Editorial Staff

Jan Iverson joined Gems & Gemology in June 2011 and brings more than 10 years of international media experience, including print, online, and broadcast to her new role as editor-in-chief. She has also worked as editor-in-chief for publishing houses in both London and New York, and headed editorial teams in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America. She’s received two UK industry awards for publishing and business development, and been recognized for numerous award-winning campaigns. She holds a bachelor’s degree in media production, with honors, from the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside, Hull, UK.

Brendan M. Laurs joined Gems & Gemology as senior editor in 1997 and was named editor in 2002. He has also been editor of the Gem News International section since 2001. A frequent traveler to global gem sources, Laurs has published numerous articles and spoken at technical conferences and gem and mineral gatherings. In 2006, he co-chaired GIA’s first-ever Gemological Research Conference. He holds a bachelor’s in geology from U.C. Santa Barbara and a master’s in geology from Oregon State University.

Stuart Overlin joined Gems & Gemology in 1997 and was named associate editor in 2002. He has written feature articles, book reviews, and web content for the journal and managed projects such as the G&G in Review book series. His writing has also appeared in Brevity. Overlin holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the U.S. Naval Academy and a master's in writing from DePaul University.

Alice Keller has directed Gems & Gemology since 1981 and served as editor-in-chief from 2002 to 2011. Under her leadership, G&G became a full-color, peer-reviewed professional journal. She has spoken at gem conferences internationally and served as co-chair of GIA’s 1999 and 2006 International Gemological Symposiums. In 1998, she received the Women’s Jewelry Association’s Award of Excellence and the American Gem Trade Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2003, GIA awarded Keller its highest honor, the Richard T. Liddicoat Award for Distinguished Achievement. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s from Georgetown University.