Celebrating Samantha Eyler-Driscoll

Dismantling Barriers in Academic Publishing through Editorial Expertise and a Commitment to Equity

In honor of Women's History Month, we spotlight Samantha Eyler-Driscoll, an economics editor who founded the boutique academic editing firm Standard Error Research Editors in 2023. With over a decade of editorial experience in investment and academic economics publishing, Samantha has innovated to foster accessibility and equity in research while maintaining the highest editorial quality and rigor standards.

A Journey in Expertise and Inclusion

Samantha’s commitment to inclusion for marginalized communities was fostered early by her friendships with migrant farm workers in Wyoming, early interactions with the US immigration system, and her later work registering newly naturalized citizens to vote and doing outreach in Spanish-speaking communities for various political campaigns. She studied history, political science, and Spanish in the US before going abroad, where she earned her MSc in Comparative Politics (Latin America) from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2009. Her early career at the Centre for Economic Policy Research in London, where she managed the production of the center’s discussion paper series and provided editorial support on the content pipeline for VoxEU.org, laid the groundwork for her passion for research publishing and her professional network in academic economics.

Samantha joined Freestone Publishing, a B2B publishing startup in Bogota, Colombia, in 2012, where she served as senior production editor for Mining Leaders, a series of reports for investors on the global mining industry. Her experience in Latin America broadened her horizons. It deepened her understanding of the global economic landscape, while her half-decade spent as a resident of the Global South solidified her commitment to working for North–South convergence and equity. During this period, she also worked as a freelance academic editor with researchers from around the world, further developing her knowledge of academic publishing standards and processes and her disciplinary expertise in economics and adjacent fields.

A Commitment to Excellence

Upon becoming a parent, Samantha returned to the US after ten years abroad to be closer to family while continuing her work as senior editor at the Stigler Center at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and managing editor of Promarket, where she championed social inclusion and editorial quality. In 2019, Samantha joined American Journal Experts, now a subsidiary of SpringerNature, where she was recognized for her knowledge of economics and finance. She was promoted to expert rank the following year.

A New Startup and New Possibilities

In 2023, inspired by her experience in an early-stage startup at Freestone Publishing, Samantha founded Standard Error Research Editors, a venture dedicated to providing top-tier editorial support to researchers in leading social science departments and institutions on five continents. She has since brought together a team of US and European experts. They bring their own editorial and disciplinary knowledge to support researchers in overcoming barriers at all stages of the academic publishing pipeline.

As we celebrate Women's History Month, let us recognize Samantha as an innovator in academic editing. We celebrate her contributions, expertise, and commitment to excellence and look forward to witnessing the continued impact of her work in the world of research publishing in the years to come.

Resources

Connect with Samantha on LinkedIn

Checkout Standard Error Research Editors (Website)

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Show Notes

Introduction:

In this enlightening episode, we are joined by Samantha Eyler-Driscoll, an accomplished academic editor and entrepreneur in economics and social sciences. With a rich background that spans continents and disciplines, Samantha shares her journey from studying Latin American politics to founding Standard Error Research Editors, a company providing editorial support to economists and researchers worldwide.

Key Highlights:

• Journey into Economics and Editing:

  • Samantha began her career in academic publishing after graduating with a master's degree in 2009.

  • Her interest in economics was sparked while working at the Center for Economic Policy Research in London, despite her initial focus on Latin American politics.

• Founding Standard Error Research Editors:

  •  Samantha discusses her company's inception, which offers specialized editorial services to economics departments and individual researchers. She particularly emphasizes the importance of inclusion in economics and breaking down barriers in publishing.

• Diverse Career Path:

  • Her career path is marked by significant geographical and professional shifts, from Kentucky to London and from Latin American politics to economic policy research, highlighting the non-linear and varied routes one can take in economics.

• Challenges and Rewards of Entrepreneurship:

  • Transitioning from editing to entrepreneurship, Samantha talks about the challenges of managing a company and the joy of staying connected to research through her editorial work.

• Advocacy for Inclusion and Equity in Economics:

  • She passionately speaks about her efforts to make economics more inclusive by supporting underrepresented voices and her belief in the critical role of editorial work in this endeavor.

• Advice for Aspiring Economists and Editors:

  • Samantha encourages continuous learning, reading extensively, and being open to unconventional career paths in economics and beyond.

• Future Directions and Impact:

  • Looking forward, she expresses her commitment to furthering the mission of Standard Error Research Editors and making a lasting impact on the field of economics through editorial excellence and advocacy for inclusion.

Conclusion:

Samantha Eyler-Driscoll's journey and insights offer a unique perspective on the intersections of economics, editing, and entrepreneurship. Her dedication to enhancing the accessibility and inclusivity of economic research inspires aspiring economists, editors, and entrepreneurs alike. Join us in this episode as we delve into the nuances of building a career that bridges disciplines and continents, all while striving to make a meaningful difference in economics.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the multifaceted world of economics, the critical role of editorial work in academic publishing, and the inspiring journey of a woman making strides in a traditionally male-dominated field.