Steven Barkan Receives 2025 TAA Social Justice Award

Steven Barkan, textbook author and Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Maine, has been awarded a 2025 TAA Social Justice Award from the Textbook & Academic Authors Association (TAA).

TAA’s Social Justice Award recognizes individuals that make a significant contribution to authoring or educating academic authors in social justice, human rights, and/or diversity, equity, and inclusion. Strong nominees have the following characteristics: have authored a work or works that address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in a meaningful way or have provided trainings or other efforts to improve how academic authors address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in their writing.

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2025 TAA Conference Bookstore Featured Book: ‘Nutrition for a Changing World’

Written and illustrated in the style of Scientific American magazine, Nutrition for a Changing World by Jamie Pope and Steven Nizielski engages students like no other nutrition textbook. Chapters focus on real stories—about real people and real science—bringing context and relevance to the core science. Infographics serve as “science storyboards,” guiding students step by step through essential processes and concepts. Coverage of timely topics—gluten-free diets, the diabetes epidemic, global nutrition—exemplify the book’s contemporary approach to nutrition science.

Purchase in the 2025 TAA Conference Bookstore

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How to Use Stress as a Helpful Tool

By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

Last month was especially stressful for me. In addition to my regular teaching and writing commitments, I had to complete two other major writing projects and present at a conference. As if that weren’t enough, I unexpectedly experienced significant pain in one of my legs, which required several medical appointments. Juggling all of this work and managing my physical discomfort made last month particularly stressful. I found myself faced with two choices regarding how to view stress: I could see it as either helpful or harmful.

While many people tend to view stress as harmful, Kelly McGonigal encourages us to see it as helpful. In her book The Upside of Stress, she points out three key ways in which stress can benefit us:

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Congratulations to the 2025 TAA Conference Scholarship Recipients

We are thrilled to announce the five TAA members who have been awarded a 2025 TAA Conference Scholarship: Akua Oppong-Anane, West Virginia University; Nathan Camp, New Mexico State University; Elizabeth Frasco, New York University; Gabriela Peterson, New Mexico State University; and Renee Blanchard Hawkins, Texas Women’s University.

This scholarship is designed to support emerging scholars and textbook writers as they grow in their academic journeys. It offers a valuable opportunity to engage with a vibrant community of peers and professionals, gain insights into the world of academic publishing, and take meaningful steps toward a successful writing career.

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BMG Sponsoring 2025 TAA Virtual Conference on Textbook & Academic Authoring

A big thank you to BMG for sponsoring the 2025 TAA Virtual Conference on Textbook & Academic Authoring at the Bronze level.

BMG Solutions empowers learning creators – authors, publishers, and education technology providers – to drive smarter adoption, stronger outreach, and more strategic engagement across the academic landscape.

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