Virginia Cope, associate dean at Ohio State Newark and associate professor in the Department of English, has been named the 2019 Reviewer of the Year for the Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship (JCES).

"We acknowledge the crucial role of reviewers in the production of the Journal, and each year we recognize an individual who has gone above and beyond in that role," said Samory T. Pruitt, publisher of the JCES, and vice president for Community Affairs at The University of Alabama. "Dr. Cope has not only been an active reviewer, providing timely engagement in the review of manuscripts, but has also supported the testing for the Digital Commons platform from a reviewer's perspective, as well as offered to serve as a reviewer for one of our upcoming special issues. Her willingness to serve in this volunteer role, as well as her above-and-beyond efforts, have not gone unnoticed."

The JCES is a peer-reviewed international journal through which faculty, staff, students and community partners disseminate scholarly works. JCES integrates teaching, research and community engagement in all disciplines, addressing critical problems identified through a community-participatory process.

"Reviewing manuscripts has educated me on projects across the world in which communities and universities partner to serve the community and students alike," Cope said. "I have learned about innovative theories, best practices and novel approaches. I am well aware of the editors' high standards, and it was a great honor to be chosen for this award. Now I will try to live up to it."

"It is great to see Virginia recognized for her dedication as a reviewer for the Journal," said Ryan Schmiesing, vice provost for Outreach and Engagement. "Beyond her service as a reviewer, she is a champion of engaged scholarship more broadly and an excellent role model for other faculty and community engagement practitioners."

Cope was recognized during the JCES reception at the 2019 Engagement Scholarship Consortium conference in Denver on Oct. 8.

Article originally published by Ohio State's Office of Outreach and Engagement.