Effective August 2, 2024, the SSWR Membership voted and approved increasing the number of directors-at-large from nine (9) to twelve (12).
August 6, 2024
Dear SSWR member,
Strong and committed leadership is essential to SSWR’s ongoing success. Please consider nominating yourself or a colleague for inclusion on the next election ballot for the SSWR Board of Directors.
Nominations are open August 6, 2024, for the following positions for the governance year commencing February 1, 2025:
- one president-elect
- one vice president-elect
- one treasurer
- five directors-at-large (Effective August 2, 2024, the SSWR Membership voted and approved increasing the number of directors-at-large.)
The 2024 election ballot (November 15 – December 15, 2024) shall include two nominees for president-elect, two nominees for vice president-elect, two nominees for treasurer, and ten nominees for the five open director-at-large positions.
The Nominations and Elections Committee is committed to including nominees on the election ballot who represent diversity, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, nation, institutional representation, gender identity and sexual orientation, social work research topic areas, and career levels.
Prospective nominees should be prepared to carry out the duties described below, as well as additional tasks required for SSWR’s governance.
DESCRIPTIONS OF OPEN BOARD POSITIONS
President-Elect (Four-year term including one year as President-elect, two years as President, and one year as Immediate Past President. Terms in total: February 1, 2025 – 2029)
President-Elect. The President-Elect shall serve a one-year term as President-Elect. They will assist the President in their duties and will serve on selected committees of the Society as specified in these Bylaws. The President-Elect shall fulfill the duties of the President in case of the President’s absence, incapacity, or resignation. Immediately following the President-Elect’s term, the President-Elect shall ascend to the office of President.
President. The President shall serve a two-year term as President. The President is responsible for all aspects of leadership of the Society, including but not limited to the following: supervising the conduct of the Annual Conference; representing and speaking for the Society; signing contracts and other documents on behalf of the Society, except as such duties are assigned to the Treasurer; and performing other duties authorized by the Board of Directors.
The President shall appoint chairs of all committees, subject to the advice and consent of the Board or, in the case of Committees of the Board, with the advice and consent of a majority of the Board, except as otherwise set forth in the Bylaws.
The President is an ex-officio member of all committees except for the Nomination and Election Committee.
As President, they are responsible for all aspects of leadership of the Society, serve on committees of the Board as specified in the Bylaws, chair the executive committee, oversee the selection of the winner of the SSWR Distinguished Career Achievement Award, work closely with the program chair and the conference program planning committee and makes a report to the membership each year as to the state of the Society and its likely future direction. As President, this individual arranges for the SSWR Presidential Plenary at the annual conference, represents the Society with federal and other agencies, and (as prescribed by the SSWR By-Laws) appoints board members-at-large to their respective responsibilities on standing and ad hoc committees. As necessary, the President chooses future sites for the annual conference in consultation with the Board and works toward contracting these sites. As Immediate Past-President, they serve as a full, voting member of the Board and advise it on all matters of concern to the Society.
In preparation for the 2024 elections, during which two nominees for president-elect shall be on the ballot, please consider self-nominations for president-elect. We are available to answer any questions.
Vice President-Elect (Three-year term in total: February 1, 2025 – January 31, 2028)
The Vice President-Elect shall serve a one-year term as Vice President-Elect. The Vice President-Elect will assist the Vice President in the Vice President’s role as chair of the Conference Committee. Immediately following the Vice President-Elect’s term, the Vice President-Elect shall ascend to the office of Vice President.
The Vice President-Elect serves as a member of the program committee, plans and coordinates the pre-conference methodology workshops and provides direct support to the Vice President in planning the annual conference. The Vice President-Elect serves on the executive committee. The Vice President-Elect becomes the Vice President in the second year of their term. The Vice President serves a one-year term and chairs the conference program planning committee, which plans and coordinates the annual conference program. During periods when there is no President-elect, the Vice-President shall serve as President in the event of the President’s resignation, lengthy absence, or incapacity until the office of President is filled according to the procedures applicable to filling vacancies among the officers. The Vice President serves on the executive committee. Immediately following a Vice President’s term as Vice President, such person shall serve a one-year term as Past Vice President. The Past Vice President shall assist the Vice President in their duties and shall fulfill such other duties as directed by the Board.
