Looking for an editor or coach with academic experience?
Over 80 current or former faculty have enrolled in my course Becoming an Academic Editor and are launching their editing and coaching careers. 🥳
If you’re looking for an editor or coach with a scholarly background–look no further!
The people on this list are talented, professional, and kind–and they’re eager to help you finish your dissertation, win that grant, or get published faster.
Please contact them using the information below.
Note: This is a directory of independent editors. They do not work for Acadia Editing Services.
Want to become an academic editor or coach? Get my free video series 👇
Lisa Anthony, PhD
Academic Editor
lisa-anthony.com
Are you in STEM? Do you hate writing? Don’t worry, I love it! Mentoring, coaching, writing, and revising are my strengths and passion. I am currently an Associate Professor of computer science in a college of engineering. I help non-writers get things done! I also offer support for non-native English speakers, and have been described as a “patient” and “supportive” mentor. I have over two decades of experience in higher education and academic research. Currently taking on limited projects, focused on academic manuscript editing support. Contact me today!
Mark Chen, PhD
Academic Editor and Consultant
LinkedIn Profile
Email: markdangerchen@gmail.com
I’m an academic editor and consultant with scholarly expertise in web and UX design, qualitative studies of informal learning, gaming and internet studies, and technology and society. I have taught writing courses and design courses, and I’m a published author. My book, Leet Noobs, is based on my dissertation and is an ethnography of online gamers and how they developed team expertise with a new in-game activity over 10 months.
I have had success writing and editing grants to the NSF and a number of private foundations. I am also the founding and managing editor of esotericgaming.com. I am obsessively meticulous and ashamed that my book has one typo. Let me obsess over your work, too!
Caleb Clever, PhD
Academic Editor
LinkedIn Profile
Email: calebclever@gmail.com
I am a Physical Chemist and Academic Editor with a passion for clear and effective communication of scientific analysis, data and conclusions, both within the scientific community and with the general public. This makes me particularly fervent towards helping non-native English speakers communicate their results to the often predominantly English-speaking international scientific community.
With publications in a wide range of journals, I am familiar with the ever-changing formatting requirements of academic journals. I am likewise experienced in the visualization and communication of data and can provide editorial input on or reformatting of figures and graphs, in addition to text.
Contact me if you are looking for copyediting, text or figure presentation and formatting, and/or improvements to the clarity and flow of your scientific writing.
Laura Ewing, PhD
Academic Editor and Coach
SeaglassAcademicEditing.com
I help writers find their voice. I’m a writing scholar with a PhD in English Rhetoric and Composition, and I’ve taught undergraduate and graduate writing since 2005. I’ve also worked in university Writing Centers as a consultant and assistant director, supporting scholars across disciplines with developmental editing for dissertations and research articles. My expertise includes professional and technical writing, where I help transform complex ideas into clear, accessible content.
Beyond academia, I’ve completed editing projects for educational and nonprofit organizations. I publish in my field and serve as a blind peer reviewer, keeping me current with the conventions and nuances of academic writing. I’ve lived and worked abroad and have extensive experience helping non-native English speakers express their ideas confidently in English. I especially enjoy working with early-career academics and graduate students returning after time away.
If you need brainstorming and feedback, copyediting, formatting, or a supportive writing coach, I’m here to help.
Ian Funk, PhD
Academic Editor and Coach
ifedits.com
Hi, I’m Ian, a PhD in English with a focus in crip/queer theory and American Literature and Culture. I also hold degrees in History and American Studies. My work and expertise inhabit the intersections of sexuality, disability, masculinity, popular culture, and institutional discourses.
Before my time in academe, I ran a small electronic music record label and toured as a DJ and producer. I bring the skills acquired in that life—project development, creative direction, tending to the technical backend, and more—to the editing and coaching services I offer academics and writers today.
I live in sunny Southern Spain with my two old dogs, a cat, and my partners. When I’m not working with clients, I like to collect vinyl records, work in our garden, binge watch serial television, and cook all kinds of different food. ¡Yo hablo Español!
Julia Galindo, EdD
Academic Writing and Executive Function Coach
juliagalindocoaching.com
Dr. Julia Galindo is an academic writing coach and freelance academic editor. She is also a trained executive function coach. She specializes in helping writers break down overwhelming tasks or break through the blocks that are keeping them from writing. Prior to becoming a coach, she was a faculty member in the Harvard Writing Program, where she taught the popular course: The Psychology of Success and Failure. In addition to having taught writing, Julia also brings over five years of experience tutoring students at the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Writing Center and her work as an editor on the Harvard Educational Review.
