American Journal of Evaluation

The American Journal of Evaluation (AJE) publishes original papers about the methods, theory, and practice of evaluation. The general goal of AJE is to present the best work in and about evaluation, in order to improve the knowledge base and practice of its readers. Because the field of evaluation is diverse, with different intellectual traditions, approaches to practice, and domains of application, the papers published in AJE will reflect this diversity. Nevertheless, preference is given to papers that are likely to be of interest to a wide range of evaluators and that are written to be accessible to most readers.

As the official journal of AEA, Members have complementary access to all current and past issues. Each issue includes sourced articles from peers, book reviews, and method insights. AEA members may opt to receive quarterly new issues of New Directions for Evaluation and the American Journal of Evaluation in hardcopy for approximately $10 extra for 12 months for the two journals.

Members Only


Access the AJE online archive (you will be required to log in if you have not already done so)

Call for Applications: Editor-in-Chief

Application Deadline: March 31, 2026

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Establish a vision and plan for executing it, involving an editorial leadership team of Associate Editors, Section Editors, and an Editorial Board
  • Operate and manage the peer review system (Manuscript Central/Scholar One) with integrity, which involves assigning associate/section editors responsibility for ushering manuscripts through the review process
  • Represent the journal at appropriate conferences and venues;
  • Curate four published issues per year within a page budget, working with the Publisher on production matters
  • With the Managing Editor, ensure that the journal’s processes and content align with AEA’s mission, vision, and values, and that the review and other processes are carried out with integrity
  • Communicate regularly with the AEA President and Executive Director regarding the state of the Journal

Term:

Three (3) years, beginning January 1, 2027 (with a three-month overlap/transition period with the current editorial team, October-December 2026).

Criteria:

  • AEA Member for at least five (5) years
  • Earned a Doctorate in an evaluation-related field
  • Senior or mid-career evaluation scholar with demonstrated deep appreciation for the distinctive and diverse nature of evaluation’s theory, methods, and practice and for the breadth and heterogeneity of the profession and its scholarship
  • Demonstrated record of academic and evaluation accomplishments, including a strong record of peer-reviewed publications on evaluation
  • Strong working knowledge of the editorial process as an editor, associate or assistant editor, or editorial board member
  • Experience as an effective manager and leader
  • Preference for an applicant with an institutional home that agrees to provide the applicant with needed accommodations to perform ordinary duties to fulfil the role of Editor-in-Chief

Compensation:

  • $15,000
  • Budget includes support for a Managing Editor

Application materials must be submitted to AEA’s Executive Director, Anisha Lewis (alewis@eval.org). Packets must include for the applicant, or in the case of a Co-Editor-in-Chief application, both applicants:

  1. A cover letter that addresses the applicant’s qualifications for the role and describes the institutional support available to fulfil them
  2. A curriculum vitae
  3. The names and contact information for three references who can speak to the applicant’s ability to perform the required editorial duties

Learn More

Call for Contributions


The Ethics, Values, and Culture Section invites you to submit manuscripts about positionality statements in evaluation. Section Editors are interested in receiving extended abstracts by September 16th. Access the full call here.

The Economic Evaluation Section invites you to submit manuscripts describing theories, qualitative as well as quantitative methods, findings, uses, and constructive critiques of cost-inclusive evaluations. Access the full call here.

Read Current Issue

Current issue of the American Journal of Evaluation

  • The Garden of Evaluation Approaches

  • Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Exploring the Imposter Phenomenon in Evaluation

  • The Prevalence of Evaluator Anxiety in Practice: An Empirical Examination

  • Rich Pictures: A Visual Method for Sensemaking Amid Complexity

  • And more!

Contribute to the Journal

 

All manuscripts should be submitted online. If you have questions or are uncertain about the appropriateness of possible submissions, they are welcome to contact the relevant section editor (see Contribution Categories) or to contact the AJE Editors, Laura Peck and Rodney Hopson, via email at AJE.EditorialTeam@gmail.com.

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