Treasurer (Three-year term: February 1, 2025 – January 31, 2028)
The Treasurer will serve a three-year term. The Treasurer (with support from the Society’s professional staff) shall be (i) responsible for the receipt and disbursement of the funds of the Society subject to authorization of the Board of Directors; (ii) be responsible for oversight of the Society’s financial records and preparation of financial statements; (iii) to the extent required by law or otherwise requested by the Board or the Audit Committee, arrange for an independent audit of the accounts or review of the financial statements annually with a certified public accountant selected by the Board or a designated audit committee comprised of independent directors; (iv) with approval from the Board of Directors, sign contracts and other authorized documents on behalf of the Society; and (v) prepare an annual budget based on plans developed by the Board of Directors and the relevant committees and committee chairs. All day-to-day financial responsibilities are handled by staff with the bi-weekly treasurer’s approval of checks issued.
Director-at-Large (Three-year term: February 1, 2025 – January 31, 2028)
A Director-at-Large may be asked to serve in the following capacities, i.e., chair or co-chair of the following committees: nomination and election committee; awards committee; committee on publications; communications committee, fund development committee, membership committee, social policy committee; research capacity development committee; volunteer coordinator for the annual conference; and members of ad hoc committees and task forces which support the work of the Society’s Strategic Plan. Nominees should be prepared to take on one or more of these roles if asked by the President.
In 2024, SSWR approved the addition of three new Directors-at-Large positions. In April 2023, SSWR adopted a new, 5-year strategic plan. The 2024-2028 SSWR Strategic Directions Framework, Building Capacity to Advancing Social Work Science that Informs Solutions to Complex Societal Challenges is, to date, the organization’s most audacious goals. We have four main goals. As part of these goals, we would like to grow the SSWR business model and financial health of the organization. Continue to modernize the annual conference. Increase SSWR’s global presence. Support the professional development of social work researchers throughout career levels. Strengthen institutional research infrastructure to promote social work research and impact. Finally, ensure that JSSWR is the premier scholarly publication for social work research nationally and internationally. We cannot accomplish these goals without additional support. We need people who care about the future of this organization. Please consider nominating yourself or a colleague for one of the Director-at-Large positions.
- Qualifications sought in Board nominees include:
- Leadership
- Support for and commitment to SSWR and its mission, vision, and values
- Experience and stature as a researcher
- Communication skills
- Availability and ability to fulfill commitments as a Board member
Nomination Procedures
Please submit a letter of nomination (self-nominations are encouraged), two letters of endorsement, and the nominee’s Curriculum Vitae electronically to Joan Blakey, chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee, at blak0014@umn.edu with a copy to Jennifer Lewis, executive director, at lewis@sswr.org. Please send the required documents as an attachment(s) in one email. Please name the file(s) SSWR_elections_nomination [last name]_[position title, e.g., vp-elect]_[nomination, letter of support, CV]. You may send all required documents compiled into one PDF.
Nominations are due September 30, 2024. All nominees must be current members of the Society and shall have been members of SSWR for at least one year prior to their nomination for office. Nominators and those endorsing the nomination must also be current members of the Society. (Please email Kristen Reamy at kristen@sswr.org to verify membership status.) Prior to nomination, the nominator must ensure that their nominee will accept the nomination if it is offered.
Sincerely,
Joan Blakey, PhD
Chair, Nominations and Elections Committee
Addendum A: Board members whose terms carry over into February 2025
- Ramona Denby-Brinson, President (February 1, 2024 – January 31, 2026)
- Hyeouk “Chris” Hahm, VP and 2026 Conference Chair (February 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026)
- Mary Ohmer, Past VP (February 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026)
- David Becerra, Secretary (February 1, 2023 – January 31, 2026)
- Joan Blakey, Director-at-Large (February 1, 2024 – January 31, 2027)
- Karen Bullock, Director-at-Large (February 1, 2024 – January 31, 2027)
- Tamara Cadet, Director-at-Large (February 1, 2023 – January 31, 2026)
- Kelli Canada, Director-at-Large (February 1, 2023 – January 31, 2026)
- Shuang Lu, Director-at-Large (February 1, 2023 – January 31, 2026)
- Justin Harty, Early Career Director-at-Large (February 1, 2024– January 31, 2026)
- Fatima Mabrouk, Doctoral Student Director-at-Large (February 1, 2024 – January 31, 2026)