Profiles
Αρετή (Arete): Advancing Global Leadership Scholarship
When Jennie Mitchell, Emerita Professor, and her colleagues at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) launched Arete: Journal of Excellence in Global Leadership in 2022, they envisioned a space where scholars, policymakers, and practitioners could explore leadership through a broad, interdisciplinary lens. Named for the ancient Greek word meaning "excellence" or "virtue," the journal reflects SMWC’s motto: Virtus cum Scientia—Virtue with Knowledge United. Now hosted on the PALNI Open Press, Arete is freely accessible to readers worldwide, fostering research that brings together diverse voices and perspectives in global leadership.
Filling a Scholarly Gap
Mitchell, who helped develop SMWC’s Master of Leadership Development (MLD) and Ph.D. in Global Leadership programs, saw a need for a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to global leadership topics. “When the Ph.D. program started in 2021, we realized that an open-access journal would encourage expansion of knowledge in the field of global leadership beyond our campus,” she explained. Many of the articles featured in Arete originate from faculty and students within SMWC’s leadership programs, but the journal also attracts contributions from scholars worldwide.
Arete publishes a variety of content, including full-length research articles, instructional teaching case studies, perspective-taking essays, critical essays, and posters. Topics range from ethics and diversity in leadership to cultural intelligence, organizational behavior, and action projects for positive change. One standout piece from the first volume, SLOTT: Student Learning Outcomes Tracing Tool, by Nicole Potts and William Michels, highlighted an innovative approach to assessing student learning outcomes. The article has led to real-world impact, with the authors consulting at other institutions to refine student assessment strategies.
Rooney Library and PALNI Open Press
In the journal’s early days, Mitchell relied heavily on SMWC’s Rooney Library for support. Library Director and PALNI Board Director Rusty Tryon played a key role in navigating the complexities of setting up the journal. “Our first publication was hosted at SMWC’s Rooney Library, and every step felt like stepping into the unknown,” Mitchell recalled. Tryon connected the editorial team with the PALNI Open Press, which provided the journal with a stable hosting platform and essential technical support.
Transitioning Arete to the PALNI Open Press significantly streamlined the publishing process. PALNI’s Publishing Services Support Team helped with critical tasks such as setting up digital object identifier (DOI) registration, maintaining software updates, and integrating the journal with indexing services like CrossRef and Google Scholar. According to Mitchell, “PALNI took care of all of this, and now all articles have their own DOI.” This support has allowed Arete to expand its reach and credibility.
“The PALNI Open Press is an ever-evolving service that aims to connect faculty to the resources they need to publish open access,” says Amanda Hurford, Scholarly Communications Director at PALNI. “Arete’s commitment to excellence has been inspirational, and we are excited to help them achieve future goals.”
Open Access and the Future of Arete
For Mitchell, making Arete an open-access journal was an intentional decision rooted in SMWC’s mission. “The Global Leadership Institute did not want to impose an article processing charge or pass any cost to authors or readers,” she said. By removing financial barriers, Arete ensures that leadership research is freely available to scholars, practitioners, and institutions worldwide, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Looking ahead, Arete aims to achieve several milestones, including applying for inclusion in the Directory of Open Access Journals, establishing a link to ORCID profile for authors, and growing its readership. “Each October, we set goals for the journal,” Mitchell noted. These goals ensure Arete continues to evolve as a valuable resource for global leadership research.
With the PALNI Open Press providing critical infrastructure and SMWC’s commitment to scholarly excellence, Arete is poised to grow as a leading voice in global leadership studies. The journal remains open for submissions and welcomes new contributors who share its vision for advancing global leadership research in an accessible and impactful way.
Explore the latest issue of Αρετή (Arete): Journal of Excellence in Global Leadership. You can also access other open publications by visiting the PALNI Open Press catalog
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