With this issue, the “editor’s torch” has passed from Barbara Gastel to Rebecca S Benner. “I am honored to have been chosen for this position,” Benner writes, “and I hope to continue the tradition of excellence established for Science Editor by Barbara Gastel and her predecessors.”

Benner is the director and managing editor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She has worked at the College since November 2000. Her interest in publishing started 12 years ago with an internship at Women in the Arts, the quarterly publication of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. The internship led to a copyeditor position at BioScience, the peer-reviewed publication of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS).

It was while working at AIBS that Benner attended her first CSE annual meeting in 2000 in San Antonio, Texas. Since then, she has been active in CSE as chair of the Education Committee (2005–2007) and secretary of CSE (2007–2010). Through her work on the Education Committee, she helped to establish procedures for CSE’s International Scholarship Program. “Being active in CSE has really been a highlight of my career,” Benner says. “I enjoy networking with colleagues and have benefited from their knowledge of the field. Through my work on Science Editor, I hope to share a bit of what I have learned but also continue my own education in this exciting field.”

Benner recently received a master’s of professional studies (MPS) degree in publishing from the George Washington University in Washington, DC. Her undergraduate studies in English, with a minor in anthropology, were completed at the State University of New York College at Geneseo in 1998.

From 30 June through 2 July, Benner had an opportunity to meet with Gastel in College Station, Texas, as part of the transition. “Sitting down with Barbara, meeting her colleagues, and talking to her students was a wonderful opportunity that afforded me a glimpse into her day-to-day life and reinforced my vision of her as a true mentor and leader in our field,” says Benner.

Asked to comment, Gastel writes, “the visit from Rebecca confirmed my impression that she will be an outstanding successor. Her science-editorial knowledge, organizational abilities, interpersonal skills, and more promise to serve her well. I look forward to seeing Science Editor develop further under her leadership.”

Contact information for Benner is PO Box 4082, Alexandria, VA 22303; phone: 703-786-2272; fax: 571-366-2089; e-mail: csescienceeditor@gmail.com.