Bret Atkins, PhD, CCPH*, offers expert services in academic editing, rigorous proofreading, and time-management coaching specifically designed for doctoral students navigating the challenges of graduate research. Holding a PhD in public health and an MA in journalism, he effectively bridges scientific rigor with clear, audience-based communication. Dr. Atkins excels in proofreading and editing, ensuring materials retain scientific integrity while achieving high plain language standards. 

As an academic editor, Dr. Atkins ensures materials are meticulously polished for both clarity and integrity. He excels in bridging scientific precision with clear, audience-based communication.

He led health literacy efforts while at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), helping writers and scientists maintain a 90% or higher average score on the agency’s Clear Communication Index tool. His high-level experience includes co-authoring articles in peer-reviewed journals and serving as a credited academic reviewer for major public health organizations, including CDC and the World Health Organization. He has served on peer-review committees, ghostwritten articles for organizational leaders, and received CDC’s Health Literacy Special Recognition Award for his work.

As an academic productivity coach, Dr. Atkins is dedicated to helping students control their workload and timelines. He draws on specialized training, including courses on critical thinking and time management, and has delivered numerous presentations on personal productivity and team effectiveness to staff and students. He applies his expertise to streamline work processes, developing tools, including timeline templates that help staff estimate the time needed for tasks and projects. He has successfully implemented organizational solutions that dramatically reduced staff effort and saved hundreds of hours of staff time.

*Certified Communicator in Public Health

Jennifer Land, PhD, MLIS, is a detail-oriented editor with extensive experience delivering high-value, high-quality content across various genres and platforms. She holds a PhD in communication and a master’s in library and information studies (MLIS) from the University of Alabama and a bachelor of arts in English from Wellesley College.

Dr. Land’s core skills include copy editing, fact checking, writing, research, and content management. Her recent work as a writer-editor for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) focused on public health communication. In this role, she distilled complex medical concepts into clear, concise, and engaging language, ensuring all content met plain language guidelines, style requirements, and audience needs.

Previously, Dr. Land spent a decade as a content creator at Kaplan Test Prep & Admission, writing and editing print and digital assessment content. She supported the professional development of other writers and editors by mentoring junior staff, and she earned a leadership award for her efforts.

Earlier in her career, she served as a copy editor for print and web content publishers, including books on quilting and other crafts, a magazine for IT professionals, and promotional materials for college recruitment. She also worked at WebMD, where she edited content for both physician and patient web portals and ensured adherence to high editorial and medical accuracy standards. 

She has also worked as a professor, librarian, and tutor for both private and public institutions and has served as a content expert on a dissertation committee. In her spare time, she conducts genealogy research and herds cats.