Patricia Goodson, Ph.D. is a Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence in the Department of Health Behavior at the Texas A&M School of Public Health. She has authored two books on academic writing: Becoming an Academic Writer: 50 Exercises for Paced, Productive, and Powerful Writing (3e) and 90 Days, 90 Ways: Inspiration, Tips & Strategies for Academic Writers (co-authored with Dr. Mina Beigi and Dr. Melika Shirmohammadi).

Mentoring Topics: Public Health; Theory; Social Sciences Research; Academic Writing

Carol Harvey is the lead author for seven editions of a leading diversity management textbook. Over the past thirty years she has had extensive experience mentoring junior faculty with their publications. She can be helpful to aspiring authors in the following areas: initiating a relationship with a publisher, preparing a proposal, selecting and effectively working with co-authors, and sharing her experiences writing for four publishers. Since she mentored her latest edition’s novice co-author, Carol asked her to list which mentoring skills were the most helpful in producing their new text and she received the following answer: “Carol’s history with the industry and her experience negotiating with the publisher and organizing and structuring the writing process for a timely submission were so valuable.”

Mentoring Topics: 

• Initiating a relationship with a publisher
• Preparing a proposal
• Selecting and effectively working with co-authors

Corey Parson is the Managing Editor of the University of North Georgia Press, where she oversees the production of all titles from query to publication. With over a decade of experience in publishing, she brings a deep commitment to accessible, ethical, and innovative publishing practices. Her areas of expertise include accessibility; contracts, copyright, and licensing; peer review; acquisitions; book design; and AI in publishing.

Mentoring Topics: 

• Querying publishers
• AI practices for authors
• Peer review process

Although her academic research and teaching is in second language learning, Angelica’s books—Running into Happiness and How to Create Happiness at Work—focus on happiness. She writes about how to use the science of happiness to create joy in everyday life, including at work. See https://www.creatinghappiness.today

Mentoring Topics: 

• Self-publishing
• Strategies to bring joy into your writing
• Strategies to navigate challenges in your writing

Dannelle D. Stevens, Ph. D., is a Professor Emerita from Portland State University who has served as a coach, mentor, and writing buddy for faculty for over twenty years.  She has presented at numerous national and international conferences  to faculty about boosting their writing productivity and their sense of well-being and confidence about writing. Her recent book, Write More, Publish More, Stress Less, (2019, Routledge) offers graduate students and faculty numerous tricks of the trade designed to outfox the expectations of the system and become productive academic authors who know what to do when staring at the blank page.  As a mentor, she is a great listener and guide through the winding and sometimes seemingly treacherous path toward success in your academic life.

Brenda's focus is on copyright, trademark, publishing, and higher education. She works with numerous authors, including several TAA members, as well as a small number of publishers. She represents authors in textbook publishing contract negotiations and disputes, helps authors review and interpret publishing contracts, and advises clients on negotiating and drafting author collaboration agreements. Brenda is currently serving as the secretary of the TAA Council and on its executive and governance committees. 

Mentoring Topics: 

• Publishing contracts
• Co-author agreements
• Copyright and trademark issues