Allegheny College’s Steve Onyeiwu Joins Editorial Board of Journal of the Middle East and Africa

Professor of Business and Economics Steve Onyeiwu was recently invited to join the Editorial Board of the Journal of the Middle East and Africa, the flagship publication of the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa (ASMEA).

First published in 2010, the Journal for the Middle East and Africa is a peer-reviewed academic journal that examines the social, economic, and political connections between Africa and the Middle East. Onyeiwu is one of 13 scholars serving on the editorial board.

“The appointment came to me as a surprise,” Onyeiwu said. “The board has really well-accomplished members, scholars who have published widely in the field, who are well recognized and well respected. So I view it as an honor to be asked to be part of this accomplished group.”

Onyeiwu has been a member of ASMEA for eight years. He regularly attends the association’s annual conference in Washington D.C. and has previously received a grant from the association to support one of his research projects. Additionally, the journal published one of his research papers in 2023.

In his new role, Onyeiwu will review research submitted to the journal and determine whether the articles fit within its focus area. If approved, it will then be sent to outside peer reviewers ahead of formal publication in the journal.

Onyeiwu added that he may also serve as a peer reviewer for articles with an economics focus — his area of expertise. The journal also publishes work on political science, history, and a number of other academic fields.

For Onyeiwu, the appointment fits naturally into his work as a faculty member. He explained that faculty responsibilities generally fall into three responsibilities: teaching, research and scholarship, and service to the academic community. Serving on such a board, he said, embodies that service aspect.

“It’s not taking away from the job, it’s actually adding to the job because that’s part of the job,” Onyeiwu said.

The primary challenge, he said, will be finding the additional time to review articles when the journal sends submissions his way. Still, he views the work as part of his broader responsibilities as an academic and an opportunity for continued learning.

“I also learn in the process of reading those articles,” Onyeiwu said. “Some of the ideas and knowledge you gain can be very helpful in the classroom.”