Elections

President-Elect:

The President-elect shall serve as President-Elect, President, and Past-President totaling a three year term.

In the absence of the President or in the event of his or her inability to act, the President-Elect shall perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions on, the President.  The President-Elect shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be specified in these Bylaws or assigned by the Board.

President:

 The President shall act as the chief executive officer of the Corporation and chairperson of the Board, shall generally supervise the affairs and activities of the Corporation, and shall keep the Board fully informed of such affairs and activities.  Working in conjunction with the President-Elect and Secretary, the President shall be responsible for maintaining and keeping current (1) the Articles of Incorporation, which shall serve as the guiding document and statement of purpose for the Corporation; (2) the Bylaws, which identify the procedures by which the Corporation performs its business; and (3) the Corporation’s Policies, as enacted by the Board, which shall be compiled and organized by substantive and functional categories, rather than chronologically.  The President shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be specified in these Bylaws or assigned by the Board.

Immediate Past-President:

The Immediate Past President shall shall act as support to the Board, retain voting rights, and manage the Circle of Fellows program. The Past President shall have other such powers and perform other such duties as may be specified in the Bylaws or assigned by the Board.

Board Members:

Board Members serve for two-year terms.  Board members are primarily responsible for representing the interests of the AESS community during board meetings and to the public, and for managing the activities and affairs of AESS.  In practice, this means making decisions about key policy matters (like approving the budget for the conference, all other financial matters, etc) and providing support for day-to-day AESS operations. There is one student position open for 2026-2028.

Candidates were asked:

In 300 words or fewer, Why are you running for an elected AESS position? Please describe: 1) Any experience you have serving in AESS or other professional associations relevant to the position(s) you are interested in running for, and 2) how your experiences, professional work, and/or identities inform your commitment to the diversity, equity, and inclusion of AESS members.

Nominations committee:

This committee is responsible for recruiting and nominating candidates for the elected offices of AESS.  In identifying candidates for positions, the Nominations Committee seeks to assure the representation of the Association’s diversity of membership, in terms of age, gender, racial, and ethnic background, substantive interest, field of work, type of employing institutions, and other considerations.  In practice, this means actively identifying and working with potential candidates and building an elections slate every spring.

Note for 2026 elections: There are three positions open for terms 2026-2028 and one position vacancy to complete the 2025-2027 term. The candidates with the top three highest votes will be selected to fill 2 year positions.

I have been an active AESS member since 2016. I am a founding member of the Diversity Committee and served as co-chair from 2018–2021. In that role, I helped organize workshops and special sessions at three annual meetings; supported an organization-wide DEIJ culture survey; collaborated with the Board and other committees on diversity-focused strategies; and led goal-setting and community-building processes for this new committee. I have also served on the Conference Program Committee (2017–2022), the Conference Planning Committee (2021–2023), and the Nominations Committee (2023–2024). I have participated in annual conferences since 2016 and was honored to receive the AESS Early Career Award in 2022.

Beyond AESS, I bring administrative and leadership experience from my current institution, where I serve as Department Chair of Environmental Studies and Coordinator of the McDaniel Gardens Program. I also serve on committees related to faculty governance, environmental center development, and campus sustainability and food security initiatives.

I am interested in running for a leadership position (President-Elect or Board Member) because I believe deeply in AESS as a space where environmental educators and professionals can connect, collaborate, and grow—individually and collectively. AESS has become my primary professional home because of its commitment to mentorship, professional development, and inclusion, values I would continue to center in my work as President or Board Member. I am committed to ensuring that AESS remains a welcoming and affirming professional home across disciplines, sectors, and institutional types. During a time when many of the values we hold dear are under attack at multiple levels of governance, and as higher education continues to undergo significant shifts, we need a resilient and supportive network more than ever. I am committed to AESS’s ongoing work to strengthen membership, deepen inter- and intra-society connections, and navigate these external challenges with courage and solidarity. 

I value AESS for its supportive environment and attention to the needs of the field and its members. Since joining in 2009, I have regularly attended the annual conference and participated in many programs, including the mentoring program and the recent pedagogy workshop. I greatly enjoy serving on the Outreach and Membership Committee, where I get to share wonderful AESS resources with current and potential members.

