content editing lab, LLC

Top-notch editorial expertise

PhD in French Literature Emory University (2009)
Assistant Professor of French and Italian Utica College (2013–2017);
Eastern Illinois University (2009–2013)
Professional Training in Editing UC Berkeley Extension (2018)

editorial services

Copyediting in English and French
French-English Translation
College Entrance/Course Essay Development
Coaching and Strategy Writing Consultation
Indexing for Nonfiction

editorial specialties

Beyond my experience as a former professor teaching and coaching college students on their writing, as well as my professional work copyediting graduate-level dissertations and theses at top-notch universities (from Yale University and UNC Charlotte to Columbia and Princeton), I have edited academic volumes and monographs, as well as several journals and textbooks, in English and in French for leading university presses.

An advanced copyeditor of hundreds of articles for Cambridge University Press and Penn Press journals, as well as of memoirs and nonfiction/educational works in English and French, I offer expert editorial services for your book, article, dissertation, multi-authored volume, college entrance essays, etc. As a PhD in French literature and as a professionally trained copyeditor (Chicago style), I offer a sharp eye for pristine content and deep respect for research, ideas, cultures, and languages. I have polished and enhanced content for international researchers, artists, professors, and students from virtually every continent, which is just one reason why I remain passionate about my freelance / university press work.

How can I put my editorial skills to work for you?
I’d love to hear from you!
NOW OFFERING a thorough, affordable consultation package for college entrance or course essays (click on link below)!

What do CopyEditors Do?

Copyediting is a science of precision where details and consistency matter. A quality copyeditor greatly improves clarity and perfects formatting. I take a methodical approach to ensure consistency of terms and voice, remove errors and grammatical infelicities, and perfect punctuation, mechanics, formatting, and references. Heavier edits entail suggestions for organization, transitions, tone, and strength of argument. I often work with authors whose native language is not English and am well-versed in several formatting styles.

I. copyediting

As the ongoing copyeditor for 8 university press journals (5 with Cambridge University Press, 2 with Penn Press, 1 with Duke University Press), I have copyedited hundreds of academic articles for researchers from all over the world. For each journal article, I do two editorial passes, incorporating the author’s review of queries and edits before finalizing for typesetting.

A) University Press Journals

Since 2021, I have copyedited countless articles for international scholars as the ongoing copyeditor for

History in Africa: A Journal of Debates, Sources, and Source Analysis – Cambridge University Press (2020–24)
Nationalities Papers: The Journal of Nationalism and Ethnicity – Cambridge University Press (2021–24)
Church History: Studies in Christianity and Culture – Cambridge University Press (2021–24)
Journal for Early Modern Cultural Studies – Penn Press (2021–ongoing)
French Historical Studies – Duke University Press (2025–ongoing)
Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies – Penn Press (2025–ongoing)

B) acadmic Journals in french

I am the ongoing French-language copyeditor for the following journals
(with Cambridge University Press since 2020 / with Duke University Press since 2025):

Revue canadienne de science politique
Cambridge University Press
Revue canadienne du vieillissement / Canadian Journal of Aging
Cambridge University Press
Small Axe: a caribbean journal of criticism
Duke University Press

C) ACADEMIC books

The Study of Indigenous Landscape and Seascape Stewardship on the Central California Coast:
The Findings of a Collaborative Eco-Archaeological Investigation,
University of California Archaeological Research Facility Publication Series, University of California – Berkeley

Reflections on Volcanic Glass: Proceedings of the 2021 International Obsidian Conference,
University of California Archaeological Research Facility, University of California – Berkeley

Colonial Legacies in Francophone African Literature:
The School and the Invention of the Bourgeoisie, Lexington

Shipwreck in the Early Modern Hispanic World, Bucknell University Press

Elements of French Deaf Heritage, Gallaudet University Press

Documenting the American Student Abroad:
The Media Cultures of International Education, Rutgers University Press

Asia and Habsburg Spain’s Secrets:
The Making of a National Identity in Early Modern Narrative (forthcoming)

Sting & Religion: The Catholic-Shaped Imagination of a Rock Icon (sections), Cascade Books

Religion in Uniform: A Critique of US Military Chaplaincy (compiled/formatted all references), Lexington

D) Books in French

Défi Francophone, a college-level multimedia French textbook, Klett World Languages

Errances et Cohérences dans les Anamorphoses et Trompe-l’œil en France, Peter Lang

E) PhD dissertations

I have coached and done developmental editing for PhD dissertations in art history, photography, film studies,
media/film/sound studies, Romance languages, and history for doctoral students at
Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University, UNC – Chapel Hill, and so on.

