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Open Call for 2026 Standing Committee Members

ASHE 2025 President-Elect/2026 President Robin Minthorn welcomes interest in a variety of standing committee vacancies.

Volunteering with ASHE on a committee is an opportunity to shape the future of the Association while building meaningful connections with colleagues across the field of higher education. Committee service allows members to contribute their expertise, learn from peers, and influence decisions that advance ASHE’s mission and strengthen our scholarly community. It’s also a chance to develop leadership skills, expand professional networks, and engage in collaborative projects that have a tangible impact on the annual conference, professional development programs, and the Association’s operations.

For all of these positions, we invite members who will contribute outstanding leadership to an association committed to advancing critical(if we can't list critical, I would remove excellent, it lends to elitism in my opinion) scholarship across the multiple and varied areas (removed domain as that also is connected to colonialism) of higher education and contributing to the discourse by linking higher education scholarship to policy and practice. In selecting individuals, we will be attentive to the vast diversity of ideas and perspectives, backgrounds and values, and communities and commitments that our association represents.

To see lists of all current committees and members, visit the Committees page (Note: you must be logged in to view this page).

If you have any questions about this process or positions, please contact ASHE Assistant Director for Membership Erin M. Satterwhite-David.

Open Call for Leadership Volunteers

ASHE has several committees that help govern and run our Association (e.g., budget, nominations, publications). 

Beginning in November, there will be a variety of committee openings. To get ahead of the process and allow for an efficient transition, ASHE 2026 President Robin Minthorn will be making recommendations for these upcoming vacancies to the board in the coming weeks.

Timeline & Process:

  • Interest forms must be received no later than Tuesday, September 30 at Noon Mountain/Denver Time.

  • ASHE President-Elect Robin Minthorn will develop a list of appointments for recommendation to the Board.

  • Decisions will be sent out in early October.

Share your interests

To submit your interest, you can complete the Interest Form, which will ask for the following info:

  • Name

  • Organization/Institution

  • Position/Title

  • Email address

  • A pdf copy of your CV/Resume

  • A summary of any prior committee experience in ASHE, another scholarly or professional association, an institutional or organizational setting, or in your community. If you do not have any committee experience, please summarize other relevant involvement that positions you to contribute to our Association. (200 words maximum)

  • A list of your previous involvement with ASHE, including service as a reviewer, session chair, session discussant, and/or presenter

  • Agreement to ASHE Ethics, Membership, and Conflict of Interest policies

Share Your Interest

Upcoming Opportunities

Advancement and Fundraising Committee

Upcoming Opportunities:

  • 1 member, term 11/2025-11/2027
  • 1 member, term 11/2025-11/2028
  • 1 graduate student member, term 11/2025-11/2026

The committee on advancement and fundraising recommends and facilitates policies and practices regarding fundraising and assists in the association’s fundraising activities.

Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per month throughout the year

Consider joining this committee if:

  • are interested and/or have experience with fundraising and
  • want to give back to the Association by helping to guide its fundraising and advancement program

Upcoming Committee Projects:

  • Review and update of ASHE Fundraising and Advancement Policies
  • Continued support of ASHE fundraising initiatives

Awards Committee

Upcoming Opportunities:

  • 1 chair, term: 11/2025-11/2027
  • 2 members, term:11/2025-11/2026
  • 3 members, term: 11/2025-11/2028
  • 2 graduate student members, term: 11/2025-11/2026

The Awards Committee reviews association-wide awards nominations and makes recommendations to the board for recipients.

Time Commitment: 15-20 overall, mostly in July and August

Consider joining this committee if:

  • enjoy reading about colleagues and their outstanding work from across the field;
  • can provide reliable feedback on dissertations; and
  • have time in July and August to review 30-50 award nominations

Bobby Wright Dissertation of the Year Committee

Upcoming Opportunities:

  • 2 members, term: 11/2025-11/2027
  • 5 members, term: 11/2025-11/2028

The Bobby Wright Dissertation of the Year Committee sets the criteria for award nominations, reviews nominations, and makes the final recommendation on the award recipient.

Time Commitment: 15-20 overall, mostly in July and August

Consider joining this committee if:

  • enjoy reading dissertations from across the field;
  • can provide reliable feedback on dissertations; and
  • have time in July and August to read 5-8 15-page dissertation abstracts (first round of judging) and 1 full dissertation (final round of judging)

Ethics Committee

Upcoming Opportunities:

  • 1 chair, term: 11/2025-11/2027
  • 1 member, term: 11/2025-2026
  • 2 members, term: 11/2025-11/2028
  • 3 graduate student members, term: 11/2025-11/2026

The Ethics Committee advances ethical professional and interpersonal conduct through its primary role and responsibility of considering concerns or complaints about alleged misconduct by those participating in or executing the programs of ASHE.

Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per month

Consider joining this committee if:

  • are interested and/or have experience with ethics;
  • are able to maintain the confidentiality of cases that may arise; and
  • are able to intertwine compassion and accountability.

Fellows Committee

Upcoming Opportunities:

  • 2 members, term: 11/2025-11/2028
  • 1 graduate student member, term: 11/2025-11/2026

The Fellows Committee reviews Fellows nominations, makes recommendations to the board for recipients, and hosts the Fellows Induction Ceremony.