Wendy Gillis, DBA
Academic Editor and Coach
LinkedIn Profile
Academically, I have a Doctor of Business Administration (with a focus on Marketing) from Jacksonville University, an AASCB-accredited program. Prior to JU, I earned my MBA from the University of Florida, where I was an elected team leader. Prior to UF, I earned a BA in Psychology (with a minor in Fine Arts and a concentration in Communications) from the University of Pennsylvania.
Corporately, I have built robust brands for over 20 years. Towards the beginning of my career, I spent time as an advertising account executive on New York City’s Madison Avenue cutting my teeth on brands like Maxwell House coffee, Post cereals, and 3M. I worked for advertising agencies like Ogilvy & Mather, Grey Worldwide, and Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners. I also worked for a local advertising agency, St. John, on the Johnson & Johnson Vision Care ACUVUE contact lens brand.
Ursula Gorham, JD, PhD
Academic Editor
LinkedIn Profile
Email: gorhamu@gmail.com
I’m a freelance academic editor with 10+ years of experience in higher education as an instructor and researcher in library and information science, law and public policy. I have extensive experience with developmental and line editing, having co-edited two multi-author books. My own publication record involves numerous multi-author works, and my “superpower” is bringing together multiple voices and perspectives into an engaging and cohesive narrative.
During my time as a co-editor of The Library Quarterly, I guided many authors through the publication process, giving me a deep appreciation for how a little help can go a long way when revising and polishing manuscripts. In addition to scholarly works, I have experience with editing grant reports, accreditation reports, book proposals, and graduate school application materials.
Audrey Hansen, PhD
Academic Editor and Spanish–English Translator
tripyramidediting.com
With a PhD in Spanish and a decade of experience editing writing in the humanities, I provide support for your project at whatever the stage. I can provide feedback on content, flow, and organization of drafts; help with revisions; refine sentence structure and wording as you approach the final draft; and proofread and format text and bibliography before publication. Although I frequently work with native English speakers, I specialize in the work of non-native English speakers (thanks to my current position as the Production Editor of A Contracorriente: una revista de estudios latinoamericanos). Your English proficiency shouldn’t affect whether your ideas will be shared with the English-speaking world.
I want to help you get your writing out there, whether that means translating your writing from Spanish to English, or editing your writing in English to get it to the next level while still maintaining your voice. I have worked on a variety of projects in English and Spanish (articles, interviews, book manuscripts, novels, fundraising, etc.), so don’t hesitate to reach out and ask how I can support you where you are.
Ana Hartman, MA
Academic and Fiction Editor
AnaHartmanEditing.com
In my 20+ year career as a Visiting Assistant Professor in various writing programs, I have supported student and post-graduate writers in genres ranging from analytical research to creative writing, as well as contemporary, hybrid writing styles. I have published a few short stories in prominent literary journals, and I have decades of experience working with international writers and non-native speakers of English.
As an academic editor, I help graduate students, humanities scholars and creative writers develop and edit their theses, dissertations, journal articles and creative manuscripts. I specialize in editing fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction as well as academic research. While I’m skilled at maintaining a classic, academic tone, I love to work with writers who are interested in taking subtle (or bold) literary risks in presenting the knowledge gained through their scholarship—who may, for example, seek to add depth through narrative or elevate an argument through literary device. I am proficient in MLA and APA formatting guidelines.
Contact me if you are seeking coaching, draft feedback, developmental or copyediting services, and/or if you are interested in exploring creative approaches to writing about your research.
Anna Hensley, PhD
Academic Copy Editor
Corvusediting.com
I have 15+ years of experience in higher education supporting academic writers. I was previously an Associate Professor of English and specialized in teaching academic writing, but I have also been a writing center tutor, editor, and journal reviewer. I’ve published a range of peer-reviewed articles and academic book chapters, so I am familiar with the ins and outs of the academic publishing process.
I now work full-time as a freelance academic editor, supporting scholars at all levels as they work to graduate, get jobs, publish their research, and apply for funding. My areas of specialty include the humanities, cultural studies, and education. I can work in MLA, APA, or Chicago styles, and I will ensure that your manuscript aligns with any other formatting guidelines from your publisher or university.
