Becoming a Volunteer Leader
Committee and Board of Director Applications and Nominations
Applications and nominations for committee and Board of Director service in 2025 are OPEN until March 12, 2024. Click buttons below for details!
Serving on an ASHG committee or the Board of Directors is an excellent way for ASHG members to participate in the life of the Society and help steer its future. It’s an opportunity to expand your professional network, strengthen your leadership and professional skills, and contribute to ASHG’s mission.
ASHG is committed to reflecting the diversity of the communities it seeks to serve in its leadership and encourages applications from and nominations of individuals from underrepresented groups for service on the Board of Directors and committees.
Committees develop action plans and participate in the implementation of a variety of Society programs, which reflect ASHG’s broad directions and enable members to deliver on its mission. The Society encourages both nominations and applications by individuals interested in service. Board members guide the Society’s direction and resources, applying their broad perspective and diverse experience in the genetics and genomics research community.
Committee Appointment Process
A call for applications and nominations for committee service is sent to all ASHG members annually, typically in January or February. After the submission deadline, the ASHG Nominating Committee reviews all the nominations with extensive input from committee chairs to finalize committee appointments, which are ultimately approved by the ASHG Executive Committee. While the Society is unable to welcome all nominees to committee positions, we deeply value your willingness to serve and we actively seek opportunities to engage people who have volunteered their time to the Society.
Board of Directors Appointment Process
ASHG explicitly encourages nominations and self-nominations of members from underrepresented communities in support of creating a range of diverse voices.
A call for applications and nominations for Board of Directors service is sent to all ASHG members annually, typically in January or February. After the spring submission deadline, the ASHG Nominating Committee will review all nominations and will determine the final ballot in accordance with the ASHG Bylaws. The Nominating Committee, with support from the Executive Committee, creates a slate of potential Board members that reflects the Society’s value of diversity in its leadership, as defined by scientific background, professional level, ancestry, gender, etcetera. The Committee also considers other variables of representation, including commitment, involvement with ASHG, and relevant expertise in the human genetics and genomics community. Once a slate is composed, an election takes place. Per the ASHG Bylaws, at least two (2) candidates are required to be put forth for each director position and one (1) candidate is required to be presented for the president-elect position. ASHG works with vendor partner ElectionBuddy to administer the election.
Prior to ASHG consideration of candidates, all Board of Director nominees will be informed of professional conduct expectations and the ASHG Leadership Nominee and Applicants Procedures and Policies. Nominees will be given the opportunity to decline consideration, with no imputation of inappropriate conduct. If nominees proceed to be considered, nominees will be asked to state, confidentially and in writing to a Board representative (the CEO), whether they are now, or have been, subject to an allegation, inquiry, action or decision regarding alleged professional misconduct as that concept is outlined in the ASHG Code of Ethics, or whether they have engaged in conduct that could reasonably give rise to such a claim. Disclosure of this information will not automatically disqualify a nominee from consideration, but it will allow the Society to make an informed decision with the benefit of any context provided by the nominee.