNL. Since then, she’s helped organize trips to conferences. In 2010, UNL hosted a regional conference. She teaches students about editing while promoting ACES as way for us to learn more. She’s recruited many student members to ACES, students who may become professional members.

What makes the nominee the best candidate for this position?

One nominator wrote: Sue is a leader with energy, passion and ideas. She wrote her own editing textbook, encourages her students to think beyond traditional media, and has promoted a more forward way of thinking among other faculty. These traits will continue to be a great asset to the ACES national board.

Another nominator wrote: Sue deserves a position on the board, because she has experience in the professional and academic arenas. She understands the transforming role of editors and plays a part in teaching future editors. If Sue is on the executive committee, she’ll ensure ACES is a resource to both professionals and students.

If elected, what does the nominee envision for ACES during his or her tenure?

One nominator wrote: I believe Sue has a strong desire to expand both the membership numbers and roles for students as well as editors outside of the traditional media platforms. She would also do well connecting both the important realities of the professional world and future of editing education in academia.

Another nominator wrote: Sue has served this past year on the ACES executive committee. I know if she’s re-elected, Sue will continue to dedicate herself to sparking students’ interest in the organization. She will continue to ensure that ACES helps prepare students as well as professionals for the changing role of editors.

Nominators: Brady Jones and Courtney Pitts