As the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) continues to grow, so does our commitment to supporting scholarly inquiry and the future of our field. To meet this moment beyond our 50th anniversary, we are excited to announce the establishment the ASHE Foundation (ASHEF).

Why a Foundation?

The ASHE Foundation will be organized as a 501(c)(3) Type 1 organization, a structure designed specifically to support and remain under the direct governance of the ASHE Board of Directors. This strategic move allows us to:

• Centralize Support: By housing our scholarships, grants, and awards within the Foundation, we can better manage and distribute the vital funds that support our members' research and professional journeys.

• Scale Our Fundraising: With increased donor interest and intentional growth in our development efforts, the Foundation provides a professional, focused vehicle for long-term sustainability.

• Enhance Compliance: Managing state-level legal requirements for fundraising is complex. A dedicated foundation streamlines our reporting and ensures we meet diverse state audit requirements efficiently.

The specific purpose of the ASHE Foundation remains rooted in our mission: fostering scholarly inquiry to increase knowledge and improve the understanding of higher education. By centralizing our philanthropic efforts, we are ensuring that ASHE remains a vibrant home for higher education scholars for the next 50 years and beyond.

Open Call for Members of the Foundation Board of Trustees

The ASHE Board of Directors invite self-nominations the inaugural ASHE Foundation Board of Trustees. We are seeking members ready to provide outstanding leadership and help guide the future of our association. 

• Chair of the ASHE Foundation Board of Trustees: The individual who is elected as Chair will serve as Chair from August 1, 2026 through November 2027 and as Immediate Past Chair from November 2027 through November 2028. 

• Vice Chair of the ASHE Foundation Board of Trustees: The individual who is elected as Vice Chair serve as Vice Chair from August 1, 2026 through November 2027, Chair from November 2027-November 2028, and as Immediate Past Chair from November 2028-November 2029. 

• Two Trustees of the ASHE Foundation Board of Trustees: One individual who is elected as Trustee will serve from August 1, 2026-November 2028; the other individual who is elected as Trustee will serve from August 1, 2026-November 2029.

• One graduate student member of the ASHE Foundation Board of Trustees: The individual who is elected as the Graduate Student Trustee will serve from August 1, 2026-November 2028.  Student members may serve until the conclusion of the last session on the annual conference program following the awarding of their terminal degree, or in the event there is no annual conference in a given year then on the anniversary of that occasion during the previous year.

In addition to these Board of Trustees members, the President of the ASHE Board of Directors, the Chair of the ASHE Audit & Finance Committee, and the the ASHE Executive Director shall serve as ex officio Trustees; the Executive Director will serve without a vote.

Responsibilities & Commitment
Since this is a new organization, the time commitment may vary as the Board of Trustees works collaboratively to understand the requirement sof the role and the organization.

• Attend and engage in the monthly virtual meetings of the Board of Trustees

• Understand and actively participate in annual budget process and continually monitor the fiscal health of the Foundation

• Attend and engage in the twice-annual meetings of the ASHE Leadership Consortium (one virtual, one in person during the Annual Conference)

• Serve on and engage with one Board Committee: Audit & Finance or Fundraising

• Serve as an ambassador of the Foundation, including stewarding donors and soliciting donations

Time Commitment 
The average time commitment for this position varies, but is on average about 3-5 hours per month. This includes preparing for Board of Trustees Meetings, attending those meetings, and work outside of meetings such as committee service or work. This will be higher during some weeks, depending on the happenings of the Foundation.

Qualifications 
The qualifications below are ideal qualifications:

• Current membership in ASHE at the time of nomination and throughout duration of service

• An intermediate understanding of financial, legal, and governance aspects of nonprofit/association management 

• An intermediate understanding of and comfort level with fundraising

• Institutional support for taking on this role (e.g., consideration of this role as “service,” support from supervisor/program coordinator/department chair for travel to the annual conference) 

Compensation
This is a volunteer position; no compensation is provided.

Submit a Self-Nomination

Applicants must submit their own nomination form. The nominee must be a current member of the Association at the time of application. The nominee, if elected, must remain a member throughout their time of service. A completed self-nomination, submitted through the link below, will include the following:

• Your ASHE website log-in credentials (as nominee).

• Your CV (uploaded as a PDF): Please include the applicant's CV.

• Current/previous involvement with ASHE. List as: Position, Group, Year (e.g., Member, Dissertation of the Year Committee, 2018-2021; Attendee, Annual Conference, 2019; Discussant, Annual Conference, 2018)

• Current/previous involvement with other associations/organizations related to your nominated role. List as Position/Group, Organization, Year (e.g., Program Chair, Division J, AERA, 2017; Board President, ACPA, 2019)

• A 250-word maximum candidate statement, written in third person. While there aren't necessarily restrictions on what you write, we encourage you to devote about half of the space to info about yourself and half to your vision for your position or the Foundation.

• As a volunteer-led organization, it is important to ensure there is alignment between volunteer priorities. As such, please share details about institutional/organizational support and time to fulfill this role. This may include support from a program coordinator/department chair for faculty members, a faculty advisor for graduate students, or a supervisor for off-campus scholars. We do not need a formal letter of endorsement, just information that you have the necessary support to take on this role.

• Agreement to ASHE Policies: Applicants will be required to review and agree to uphold various policies of ASHE including membership policies, ethics policies, conflict of interest policies, and diversity policies.

Submit Your Self-Nomination

Timeline & Process

Learn more about these opportunities

• Schedule a 1-1 with ASHE Executive Director Jason Guilbeau: Interested in learning more about a role or have questions? Jason is available to meet with you to discuss opportunities and answer any questions.