I am eager to continue serving an organization that has been valuable to my personal and professional life. Through the energizing and supportive AESS community, I’ve made many wonderful friends, collaborated with talented colleagues, and engaged in innovative research and pedagogy. 

I hope to help guide the organization’s strategic direction as it continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of its members, the field, and higher education.

My leadership experience includes chairing the AESS Outreach and Membership Committee and serving as Siena University’s Director of Academic Sustainability. Previously, I have served as Department Chair at Siena and Board President of the Hudson River Watershed Alliance.

I am committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within AESS. A core focus of the Membership Committee has been to make membership fees more accessible to a wider range of members. In addition, my recent professional work explores how technical tools can help build capacity for community-led watershed work and support the community’s education, environmental justice, and activism goals.

Susan

I am running for the AESS board for a second term because I would like to continue to build community, expand membership, and support AESS members in their interdisciplinary environmental scholarship and careers. I am currently finishing my presidential term on the AESS board, I have served on the Professional Development Committee since 2018 (chairing it for several years before joining the board), and I have been actively involved with AESS since 2013. AESS has been such a kind, supportive, and welcoming academic home for me, and I want to do everything I can to support others in the ways that I have been supported. I have studied and worked in a variety of interdisciplinary environmental contexts around the US and abroad, and my experience navigating cultural and disciplinary boundaries helps me be a more effective program/peer reviewer, mentor, facilitator, and advocate. While I have done a lot of things in these categories over the years with AESS, I’m particularly excited to be facilitating our first-of-its-kind AESS Research & Pedagogy Workshop this February, and if I continue to serve on the board I plan to take a lead role in the planning, coordinating, and facilitating of future intensive professional development opportunities for AESS.

Michelle

Environmental science and studies sit at the intersection of disciplines — and so do I. As a faculty member in Natural Resources with 20 years of teaching Environmental Education, I bring a cross-disciplinary perspective that I believe the AESS Board needs. I am running because I want to help shape an association that reflects the full breadth of our field and the full diversity of people doing this work.

As an AESS member, I have seen firsthand the value this community offers. My leadership experience extends beyond AESS — I currently hold a leadership role in the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, where I have been involved in conference organizing and committee work. These experiences have sharpened my ability to collaborate across institutional contexts, facilitate inclusive programming, and advocate for members whose voices are often underrepresented.

My commitment to DEI is not abstract — it is rooted in who I am. I am a woman who grew up in a rural community and was the first in my family to pursue an academic career. I know what it feels like to enter professional spaces and wonder whether you belong there. That experience drives my conviction that AESS must actively work to welcome members from rural backgrounds, under-resourced institutions, and communities historically excluded from environmental science. Diversity in this field is not just an ethical imperative — it makes our science stronger and our educational reach wider.

I would be honored to serve on the AESS Board and to bring my experience, my perspective, and my passion for inclusive environmental education to this work.

Suzanne

I am running for an elected AESS Board position to support an organization that plays a vital role in advancing professional development, scholarship, and community for the environmental studies and sciences field. AESS has long served as a bridge across disciplines, career stages, and institutional contexts, and I am eager to contribute my experience in organizational leadership, governance, and inclusive decision-making to help steward its future.

My professional experience aligns closely with the responsibilities of Board service. I currently serve as Director of the Wendy J. Paulson ’69 Ecology of Place Initiative at Wellesley College, where I manage multi-year budgets, oversee program operations, and work collaboratively across academic departments, facilities, and external partners. I have extensive experience serving on institutional committees and steering groups related to sustainability, curriculum, strategic planning, and campus initiatives, including the Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability, the Frost Center for the Environment Steering Committee, and multiple search and selection committees. These roles have required careful attention to policy, fiscal oversight, and collective decision-making.

Beyond my institution, I served on the Advisory Council of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and have contributed to national conferences and professional organizations through peer review, advisory committees, conference abstract review, and conference organizing. I have also served in formal board and steering committee roles earlier in my career, including as Board Member and Programs Director of the Santa Cruz Bird Club.

My commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is foundational to my work as an educator, program director, and scholar. Across my teaching, mentorship, and institutional leadership, I prioritize inclusive pedagogy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and equitable access to professional opportunities. I am particularly attentive to how organizational structures, policies, and resource allocation shape belonging and participation. I would bring this equity-centered, systems-aware perspective to Board service. [beyond word limit], working to ensure that AESS remains an inclusive, supportive, and intellectually vibrant community for all its members.

Ben

I am running for a position on the AESS Board of Directors because I am committed to contributing towards the AESS’s long-term vision, governance, and strategic growth while ensuring it remains inclusive, interdisciplinary, and responsive to its members.

I currently serve AESS as a member of the Nominations Committee, where I have helped identify, encourage, and support a diverse pool of leadership candidates. Through this role, I have gained insight into AESS governance structures and the importance of transparent, representative leadership. Beyond AESS, I have served in leadership and coordination roles within academic and professional settings, including interdisciplinary research teams, international student and faculty exchange programs, and community-engaged public health initiatives. These experiences have strengthened my ability to work collaboratively, balance multiple perspectives, and contribute thoughtfully to organizational decision-making skills essential for effective Board service.

My professional work is grounded in interdisciplinary environmental and public health research using a One Health framework, with experience across institutions, disciplines, and global contexts. As a scholar who has navigated interdisciplinary spaces and international academic systems, I am keenly aware of the structural barriers faced by early-career scholars, scholars from underrepresented backgrounds, and those working at disciplinary boundaries. These experiences shape my strong commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within AESS.

As a Board member, I would prioritize inclusive leadership pipelines, mentorship for early-career members, and strategic initiatives that elevate interdisciplinary and socially engaged scholarship. I am eager to contribute to thoughtful governance that sustains AESS’s mission and strengthens its impact.

Christine

I am running for an elected position with AESS because I believe the Association plays an important role in shaping inclusive, interdisciplinary scholarship and practice at a time of accelerating social, environmental, and climate disruption. AESS is uniquely positioned to bridge research, professional practice, and lived experience—and I am committed to strengthening that bridge in ways that expand participation, recognition, and leadership across the membership. I have served in numerous board and executive roles, including with my professional association.

My work spans academic research, professional consulting, and community-based practice at the intersection of community resilience, disaster risk reduction, asset management, and land-use planning. I work primarily with rural, remote, and northern communities, where capacity constraints, jurisdictional complexity, and systemic inequities are often most visible—and most consequential. This experience has reinforced my commitment to equity-oriented, data-informed, and practitioner-engaged approaches to environmental studies and sciences.

As a senior-career scholar-practitioner and doctoral researcher, I have navigated professional spaces where non-traditional career paths, applied research, and community-embedded knowledge are often undervalued. I am also aware of the gendered and structural barriers faced by independent consultants, practitioners, and scholars working outside dominant institutional norms. These experiences inform my strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion—not as abstract principles, but as operational priorities that shape who is heard, whose knowledge counts, and who advances.

If elected, I will advocate for inclusive governance, transparent decision-making, and meaningful opportunities for participation by students, early-career members, practitioners, and those working in under-resourced or marginalized contexts. I am committed to supporting AESS as a professional home that values interdisciplinary rigour, applied impact, and the full diversity of its members’ experiences and identities.

Mercy

I am running for the Student Member position on the AESS Board because I bring demonstrated leadership in professional associations and a genuine commitment to fostering inclusive excellence in technical fields.

My engagement with professional societies has been extensive and impactful. I currently serve as Student Member on both the Award Committee and Membership Committee of the Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences (2025), giving me direct experience evaluating candidates and understanding nomination processes. Previously, I served as General Secretary/Treasurer for the Forest Product Society and Society of Wood Science Technology Student Chapter (2022), and as Sustainable Bioproduct Representative for Mississippi State University’s Graduate Student Association.

I have consistently demonstrated leadership through conference presentations at national and international venues, moderating Graduate School Research Symposiums, and leading STEM outreach initiatives including Wood Magic Science Fair demonstrations. My research experience coordinating multi-institutional teams and securing industry partnerships has honed my ability to identify talent and build collaborative relationships.

