Come join our crew! Nominate yourself or someone else for the MELUS Executive Committee. Nominees must be current MELUS members. The nomination process and individual position duties are listed below.
Complete nominations will be accepted through midnight on
Friday, November 20, 2026
To nominate yourself or someone else, please fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/azQsi8jxdpKA8zjy6
The form will ask for the
- Nominee’s name
- Nominee’s email and phone number (for Election Committee use only)
- An optional statement of support for the candidate
- A brief candidate statement including a description of the nominee’s experiences related to their desired position as well the envisioned contribution through the position to MELUS (no more than 150 words)
- The nominee’s curriculum vitae
(Note: If nominating someone else, please submit the nomination by November 13 to allow time for the election committee to follow up with the nominee and for the nominee to submit their supporting materials by the November 20 deadline)
MELUS Officers and Duties:
In addition to duties defined in the Constitution, the officers perform the duties traditionally associated with their various offices. All members of the Executive Committee shall be actively involved in the operation of the organization, and serve three-year, volunteer service terms. They will be polled in order to prepare the agenda for the annual meeting. This Committee is responsible for the operation of the Association, subject to review by the entire membership at the annual meeting.
The President shall chair meetings of the Society and coordinate all of the functions of the Society. They shall administer the Constitution and By-Laws throughout the year. With the elected members of the Executive Committee, the President appoints all non-elected officers, reviews significant expenditures, and shall make arrangements for annual conferences and, in collaboration with the Vice President, consult with local hosts on the planning of conferences, as well as national and regional meetings, publications, etc. The President takes ultimate responsibility for all aspects of the Society’s programs and activities and leads the conversation regarding our field of study.
The Vice President assists with coordination of the annual program, including the national MELUS conference and sessions at other affiliate regional and national conferences. The Vice President directs preparations for the annual national MELUS Conference in consultation with the President, Executive Committee and local organizers. Once the MELUS President has secured a contract with a university that specifies the responsibilities of the campus and the Society, the Vice President or a designate serves as a resource person for the campus coordinator, who is expected to follow the guidelines outlined in the MELUS Conference Handbook. The Vice President shall develop procedures for future projects and programs. In the event that the President is unable to serve, the Vice President will serve in the role until the President is able to return or until the next election/special election takes place.
The Secretary shall coordinate with the President to set the agenda and keep minutes of the Executive Committee and membership meetings and shall distribute copies to the Executive Committee before each meeting. The Secretary will also assist with various organizational tasks as needed and maintain a mailing list of active Society members. In conjunction with the President, the Secretary will also notify the Executive Committee of the time and place of its annual meeting. This officer is involved with communicating internally and externally the activities and policies of the Society, whether in newsletter or other form.
The Treasurer shall establish and maintain a careful bookkeeping system in accordance with the requirements put forth by the non-profit corporation laws. The Treasurer reports regularly to the Executive Committee about such matters as the percentage of dues which goes to the journal, regular payments to the journal, and regular financial statements received from the journal’s publisher, which the Treasurer incorporates into the annual financial report. This officer also works with the Executive Committee on basic financial operations, such as designing a yearly budget, fulfilling contractual obligations, filing IRS documents, managing investments, making and receiving payments, and receiving and keeping track of all MELUS funds, including membership and conference registration fees. This officer works closely with the local conference committees and the other members of the Executive Board related to the organization’s resources.
The Membership and Media Chair is charged with all responsibilities and duties related to the recruitment and retention of members. Primary among these duties is to maintain MELUS social media and the MELUS website, keep a MELUS membership database up to date, and to make that information available as deemed necessary by the Membership and Media Chair and Executive Committee. The Membership and Media Chair is also responsible for developing a plan for increasing and maintaining membership.
The Project Chair serves as Executive Committee liaison to the various ongoing projects that the organization may undertake through ad hoc committees and subcommittees. This officer is responsible for executing special projects the Executive Committee may deem necessary to pursue for the benefit of the organization at large. At the beginning or the three-year term, the Project Chair, along with the Executive Committee, will establish a work plan to cover the most pressing projects. The Project Chair must report to the Executive Committee on the status of said projects. The Project Chair is also responsible for convening an awards committee to judge the annual Best Essay Award from the journal’s full annual volume of the preceding year.
The Graduate Student Representative helps the Society address the specific needs and concerns of MELUS members who are currently graduate students and shall communicate these to the Executive Committee. It is preferred that the Graduate Student Representative has graduate student status for the majority of the three-year term. The Graduate Student Representative’s duties include organizing a selection committee for the annual conference travel awards, to be comprised of at least one member of the local conference hosting committee and one member of the Executive Committee; and to organize a roundtable on professional issues of interest to graduate students for each annual conference.
Questions may be sent to the Election Committee (J.J. Butts and Karina Diaz) at:melus2027election@gmail.com