The Academy of Management (AOM) Board of Governors proudly announces Michael Barnett of Rutgers University as the next editor of Academy of Management Perspectives (AMP). Starting on 1 July, Mike and his new editorial team will begin accepting manuscript submissions. Mike, a long-standing member of AOM, serves as Dean’s Research Professor in the Department of Management and Global Business at Rutgers Business School. His research delves into how firms’ stakeholder management practices influence their reputations and financial performance while also impacting society and the environment. 

Mike’s journey into academia was sparked by his selection as a McNair Scholar, an experience that shaped his understanding of what a PhD in business entailed. His path took a brief detour as he served as a lieutenant in the US Air Force. Upon returning to academia, Mike earned his PhD from NYU’s Stern School of Business. His first tenure-line position was at the University of South Florida, where he secured early tenure. This achievement was followed by a full professorship at Oxford University, and a stint as vice dean at Rutgers Business School. Thereafter, he was selected as a Fellow of the American Council on Education, spending a year gaining insights into university-level leadership at Baruch College and other institutions across the United States. After returning to the faculty, Mike played a key role in establishing the Rutgers Institute for Corporate Social Innovation and chaired the Newark Faculty Council. 

When asked why he joined AOM in 1998, he compared it to a fish swimming—it felt natural and inevitable. His deep connection to AOM is partly due to his dissertation chair, Bill Starbuck, who was AOM president when Mike began his PhD program.  

His commitment to AOM is evident in his extensive involvement over the years. He has served on editorial boards for the Academy of Management Journal (AMJ), the Academy of Management Review (AMR), and AMP. Additionally, he has been a member of the Strategic Management Division (STR) Research Committee, the Organizations and the Natural Environment Division (ONE) Program Team, and the Conference Steering Committee for the first AOM Specialized Conference. He also completed the leadership track of the Social Issues in Management Division (SIM).  

Regarding his new role as AMP editor, Mike expressed his enthusiasm: “This is AOM – I know the staff and infrastructure are top-rate. And this isn’t just caretaking. With AMP, there’s an opportunity, even an obligation, to shape it in a way that makes a real difference to management practice.” 

Mike notes that early August is synonymous with AOM for him, a time for professional growth and personal reunions. When he attends the upcoming AOM 2024 Annual Meeting in Chicago this August, he will have spent half of his birthdays at these gatherings. “Throughout all these years, I’ve taken on more roles than I can recall. But the best part is always the reunions with (increasingly) old friends. I look forward to the random escalator shout-outs and to the receptions!” 

Mike’s multifaceted experiences within academia and his long-standing commitment to AOM uniquely position him to lead AMP. His vision for the journal includes fostering thought leadership that can significantly influence management practice and policy. As he takes on this new challenge, Mike is excited about the potential to shape AMP’s future and make a lasting impact on the field of management. 

For scholars looking to volunteer within AMP, Mike advises: “Just do it! If you want to review for AMP, become familiar with our format, and then contact one of our AEs to get on their radar.”  

The mission of AMP is to inform current and future “thought leaders” who, through their leadership, teaching, consulting, and/or other professional activities have the potential to influence management practice and policy. Read the full mission statement here.

Learn more about the incoming AMP Editorial Team  

Learn more about Academy of Management Perspectives.