F) education, non/fiction, art

My copyediting experience includes a vast array of professional content for certification courses, artists, historians, business entities, and entrepreneurs:

Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, professional course content and examinations (since 2021)

Discovering George Foster Peabody, Local Lake George and Saratoga, New York, history book (forthcoming)

The Circuitry We Share, fiction book, Molly Dunn

Land Art: A Manifesto, Art booklet, Korea/France

Art exhibition booklets / Guggenheim fellowship for international, NYC-based artist

Web content for university departments, artists, musicians, hospitality/food groups, businesses, New York State bridge authority

Teaching / Research / Service Statements for Tenure-Track Professors

Restaurant concepts, executive summaries, letters

Resumes, e-newsletters, blog posts

Grants, college admission essays, biographies, personal statements

Instruction manual for Franklin’s Fortune history board game

g) memoir

It is a special joy to work hand-in-hand with first-time authors to polish their life stories:

Oy, Oy, the Teacher is a Goy, Henry Saltzman, Manhattan

Nice Country, America! The Peter Napoli Story: From Sicily to New England, Peter Napoli, Boston

Leaving Ever Since, Marilène Edrei de Botton

II. translation out of french

I have translated books and various substantial content – archives, course content, and turn-of-the-century news articles – out of French for

Mood of the Moment: Gaby Aghion and Chloé, Yale University Press

The Guns of John Moses Browning, Simon & Schuster

Learning to Draw with Zephy, online drawing course from French artists

Manuscript on the Jewish mikveh and Baraïta de-Niddah, published in France chez Brepol

Articles on anthropology, North African studies, religion, education, postcolonial studies, and history

III. translation into french

French Introduction to Children and Violence Agency, Experience, and Representation in and beyond Armed Conflict, Routledge

What makes a Good Translation?

Good translations honor the voice and manner of speaking within the original text/language and render the same spirit in the translated content.
My work is informed by the theory – and passion – behind faithful, nuanced translations:

IV. indexing

What makes a skilled indexer?

In this day and age, people may think that it is a decent idea to have technology do an index of a book.
However, computer programs are unable to think like a reader and organized topics conceptually.
Quality indexing requires an analytical and detail-oriented mind, familiarity with publishing practices, an objective eye,
and a deep understanding of literature and of which terms readers may look for. I have indexed the following books:

Reflections on Volcanic Glass: Proceedings of the 2021 International Obsidian Conference,
University of California Archaeological Research Facility, University of California – Berkeley

Colonial Legacies in Francophone African Literature: The School and the Invention of the Bourgeoisie, Lexington

Shipwreck in the Early Modern Hispanic World, Bucknell University Press

Documenting the American Student Abroad: The Media Cultures of International Education, Rutgers University Press

Asia and Habsburg Spain’s Secrets: The Making of a National Identity in Early Modern Narrative (forthcoming)

my own academic research

 “Of African Monsters and Eunuchs: Colonial Fashioning within the Harem of Racine’s Bajazet,”
in Ottoman Empire and European Theatre Vol. IV: Images of the Harem in Literature and Theatre,
edited by Michael Hüttler, Emily M. N. Kugler, and Hans Ernst Weidinger, 343–376. Vienna: Hollitzer, 2015,

 “Que dit ce silence? Strange Reversals of Imperial Discourses in Racine’s Bérénice,”
French Review, vol. 87, no. 3 (March 2014): 117–130.

Together with R. Parker, C. Labrecque, J. Messler, and M. Wolf. “Communicating through the Arts: Lessons for Medicine & Public Health,”
Journal of Health Communication: International Perspectives, vol. 18, no. 2 (2013): 139–145.

my pedagogical work / Video publications

Communicating Through the Arts: Lessons for Public Health and Medicine, 
supplementary content in Journal of Health Communication: International Perspectives, vol. 18, no. 2 (2013).

Italian Virtual Class, Emory University
Created / filmed / edited pedagogical video content in Italy with Italians and students for the college-level, multimedia textbook,
used for Italian programs at Emory University, UNC – Charlotte, and Eastern Illinois University (2011–2013).

Learning to Speak in Other Cultures: An EIU Documentary on Adventures Abroad,
featuring interviews with foreign language majors at Eastern Illinois University regarding their study abroad experiences (2011).

professional Rates

You may refer to the rates listed by Editorial Freelancers Association.
 Rates vary according to the nature of the project and time frame. Please contact me for a free consultation.