Contact me if you are looking for early draft feedback, copyediting, document formatting (including dissertation or thesis formatting), or transcription services.
Vilja Hulden, PhD
Academic Developmental Editor
Vhulden.com
Vilja Hulden focuses on developmental (structural) editing of book and journal article manuscripts in the humanities, social sciences, and adjacent disciplines. She got her Ph.D. in history in 2011 and was faculty at the University of Colorado Boulder for over a decade. Her book, published in 2023, is in the field of U.S. labor and business history and makes use of both archival research and computational approaches.
As an editor, Vilja’s emphasis is on offering authors a fresh perspective on their manuscripts and helping them find the best architecture for their work – that is, craft a structure where the organization and flow highlight the argument, buttress it with the supporting evidence, and keep the reader engaged. Besides developmental editing, Vilja is also open to projects that involve line editing, i.e., reworking sentences and paragraph-level structures to better convey the work’s message. Free initial Zoom consultations.
Katy Kole, PhD
Academic Editor
Prestige Academic Editing
I provide comprehensive editing services for academics, researchers, and graduate students. With 5 years of experience editing and preparing over 1,200 articles for publication, I specialize in several fields including healthcare, psychology, nursing, history, anthropology, education, sociology, political science, business management, and more.​
I help refine your work for clarity, precision, and impact. My goal is to save you time, reduce stress, and streamline your research and publication process.
Meghan MacNamara, MFA
Editor and Coach
apogeeediting.com
I have worked as a freelance academic editor for almost a decade and as a dissertation coach at an R2 university for the last four years. This work has fueled my passion for helping scholars deepen their analyses, craft compelling narratives, enhance the credibility of their research, and strengthen their academic writing.
As an editor, I am obsessively detail-oriented and reasonably perfectionist. I love the puzzle of streamlining writing to be as professional, clear, and powerful as possible, but I also love the relationships I build as a coach. When a client tells me they are thinking of giving up at the start of a call, and they leave with a step-by-step plan for writing and revision at the end, I am thrilled.
I have coached over a hundred scholars at various stages of the dissertation writing process, many of whom had previously given up hope that they’d ever achieve “done dissertation.” Many former coaching clients return for help adapting their dissertations to publishable articles. I look forward to partnering with you as a writing coach and/or editor on your next project.
Jeff Malins, PhD
Scientific Communication Coach & Editor
jeffmalins.com
I combine my background in psychology, neuroscience, and healthcare AI to help researchers communicate their science clearly and navigate their careers with confidence. Having moved from academia into AI without a formal background in computer science, I bring firsthand experience in bridging disciplines and translating ideas across academic and industry settings.
Over the past 15+ years, I’ve published more than 25 peer-reviewed studies in journals like The Lancet Digital Health and The Journal of Neuroscience, and co-led an NIH grant that scored in the 2nd percentile. I offer personalized support with writing and career communication, and I lead workshops and mentoring programs that help researchers strengthen their presentation skills and convey their science effectively — whether preparing a grant, job talk, or interview.
If you’re looking to bridge fields, translate your expertise to a new context, or help your science land with greater impact, I can help you clarify your message and strengthen your story.
Tasneem Mandviwala, PhD
Academic Editor
Email: dr.tasneem.mandvi@gmail.com
Tasneem Mandviwala holds a PhD in comparative human development (University of Chicago) and an MA in English literature (University of Houston). She is a cultural and developmental psychologist, intersectional feminist, and visual artist focusing on the identity development and experiential knowledges of historically marginalized communities in the contemporary US.
Dr. Mandviwala has published in Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, Current Opinion in Psychology, and Psychology and Society, and her book is entitled South Asian American Stories of Self: The Dis/united States of Muslim Womanhood (Springer 2022). She has worked as a writing instructor at multiple university writing centers and loves working one-on-one with students and clients.
Chris McRae, PhD
Academic Editor and Coach
CreatingCuriosityCoaching.com
Are you looking to turn your dissertation into a book, complete an academic article, or develop your ideas into a book manuscript? With over 15 years of experience in academic publishing and as a published author of multiple academic books spanning the interdisciplinary areas of communication, performance studies, and pedagogy, I’m here to guide you through every stage of the writing and publishing process.
