Board of Directors 2025 Elections

Welcome to the SSWR Board of Directors 2025 Elections

We’re pleased to announce that voting is now open. Each nominee has provided a biographical sketch and a vision statement. We encourage you to review these materials before casting your proxy. The proxy election site opens on December 8, 2025, and closes on December 22, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST.

This year, members will select candidates to serve in the following leadership roles:

  • One Vice President-Elect
  • One Secretary
  • Three Directors-at-Large
  • One Doctoral Student Director-at-Large

Nominees for This Year’s Election


Vice President-Elect
  • Beth Angell, PhD, University of Michigan
  • Claudette Grinnell-Davis, PhD, University of Oklahoma

Secretary

  • Kristie Seelman, PhD, Georgia State University
  • Dorian Traube, PhD, Washington University in St. Louis

Director-at-Large

  • Venera Bekteshi, PhD, University of Oklahoma
  • Donte T. Boyd, PhD, The Ohio State University
  • Brian Bride, PhD, The University of Alabama
  • Susan McCarter, PhD, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
  • Orion Mowbray, PhD, University of Georgia
  • Lisa Schelbe, PhD, Florida State University

Doctoral Student Director-at-Large

  • DeKeitra Griffin, MSW, Louisiana State University
  • Whitney Zeigler, MSW, Clark Atlanta University

Cast your Proxy Vote Today


2025 Members may cast their proxy vote in one of two ways:

  • ONLINE: Members may vote in the SSWR Board of Directors 2025 Election online through December 22, 2025. As a current 2025 SSWR member, you will receive an email from announcement@associationvoting.com on December 8, 2025, with instructions for accessing the online ballot. If you need assistance or did not receive the email, please contact Kristen Reamy at kristen@sswr.org. As required by the bylaws, online voting is conducted through a proxy system. By submitting your online ballot, you authorize SSWR President Dr. Ramona Denby-Brinson to finalize the election results based on your proxy vote. During the January 5, 2026, SSWR Special Meeting of the Members, Dr. Denby-Brinson will report the number of proxy votes received by the December 22 deadline.
  • VIRTUAL ZOOM MEETING: Members may attend the SSWR Special Meeting of the Members via Zoom and cast their vote live on January 5, 2026, 11:00 AM EST. The Zoom meeting requires registration. Please use this link to register and receive the meeting link and join instructions.

Descriptions of Open Board Positions (terms start February 1, 2026)

Vice President-Elect (Three-year term: February 1, 2026 – January 31, 2029)

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. 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.

Secretary (Three-year term: February 1, 2026 – January 31, 2029)

The Secretary shall serve a three-year term as Secretary. The Secretary shall: record, maintain and distribute minutes of all membership meetings and meetings of the Board of Directors; maintain the Society’s corporate records; and fulfill the other responsibilities that pertain to the office of secretary. The Secretary serves on the executive committee.

Director-at-Large (Three-year term: February 1, 2026 – January 31, 2029)

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.

Doctoral Student Director-at-Large (Two-year term: February 1, 2026 – January 31, 2028)

The Doctoral Student Director-at-Large shall serve as Chair of the Doctoral Student Committee and represent student interests on the Board of Directors. The Doctoral Student Director-at-Large serves on the Conference Committee and plans the doctoral student panel and luncheon at the annual conference. Nominees should have a minimum of two years remaining in their doctoral studies.

In addition to the above tasks, Board members are expected to be available for Board meetings before and during the annual conference, a two-day meeting in the spring, and monthly conference calls throughout the year.

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

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