Juan Mundel, Associate Professor of Advertising and Public Relations shares his anticipation as the new Deputy Editor of the Journal of Marketing Communications. The journal channels the publishing of scholarly articles and information concerning all aspects of marketing and corporate communication. Mundel discussed upcoming projects, goals, his background and what he most looks forward to as Deputy Editor.
Q: Congratulations on your new position. How did it feel when you first learned that you were the new Deputy Editor of the Journal of Marketing Communications?
A: Thank you! I was thrilled to hear I had been selected for this position for several reasons. First, I published my first ever academic publication in the Journal of Marketing Communications. The article was a continuation of my master's thesis examining the effect of currency restrictions on luxury brand advertising in Argentina. This felt like a full-circle moment.
I felt very honored to have been selected among candidates from all over the world. The journal is truly international in scope, and the call for Deputy Editors was certainly distributed widely. I felt excited to get to work with an editor that has a long career and strong reputation in our field. Working with Dr. Phillip Kitchen—Professor of Marketing from the ICN-Artem School of Business—is a great opportunity to learn from someone who has been at the forefront of research for many years.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in this new role?
A: While editing manuscripts is heavy work, this service opportunity provides scholars with the chance to constantly be exposed to several articles that can facilitate ideas for research and widens the scope of my understanding about the field. For example, I recently reviewed an interesting article on AI-chats for customer service and the effect of their use on consumers' engagement with the brand.
I would also like to work with Dr. Kitchen and the other Deputy Editors to develop a reliable pool of peer-reviewers. As the number of submissions grows, scholars are also getting bombarded with more requests for reviewing manuscripts.
Furthermore, by interacting with reviewers from all over the world, I get the opportunity to know more about them, their research and their institutions. I truly look forward to deepening my connections with scholars and researchers from across the world.
Q: Can you share a little bit about your background and what led you to this role as Deputy Editor?
A: I am also the Editor of the Journal of Advertising Education, the official journal of the Advertising Division of the Association of Educators of Journalism and Mass Communications. I have been in this role for a couple of years, and I enjoy working with colleagues in the dissemination of their work. When I saw this opportunity, I realized that I had a chance to widen my impact and develop my skills while working with Dr. Kitchen. Serving in this role helps people know more about MSU. As a Spartan graduate, I am proud to contribute to the university's mission.
Q: What upcoming projects will you be working on?
A: I hit the floor running, and I am overseeing about 15 manuscripts that are currently being peer-reviewed. In recent years—and particularly since the rise of AI usage—more manuscripts are being submitted to journals. There is an essential demand for editors to give their time towards academic communities.
Q: Fast-forward to the future. What are some things that you want to look back on and be glad you were able to accomplish?
A: I look forward to guiding authors, particularly junior scholars, through the publishing process. As you know, knowledge dissemination is a key component of our work as scholars, and we traditionally do this through journal articles, conference presentations and collaborations with trade press. Having an opportunity to guide the authors through the review process and offer insights into how to strengthen their research is doing service to science.
Q: How does your new role relate to your position as a professor at ComArtSci?
A: My role as Deputy Editor aligns closely with my position as an Associate Professor at ComArtSci. Both roles center on advancing scholarly discourse, fostering critical inquiry and mentioning emerging voices in the field. As a professor, I am deeply engaged in research, teaching and service—responsibilities that naturally complement the editorial work of shaping academic conversations and supporting rigorous scholarship.
This editorial position also enhances my ability to bring current debates and cutting-edge research directly into the classroom, enriching the learning experience for my students. Additionally, it reinforces my commitment to academic service and leadership—both key components of my faculty role.
By Miles Sloan