As an experienced academic editor, peer reviewer, and writing coach, I’m eager to offer you personalized writing support and help you achieve publishing success—whether you’re shaping your manuscript, refining journal articles, or completing your book proposal.
I’m ready to listen to you and work to help you achieve your writing goals. Contact me today to get started!
Akshata Naik, PhD
Academic and Medical Editor
anaikowl.com
Dr. Akshata Naik is an assistant professor and a medical educator passionate about scientific writing. She has over 10 years of scientific writing experience and a track record of 20+ peer-reviewed publications in highly acclaimed journals, such as Endocrinology, Nano Letters, Neurology, and BMC Medical Education, to name a few.
Dr. Naik understands the challenges of writing, whether it is creating that first draft, finalizing a grant proposal, or–everyone’s favorite–formatting a write-up to follow organizational guidelines. She helps graduate students, faculty members, and organizations generate clear and impactful written content and achieve their writing goals. Please reach out to her if you need your drafts transformed into publishable manuscripts.
Kristen Polster, PhD
Academic Editor
LinkedIn Profile
I’m a writing instructor with a PhD in English Literature and a MA in English with a creative writing concentration. I’ve taught introductory college writing for over 20 years, and I’ve worked as a writing coach and lead faculty at our university Writing Center, helping students plan, proofread, and refine their arguments.
I am practiced at delivering thoughtful, timely feedback on writing projects in a variety of fields.
Jill Peterfeso, PhD
Academic Editor
LinkedIn Profile
Email: jpeterfeso15@gmail.com
As an author and an academic, I know that writing can be an isolating experience. But I learned from working at my university’s writing center during grad school that many of us thrive by building a supportive research and writing community. Let me be on your team! Whether you need developmental editing or copy editing or coaching and accountability, I will help you demystify academic expectations, avoid common pitfalls, and find greater confidence. You don’t have to go it alone. I’m a careful, caring academic editor and coach, ready to support you and help you reach your audience.
Ela Rossmiller, PhD
Academic Editor
LinkedIn Profile
Email: ela.rossmiller@gmail.com
I am currently a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Politics and Global Studies at a small liberal-arts college, a published author, and a journal reviewer. I hold a PhD in International Relations from American University’s School of International Service, an MEd in International Education from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, and a BA in French from the University of Chicago. I have also studied abroad at the University of Paris and the Jagiellonian University, and I have been a visiting scholar at the University of Warsaw. I have over 25 years of experience in international education with a special affinity for helping international writers and non-native English speakers.
I can help you develop and edit theses, dissertations, journal articles, essays, grant applications, reports, policy briefs, and more. I work with Chicago, APSA, and Harvard styles and make sure your work aligns with your university or publisher’s formatting and style guides. I work with both print and online publications. Please contact me for feedback on drafts, editing, and transcription services.
Katherine Schmidt, PhD
Academic Editor
Email: academicprecisionediting@gmail.com
I am a results-driven professional editor with 22 years of experience in an academic setting, providing high-level yet compassionate one-to-one support. I possess a doctorate in rhetoric and composition, I am a professor of writing at a small public liberal arts university, and I have decades of experience as a university Writing Center director. I am not only skilled in manuscript evaluation, content development, and collaborative partnerships with writers but am also savvy in providing feedback in a way that makes the writer excited about revising their work.
Lorin Shellenberger, PhD
Academic Editor and Coach
shearwaterediting.wordpress.com
Are you overwhelmed with the writing process? Need help getting started or keeping your writing practice going? Are you struggling to effectively communicate your ideas to a target audience? I can help! I work with academic writers at every stage of the writing process, from generating ideas to the final stages of polishing a manuscript for publication. I have a PhD in Rhetoric and Writing and over 15 years of experience teaching writing and media studies courses before I moved to full-time editing. I specialize in coaching, project management, and developing confidence in your own writing practice. Whether you need a keen eye for detail or a motivating coach to keep you on track, I’m ready to help you effectively engage your reader and meet your writing goals.
Lauren Simek, PhD
Academic Editor and Coach
Simekwritingservices.com
For over twenty years, I’ve helped people discover effective ways to communicate their ideas and tell their stories. As an editor and writing coach specializing in academic and other nonfiction writing, I work with clients from a wide range of backgrounds on theses, dissertations, journal articles, and job market materials, as well as book proposals and manuscripts for publishers like Harvard Education Press and Routledge. I have extensive experience working with international writers and formatting a variety of citation styles, including APA, Chicago, and MLA. I provide warmth, enthusiasm, and encouragement while meticulously bringing your best ideas to light. I’d love to hear about your project and help you achieve your goals.