Time Commitment: 15-20 overall, mostly in July and August

Consider joining this committee if:

  • enjoy reading about colleagues and their outstanding work from across the field;
  • can provide reliable feedback on nominations; and
  • have time in July and August to review 30-50 nominations

Grants Committee

Upcoming Opportunities:

  • 1 chair elect, term: 11/2025-11/2026 (chair, term 11/2026-11/2028)
  • 1 member, term: 11/2025-11/2026
  • 1 member, term: 11/2025-11/2027
  • 2 members, term: 11/2025-11/2028
  • 1 graduate student member, term: 11/2025-11/2026

The Grants Committee reviews grants applications and decides on recipients.

Time Commitment: 15-20 overall, mostly in August-October

Consider joining this committee if:

  • enjoy reading about colleagues and their outstanding work from across the field;
  • can provide reliable feedback on applications; and
  • have time in July and August to review 20-30 applications

Inclusion, Equity, and Organizational Diversity Committee

Upcoming Opportunities:

  • 1 member, term: 11/2025-11/2028
  • 1 graduate student member, term: 11/2025-11/2026

The Inclusion, Equity, and Organizational Diversity Committee is responsible for:

  • the implementation of the Association’s IEOD Statement and Commitments
  • any related policies to implement this statement (including integrating IEOD standards into existing policies)
  • annual reporting of the Association’s IEOD work to the membership
  • convening leaders of ASHE’s Committees and recognized Entity Groups to provide an annual Association-wide report on IEOD initiatives and efforts to the membership as reported by the entity groups and committees

Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per month

Outstanding Book Award Committee

Upcoming Opportunities:

  • 1 chair elect, term: 11/2025-11/2026 (Chair, term 11/2026-11/2028)
  • 1  graduate student member, term: 11/2025-11/2026
  • 2 members, term: 11/2025-11/2028

The Outstanding Book Award Committee sets the criteria for award nominations, reviews nominations, and makes the final recommendation on the award recipient.

Time Commitment: 15-20 overall, mostly in July and August

Consider joining this committee if:

  • enjoy reading books from across the field;
  • can provide reliable feedback on books; and
  • have time in July and August to read 2-3 books (first round of judging) and 1 additional book (final round of judging)

Nominations Committee

Upcoming Vacancies:

  • 1 chair, term 11/2025-11/2027
  • 1 member, term 11/2025-11/2026
  • 2 members, term 11/2025-11/2028
  • 1 graduate student member, term 11/2025-11/2026

The Nominations Committee manages the elections process for the board through soliciting nominations and recommending a the annual slate of candidates for the Board of Directors.

Time Commitment: 10 hours total, mostly between March and June 

Consider joining this committee if:

  • you are interested in the election process
  • you enjoy outreach and networking with other members 

Position Taking Committee

Upcoming Vacancies:

  • 1 Chair Elect, term: 11/2025-11/2026 (Chair, term 11/2026-11/2028)
  • 1 member, term: 11/2025-11/2028
  • 1 graduate student member, term: 11/2025-11/2026

The Position Taking Committee manages the position taking process of the association.

Time Commitment: 1-2 hours monthly

Consider joining this committee if:

  • you are interested in the connection between research and policy

Professional Development Committee

Upcoming Vacancies:

  • 1 Chair Elect, term: 11/2025-11/2026 (Chair, term 11/2026-11/2028)
  • 2 members, term: 11/2025-11/2028
  • 1 graduate student member, term: 11/2025-11/2026

The Professional Development Committee develops and oversees the association's professional development strategy for members as well as supports the association’s professional development events, including Council events, special initiatives, etc.

Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per month

Consider joining this committee if:

  • are interested in learning about and/or have experience with ASHE's professional development events and
  • have experience with developing and/or leading professional development programs.

Publications Committee

Upcoming Vacancies:

  • 1 Chair Elect, term: 11/2025-11/2026 (Chair, term 11/2026-11/2028)
  • 1 member, term: 11/2025-11/2028
  • 1 member, term: 11/2025-11/2027 
  • 1 graduate student member, term: 11/2025-11/2028

The Publications Committee shall advance the scholarly engagement of members by managing the strategic vision for publications and overseeing the editors of publications as well as maintaining the ASHE Publications Policies.

Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per month

Consider joining this committee if:

  • are interested in learning about and/or have experience with publications, especially scholarly journals

Scholarship Committee

Upcoming Vacancies:

  • 1 chair elect, term: 11/2025-11/2026 (chair, term 11/2026-11/2028)
  • 1 member, term: 11/2025-11/2026
  • 1 member, term: 11/2025-11/2027
  • 2 members, term: 11/2025-11/2028
  • 1 graduate student member term: 11/2025-11/2026

The Scholarship Committee reviews association-wide scholarship applications and makes decisions on recipients.

Time Commitment: 15-20 overall, mostly in June-July

Consider joining this committee if:

  • enjoy reading about colleagues and their outstanding work from across the field; and
  • can provide reliable feedback on scholarship applications

Site Selection Committee

Upcoming Vacancies:

  • 1 member, term: 11/2025-11/2026
  • 1 member, term: 11/2025-11/2027
  • 1 members, term: 11/2025-11/2028
  • 1 graduate student member term: 11/2025-11/2026

The Site Selection Committee makes recommendations about the sites of future conferences. 

Time Commitment: Committee will begin work in late 2026/early 2027 to review potential locations for 2030 and 2031 conferences. Committee will meet multiple times and each committee member will be asked to visit potential conference locations (with expenses covered by ASHE).

Consider joining this committee if:

  • enjoy event planning and have an understanding or willingness to learn the logistical needs of the ASHE Conference
  • are available to travel to potential locations to conduct site visits (1-2 city visits in 2027)