My engagement with professional societies has been extensive and impactful. I currently serve as Student Member on both the Award Committee and Membership Committee of the Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences (2025), giving me direct experience evaluating candidates and understanding nomination processes. Previously, I served as General Secretary/Treasurer for the Forest Product Society and Society of Wood Science Technology Student Chapter (2022), and as Sustainable Bioproduct Representative for Mississippi State University’s Graduate Student Association.

I have consistently demonstrated leadership through conference presentations at national and international venues, moderating Graduate School Research Symposiums, and leading STEM outreach initiatives, including Wood Magic Science Fair demonstrations. My research experience coordinating multi-institutional teams and securing industry partnerships has honed my ability to identify talent and build collaborative relationships.

Wil

It would be a privilege to serve on the AESS Board. As a brief means of introduction, I previously served as President of AESS, as a member of its Board, and as Editor of the AESS Branded Book Series. I also am a recipient of the William R. Freudenburg Lifetime Achievement Award. I am currently the Co-Director of the Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal at American University and a Professor in the School of International Service. 

I believe that AESS has a critical role to play in the academic environmental ecosystem, providing a welcoming community for environmental scholars and practitioners, and fostering interdisciplinary inquiry and collaboration. If elected to the Board, I would be particularly interested in helping to try to elevate the organization’s public profile by exploring some potential new initiatives, including a podcast series and additional skills workshops to supplement those currently supported by AESS. I would also bring extensive experience in serving on other professional boards and would hope to help the organization address pressing financial needs and potential revenue enhancement models.

Nagina

I am running for an elected position within the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS) because I strongly believe in the role of professional associations in shaping inclusive, interdisciplinary, and policy-relevant environmental scholarship and practice. AESS’s commitment to bridging environmental science, social science, policy, and justice closely aligns with both my professional background and academic trajectory.

I bring over a decade of experience working at the intersection of environmental policy, climate change, and sustainable development in both international and U.S. contexts. My professional experience includes serving in program and project management roles with organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme and national-level environmental institutions, where I collaborated with diverse stakeholders across government, academia, and civil society. While I have not previously held an elected role within AESS, I have actively engaged with professional and academic associations through conference participation, collaborative research initiatives, peer review, and interdisciplinary project teams.

Andrés

My name is Andres Urcuqui-Bustamante, and I am an assistant professor in the Department of Urban Planning and Policy (UPP) at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). I am trained as an environmental social scientist specializing in the human dimensions of natural resources. I am running for an elected position on the AESS Board because I am deeply committed to advancing interdisciplinary research and strengthening the community that AESS fosters among academics, practitioners, and the public.

My work explores the interconnections between nature, society, and policy through the lens of the human dimensions of natural resources, an interdisciplinary field that closely aligns with the core mission of AESS. My research examines the human dimensions of natural resources, including how perceptions, values, beliefs, norms, and lived experiences shape individual and collective responses to environmental and public health issues.

I have been actively involved in academic service as a conference session organizer and as a reviewer for multiple journals in environmental studies and sciences, ecology, natural resources, planning, and policy. I have also collaborated with researchers and practitioners across the United States and Latin America, which has given me insight into how environmental problems -and solutions- vary across political, cultural, and ecological contexts. This international and interdisciplinary background, informed by academic, professional, and personal experiences, motivates my commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within AESS, particularly by promoting greater representation of Global South perspectives.

Brett

I love how interdisciplinary and friendly AESS is. The primary asset that I would bring to this work is that I am like so many of my AESS colleagues in that I move across disciplinary boundaries both in my own work and in my collaborations. My doctoral work was in the humanistic social sciences, but I paralleled that work with a dissertation-like project developing a computational climate-hydrology-ecology model of wetlands, and have now taught courses as diverse as landscape ecology, quantitative environmental analysis, human dimensions of climate change, off-campus courses in Thailand, Greece, Singapore, and Lake Tahoe, along with the environmental courses in ethics, history, policy, literature, and more fields, across big and small, public and private colleges and universities. I often say that every time I was pressured to “choose a disciplinary lane,” I would choose not to choose, and I plan to continue that path of collaborative and individual interdisciplinarity as long as I can.