DSU professor named Associate Editor of MERLOT Business Review Board

Dakota State University assistant professor of Business and Information Systems, Dr. Robert Lahm has been named Associate Editor of the Business Discipline Editorial Review Board of MERLOT, (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online teaching).

The newly created position recognizes significant achievement by Board Members.

“In a word, I feel fantastic,” Lahm said. “It's a great honor to be recognized, but I must suggest that the MERLOT project is a team effort, and without the aid of so many fine scholars who make regular, valuable contributions, we would not be able to achieve all that we have toward creating one of the world's largest collections of multimedia learning and online teaching resources.”

Lahm’s promotion was based on fulfilling prescribed requirements, including

conducting at least five peer reviews and continual active participation in the MERLOT community.

As associate editor, Lahm will be working with external reviewers and assisting the editor within the business discipline, similar to what the associate editor does for a journal. He will also continue to conduct peer reviews as he has done in the past.

“When I was a new business discipline team member, I had the good fortune of receiving the help of more experienced editorial reviewers, who showed me the ropes and helped me learn to conduct an effective peer review process,” Lahm said. “The MERLOT project is a huge, complex endeavor, and it takes a while to learn one's way around. I have so many colleagues and senior MERLOT editors to thank, and I hope that I can assist others who in turn are just now joining the MERLOT community.”

The MERLOT project is supported by a consortium of member institutions and

organizations, and makes available online teaching and learning materials to anyone with access through a web browser.

The South Dakota Board of Regents makes major contributions through its membership and support of MERLOT, and in turn each institution within the South Dakota university system extends support by providing the services of faculty and staff members who represent various academic disciplines.

“As a member organization, because of its leading role in providing cutting-edge, technology-driven education, Dakota State University and its administration also deserves to be acknowledged as a forward-thinking institution that both contributes to, and utilizes MERLOT instructional resources,” added Lahm.

“Number one among my new goals is to spread the word about MERLOT even farther than it has already traveled,” Lahm added. “Both to scholars who might join our efforts and to members of the learning public who could benefit from its already fabulous, yet growing, collection of resources.”

In keeping with his goal, Lahm, along with several colleagues, will be presenting at the 2002 MERLOT International Conference in Atlanta, Georgia September 27-30.