This is the first of what we intend to be fairly regular reports from the Journal staff. A full staff is now on board at the Journal's new headquarters at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. All of us are shown below gathered in Journal House (see sketch at top right) for a group photo. Some formal photos were taken, but then at the end of the session our first issue (July 1996) just happened to be delivered. Photographer John Zimmerman was able to capture our high spirits, and we have decided to share that moment with readers.

Front row: Gregory Fuchs, Jon L. Holmes, Eric Kolstad. Middle Row, seated: Carol Steinhart, Mary Saecker, Elizabeth (Betty) Moore. Back row, standing: Lin Morris, Nancy Gettys, John W. Moore, Alice Teter, Amanda Reinert.

The Staff

Those of you who are familiar with JCE: Software will recognize some of the people in the photograph. John W. Moore, the new editor, has a long association with the Journal - as editor of the Computer Series, as founder of JCE: Software, as a member of the Board of Publication.

Jon L. Holmes, Associate Editor, helped found JCE: Software in 1988. His knowledge spans the world of computers and technology as well as of chemistry and how best to convey its dynamism. He will head R&D efforts, including JCE: Online and JCE: Software.

Elizabeth A. (Betty) Moore, Associate Editor, has also been with JCE: Software since its inception. Many people also know her as editor of the CHED Newsletter, and she will call on this experience in developing the new Chemical Education Today section, which debuts in this issue.

Mary Saecker, Associate Editor, is in charge of chemistry content, production, and development of features. She brings to this position the experience of being education coordinator of a science museum, a broad interest in chemistry education, and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry.

Nancy Gettys moved to Madison from Stillwater, Oklahoma, two years ago in order to be a technical editor with JCE: Software. She helps authors develop programs, write documentation, and make software user-friendly. She also provides technical assistance to users.

Lin Morris has been a part of the JCE: Software team since 1990. She handles customer and subscriber issues, from instituting an 800 phone number to fielding technical questions to advising teachers about what software to buy.

Carol Steinhart started out with an undergraduate degree in chemistry and then got her Ph.D. in plant physiology. She has many years experience writing and editing scientific publications and is especially adept at presenting complex technical topics clearly and understandably.

Alice Teter moved to Madison from Lincoln, Nebraska, bringing along six years of experience in manuscript handling and editorial work for Photochemistry and Photobiology. Most correspondence regarding manuscripts will be channeled through Alice.

A week after receiving her B.S. in chemistry, Amanda Reinert started working for the Journal, combining her chemistry background and interest in education with her computer skills. She is in charge of adapting text and graphics from manuscripts for placement into the desktop publishing system.

Eric Kolstad spends some of his time as our programmer and media specialist, and Greg Fuchs, our student intern, has learned to do everything we needed him to. He embarks on his own teaching career in a few short weeks.

Previous Editors

At the time of a change in editor, it is appropriate to list previous editors and their home institutions:
Neil Gordon, 1924 - 1932: Johns Hopkins University
Otto Reinmuth, 1933 - 1940: University of Chicago
Norris Rakestraw, 1940 - 1955: Brown University
William F. Kieffer, 1955 - 1967: College of Wooster
W. T. Lippincott, 1967 - 1979: Ohio State University and University of Arizona
J. J. Lagowski, 1979 - 1996: University of Texas at Austin

A very succinct account of the Journal's beginning is quoted below, taken from page 800 of the December 1973 issue, the 50th anniversary year.

"The Journal of Chemical Education began in 1924 when Neil Gordon, father of the Gordon Conferences, having received encouragement to start the new journal from members of the American Chemical Society interested in chemical education, but having been denied financial backing by ACS, sold $2000 in advertising using a dummy issue and went to press. By the end of the first year there were 1300 subscribers."