The Editorial Board of HER is comprised of doctoral students at Harvard University and oversees a unique two-stage manuscript review process.
Preliminary Screening: All manuscripts submitted to HER undergo preliminary screening by the manuscripts editor to confirm that the work is a good fit for the journal and that author guidelines have been followed in preparing the work for review.
Stage One Review: All manuscripts that pass preliminary screening are read by a minimum of two Editorial Board members. It usually takes 12 to 16 weeks for a manuscript to complete the first stage of review and for a decision letter to be sent by email. Due to time constraints and the large volume of manuscripts received, HER does not provide detailed comments on unsolicited manuscripts that are rejected at the first stage of review.
Stage Two Review: During the second stage of review, manuscripts are read by the full Editorial Board at weekly meetings. It usually takes an additional 12 to 16 weeks for a manuscript to complete the second stage of review. All manuscripts that reach the second stage of review will receive written feedback based on the Board's discussion.
Publication Timeline: If a manuscript is accepted for publication, it is assigned to editors and placed on the production calendar for publication as soon as possible. The actual publication date depends on the number of manuscripts already in the queue for upcoming issues.
Submission Schedule: There are no regularly established deadlines for open call submissions. Manuscripts are submitted, screened, and reviewed year-round. Occasionally, HER may pause submissions when there is a large backlog of content for review. Current submission status and announcements are posted on our submissions page.