For more on my background and services, please visit my website—and contact me there for assistance with any stage of the writing process!
Elena Tartaglia, PhD
Academic Editor
LinkedIn Profile
Email: elena.tartaglia@gmail.com
Elena Tartaglia earned a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology from Rutgers University and is currently a researcher examining plant ecology in urban systems.
She has worked as an editor for the journal Ecological Restoration since 2017. She has over a decade of college teaching experience as well as mentoring graduate and undergraduate students on research projects.
Meg Toth, PhD
Academic and Fiction Editor
Megtoth.com/editing
I work with academic and creative writers at every stage of the writing process: idea development, line editing, copy editing, and proofreading. I also guide authors through the process of getting their work published, whether it’s a scholarly monograph, an academic journal article, a short story, or a novel. I hold a Ph.D. in English and taught college literature, film, and writing courses for over fifteen years before moving into editing.
I am currently Managing Editor of Early American Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal and an Assistant Editor (Fiction) for Conjunctions Magazine, so I have unique insight into the publication process for both scholars and creatives.
To learn more about my own scholarly and creative publications/awards and to read client testimonials, please visit my website. Contact me if you are seeking help with writing at any stage (generating ideas, copy editing, etc.) or would like guidance on publishing (book proposals, query packages, etc.).
Niki Tulk, PhD, PhD, MFA
Academic Editor
Ravenwoodediting.com
With Niki’s background in interdisciplinary research and decades of teaching experience, she wears many hats: researcher, editor, and champion of inclusive academic writing. She holds two PhDs, completed simultaneously, from the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research spans trauma studies, performance, eco-poetics, creativity, writing, somatics, and pedagogy.
Niki co-founded an international academic journal, and her extensive publication experience includes a monograph with Routledge, articles, fiction, and award-winning poetry. She has written, edited and reviewed a plethora of book proposals, creative grant applications, conference abstracts and proposals, and successful graduate school applications.
Niki has expertise in supporting neurodivergent students (of which she is one), first-generation college students, and students from culturally diverse backgrounds. Helping non-native English speakers navigate academic publishing is a particular passion.
Duncan Vinson, PhD
Academic Editor and Coach
Duncanvinson.wordpress.com
I have pursued careers in music, humanities, and mental health in order to facilitate the empowerment of individuals and communities. After nine years as a faculty member (2004-2013), I left academia in search of opportunities that would have a more direct impact.
My non-academic employment includes ten years of working as an editor and transcriber for an audio transcription firm. I hold a PhD in music (ethnomusicology) from Brown University (2004) and a Master of Social Work from Salem State University (2017).
Sophia Walker, PhD
Academic Editor and Coach
Swallowtaileditorial.com
I provide comprehensive and compassionate editing and coaching for academics and nonfiction writers. My mission is to help writers take their work from idea to completion with an emphasis on increased energy and executive function and decreased anxiety and burnout.
I offer both developmental and copy editing for articles, books, grant applications, and professional documents, as well as a range of coaching packages with tiered pricing options according to client needs. I earned my PhD from the University of Chicago departments of East Asian Languages and Civilizations and Cinema and Media Studies, and serve clients across the social sciences and humanities.
Laura Wasylenki, PhD
Scientific Editor and Coach
Drlauraeditorcoach.com
Dr. Wasylenki is a professor of biogeochemistry with 25+ years of post-PhD experience. As a Principal Investigator, she has a 100% success rate with NSF and NASA proposals and has earned just over $4M in federal research funds. She considers proposal writing to be her very best strength and loves helping others build this skill. Having served on six review panels for NSF and NASA and written more than 50 proposal reviews for NSF, NASA, DOE, American Chemical Society, and the French and Swiss NSFs, she is highly familiar with the features that move proposals toward the top or bottom of the rankings. Dr. Wasylenki’s own writing has been described as “exceptionally clear” and “magnificent,” and her published work, including papers in Nature Geoscience and Nature Communications, is well-cited. She has decades of experience enthusiastically coaching graduate students, postdocs, and early-career faculty to improve their writing and speaking skills and looks forward to helping you with your proposal, paper, or talk.