Call for Nominations to the SAH Board for 2021–2024

Jun 9, 2020 by SAH News

The SAH Nominating Committee seeks your nominations and self-nominations for five new SAH Board members and two officer positions of Treasurer and Secretary who will begin their terms after the Montreal annual conference in 2021. Board members will serve a three-year term until April 2024 and the Treasurer and Secretary serve a one-year term, renewable to a maximum of six consecutive one-year terms.

All Board members are expected to fully engage with their oversight and fiduciary responsibilities by attending in-person and virtual board meetings, serving on committees, helping SAH implement the SAH IDEAS diversity and inclusion initiative, and ensuring SAH furthers its ongoing educational mission. Board member expectations can be found in the Board Participation Policy.

The Treasurer has full voting rights on the SAH Executive Committee and Board and will among other duties: (i) keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements; (ii) design, implement and monitor the operation of a system of workable internal controls intended and likely to result in the protection of the Society’s funds and securities; (iii) prepare proposed operating budgets and other statements as appropriate for sharing with the board and membership; and (iv) work with the Society’s comptroller, outside accounting firm and independent auditors as appropriate. (See page 23–4 of the SAH Bylaws for all responsibilities of the Treasurer).

The Secretary has full voting rights on the SAH Executive Committee and Board and will: (i) attend and record attendance and minutes of all meetings of the members, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Society, promptly after the completion of each such meeting prepare and distribute copies of such minutes as directed; (ii) have general charge and responsibility for all of the Society’s books and records; and (iii) assure that all notices of meetings of the members, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Society are duly given by the Society in accordance with the Bylaws, among other duties. (See page 24 of the SAH Bylaws.)

SAH is actively working towards creating a more equitable organizational structure, one that is inclusive and whose leadership represents the wide range of perspectives in the field of architectural history at large. To that end, SAH welcomes the nominations and self-nominations of candidates who will add racial and ethnic diversity to the SAH Board; those who are working outside the tenure track, including contingent faculty; and those who are working outside the academy. 

The final slate of nominees should represent the diversity of the field of architectural history. Nominations of emerging scholars and independent and non-affiliated historians of architecture, landscapes, planning and related disciplines are welcome. Nominations of practitioners in architecture, historic preservation and related fields are also encouraged, as are nominations of professionals such as people in business, law and investments who chose architectural history as their avocation.

To submit a nomination or self-nomination, please complete the SAH Board Nomination form in the SAH Online Portal. Nominations will be confidentially compiled in the SAH office and forwarded directly to the Chair of the Nominating Committee, Arijit Sen. The nomination form requests the following information: name and email address of the nominator; the name, affiliation (if applicable), email address and phone number for the candidate; nominee qualifications; explanation of why the nominee should be considered for the SAH Board; confirmation that nominator has reached out to the nominee to ask if they will serve; and the candidate's statement of intent (no more than 500 words and please see criteria below.) Also attach the nominee’s CV.

Nominations will be considered on the following criteria and the candidate’s statement should address them: 

  1. Connection to SAH, including a candidate’s previous service to the Society and their passion for its mission;
  2. Professional expertise and experiences, including fit with the skillsets of current board members;
  3. Influence potential and capacity to support SAH with regards to participation, recruitment, and funding;
  4. Willingness to serve and be an ambassador for the organization and its initiatives.

We greatly appreciate your recommendations and interest as we continue to build a strong and diverse Board.

Deadline for submitting nominations is July 31, 2020 11:59 pm CST.