Nominations for Board of Director positions 2026-2027
The ASECS Nominating Committee is accepting nominations for the following Board of Director positions. Members-at-Large serve three-year terms; the Second Vice President is presumed to subsequently serve as First President, President, and Past President, for a total of four years. All terms begin on 1 July 2026. The ASECS Board of Directors is an active body that “determines the policies, manages the property, conducts the business, and cares for the general interests of the Society,” as stated in Bylaws Article V, Section 3.
In accordance with the Bylaws that came into effect on July 1, 2025, the Nominating Committee seeks candidates who “reflect ASECS’ commitment to diversity among its members, as well as of geographical, linguistic, and scholarly expertise.” (Article VII, Section 2a) Please consult the list of current Board members (below) as you consider self-nomination or the nomination of candidates.
Available positions
- Second Vice President
- 2 Members-at-Large
Timeline
- Nov. 1, 2026: Deadline for nominations and self-nominations (see form link below).
- Jan. 23, 2026 (77 days before the Annual Business Meeting): Nominating Committee report to the Executive Director and Parliamentarian
- Feb. 12, 2026 (56 days before the Annual Meeting): Election slate and petition instructions published
- Feb. 26, 2026 (14 days after publication of the Election Slate): Deadline for nominations by petition, sent to the Executive Director
- March 13, 2026 (28 days before the Annual Business Meeting): Ballot and instructions circulated to members
Nominations will be accepted through 1 November, 2025. Please submit nominations, including self-nominations, through this form. Should filling out the form prove an obstacle to you, please contact the Executive Director Benita Blessing (director@asecs.org) for an alternate means of submission.
You can read the official details of our nominating procedures in our Bylaws on our Governance page. We have also compiled a list of FAQs about the nominating process below; references to Articles and Sections are from that document.
Continuing and New Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 Member Year:
- President: Elena Deanda-Camacho
- 1st Vice President: Amy Freund
- Graduate Student Board Member: Pamela Ahern
- Past President: Misty G. Anderson
Continuing Elected Members
- 2024-2027: Member-at-Large, Brian Cowan
- 2024-2027: Member-at-Large, Olivia Sabee
- 2025-2028: Member-at-Large, Al Coppola
- 2025-2028: Member-at-Large, Chloe Northrop
Appointed Members
- Benita Blessing, Executive Director
- Michael R. Lynn, Treasurer
- Manushag “Nush” Powell, Parliamentarian
- Secretary (currently unoccupied)
FAQs
What does a Nominating Committee do?
o Articles VII (“Elections”) and VIII (“Committees and Additional Appointive Positions” of ASECS’s Bylaws stipulate that the Board of Directors appoint a Nominating Committee as part of our annual elections. The committee’s job is to ensure that the election slate follows our society’s rules for open Board vacancies, with attention to the criteria for representation as outlined in our Bylaws, accounting for a range of disciplinary fields, ranks, and institutions.
What about other considerations?
o The Board has instructed the Nominating Committee to seek an election slate that reflects ASECS’ commitment to diversity among its members, as well as of geographical, linguistic, and scholarly expertise.
What about the 1st Vice President and President positions?
o If the current 2nd Vice President is willing to advance to the 1st Vice President position, and if the current 1st Vice President is willing to advance to the President position, the Nominating Committee does not propose other candidates.
How do I propose a candidate to the Nominating Committee for open positions?
o It’s really easy! Just submit a name of a member and a link to their website (or you can include their c.v.) via the form at the top of this page, and a short note about why you think they would be a good candidate to serve on the Executive Board.
Can I propose myself?
o Yes! It’s helpful if you include a brief statement about why you would like to serve on the Executive Board, and feel free to include a c.v. or a link to your website, just like you would if you were nominating someone else.
What happens then?
o The Nominating Committee selects two candidates each for 2nd Vice President and members at large vacancies according to the criteria above and makes sure they have agreed to run. The Committee forwards its report to the Executive Director, who then sets up the ballot. As per the Bylaws, Article VII, Section 5, instructions for additional candidates will be sent out to members. (You can read more about specific deadlines in the Bylaws section of the document linked above.)
o Then we vote! (Only members in good standing are eligible to vote.)
Do you have to be a member to run for office?
o Yes – in order to appear on the ballot, candidates must be members in good standing. It’s easy to join or renew. Just go to this page: ASECS membership
I still have questions about some aspect of the nominating process or election, or about the duties of members of the Board of Directors.
All Board Members are expected to:
- Consult the Nominating Committee chair or the Executive Director for further information.
- Be available for regular virtual meetings during the year (held approx. monthly).
- Attend the Annual in-person Board of Director Meetings, which are held in person on the Wednesday before the Annual Meeting (see future conferences dates here). ASECS provides some travel support.
- Participate in a virtual Board Member orientation in the summer of their first year.
- Participate in online consultations and occasional special meetings or votes throughout the year.
- Volunteer to serve on standing and ad hoc Board Committees and assist with other Board-sponsored initiatives (e.g. forums, member outreach, or fundraising campaigns).
- All committee members, including Board members, must be current (dues paid) ASECS members.
- You can find a summary of Board member rules and responsibilities for the current Board year here:
o For further information, you can contact Jennifer Germann, chair of the Nominating Committee (jennifer.germann04@gmail.com) or Benita Blessing, Executive Director (director@asecs.org).
I want to be more involved in ASECS, but I don’t want to commit to running for the Board. Is there another committee I could volunteer for?
o Yes! ASECS has ongoing opportunities throughout the year for service. You can find more information on the Committees page.
On behalf of the Nominating Committee, thank you to everyone who participates in the nominating process.