Officer Job Descriptions
Executive Board Job Descriptions
Committee Charters
PRESIDENT Reports to: Executive Board
Overall Responsibility: Serves as the presiding officer of the association and exercises all duties and responsibilities commonly associated with this office except as limited by the AAA bylaws. The President represents the association in all matters. All actions of the President are the actions of the organization as a whole. In addition to specific responsibilities and qualifications noted in the Executive Board member job description, additional responsibilities and requirements specific to this office are noted below.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Calls the meetings of the Executive Board.
- Establishes the agenda for, and preside at all meetings of the Executive Board.
- Appoints members to special committees, commissions, taskforces, and working groups.
- Calls and presides over the annual business meeting of the membership.
- Participates in the development and implementation of short-term and long-term strategic planning for the association.
- Serves as a principal spokesperson for the organization.
- Serves as AAA representative at any section meetings and/or other relevant association or external organization meetings.
- Serves as an ex-officio member of AAA committees (excluding nominations committee).
Selection: The President is elected by the membership at large and serves two years as president-elect and two years as president.
Term of Office: Two-year term.
Requirements:
- Serve as president-elect for a two-year term
- Same as Executive Board member
Qualifications: Same as Executive Board member.
PRESIDENT-ELECT Reports to: Executive Board
Overall Responsibility: Assumes duties in the event of absence, death, resignation or incapacity of the President. Exercises all duties and responsibilities commonly associated with this office. In addition to specific responsibilities noted in the Executive Board member job description, additional responsibilities specific to this office are noted below.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Serves as Chair of the Long Range Planning committee.
- Represents AAA at the President’s request.
- In the absence of the President, fulfills those duties as noted in the President’s job description.
- Carries out such other duties as may be assigned by the President or by the Executive Board.
- Serves as an ex-officio member of AAA committees (excluding nominations committee).
Selection: The President-Elect is elected by the membership at large.
Term of Office: Two-year term.
Requirements: Same as Executive Board member.
Qualifications: Same as Executive Board member.
SECRETARY Reports to: Executive Board
Overall Responsibility: The secretary is the corporate secretary and as such exercises all duties and responsibilities commonly associated with this office. In addition to specific responsibilities noted in the Executive Board member job description, additional responsibilities specific to this office are noted below.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Responsible for minutes of Executive Board meetings. AAA practice is to assign staff to take the minutes at Executive Board meetings, assisted by the secretary as needed.
- Certifies results of all Association-wide elections.
- Represents AAA at the President’s request.
- Carries out such other duties as may be assigned by the President or by the Executive Board.
- Serves as Chair of the Nominating Committee.
Selection: The Secretary is elected by the membership at large.
Term of Office: Three-year term.
Requirements: Same as Executive Board member.
Qualifications: Same as Executive Board member
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER Reports to: N/A
Overall Responsibility: A member of the AAA Executive Board (EB) helps to set the vision and strategic direction of the association, safeguard the organization’s assets, and ensure the fiscal, legal and ethical integrity of the association. EB members also translate the shared values and interests of the members into organizational plans and programs, determine desired organizational outcomes, and assess progress in achieving those outcomes. (All authority contained in this job description should be understood to be those as part of the Executive Board as a unit and no individual authority is inferred.)
Specific Responsibilities:
- Maintain knowledge of the American Anthropological Association bylaws, structure, activities, and processes.
- Maintain a personal commitment to its goals and objectives.
- Meet at least once annually and at such other times as may be deemed necessary.
- Serve as a member of the Association Operations Committee or the Committee on Scientific Communication.
- Appoint, set objectives and parameters, and evaluate the Executive Director.
- Appoint the Association Treasurer, and the Editors of the American Anthropologist and other association special publications and monographs.
- Authorize committees, define their duties, receive their reports, and take action as required.
- Authorize the establishment of new AAA Sections and Interest Groups, and create the policies and procedures for their continued maintenance.
- Appoint representatives to other bodies, define their duties, and receive their reports.
- Establish association public policy positions.
- Establish association governing policies.
- Authorize revenues and expenditures of Association funds through the annual budget process or as needed during other times of the year.
- Establish appropriate fiscal policies and controls.
Selection: Executive Board members are elected by the membership at large.
Term of Office: Three-year term.
Requirements: Executive Board members will abide by the association's Conflict of Interest Policies and will annually sign the conflict of interest statement.
Qualifications:
- Candidates for election to the board must be voting AAA members.
- Previous leadership experience, in AAA and/or its Sections, either appointed or elected.
- Evidence of leadership (e.g., in a Department, College or University, or in a non-AAA organization.)
NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE Objectives: Organize materials on and recommend candidates for all open, elected AAA positions.
Duration of Committee: Permanent; The AAA Association Operations Committee will review each committee advisory to the Board at least once in five years.
Committee Reports to: The Executive Board
Responsibilities:
- Solicit nominations from the AAA membership
- Organize information regarding candidates that have been nominated for any AAA elected position
- Make sure that all necessary information is collected on candidates(including proof that the nominee has agreed to run and, should s/he win, accept the position)
- Meet annually to discuss nominations
- Utilize the specific guidelines established by the Executive Board when making recommendations
- Make recommendations to the Executive Board regarding the candidates for each position
Membership and Appointment:
- 10 member committee including the Chair
- 3 year terms
- Committee members are elected at-large with designated seats for:
- Cultural anthropology
- Linguistic anthropology
- Archaeology
- Biological anthropology
- Practicing/professional anthropology, and
- A minority anthropologist
- As well as 3 undesignated seats
- Chair is the AAA Secretary
Product: A written report to the Executive Board regarding recommendations of candidates
Meetings and Schedule: The committee meets once a year in the fall; specific date announced each year
Staff Liaison and contact information: Kim Baker, Section Liaison & Governance Associate, American Anthropological Association, 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22201, 703/528-1902, fax 703/528-3546
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC POLICY Objectives: To develop public policy expertise and enhance public policy debate among anthropologists within the AAA, to enhance the effectiveness of AAA and anthropologists in working with policy makers in order to strengthen the public profile of the AAA and anthropology
Duration of Committee: Permanent; The AAA Association Operations Committee will review each committee advisory to the Board at least once in five years.
Committee Reports to: The Executive Board
Responsibilities:
- Assist in organizing public policy sessions, workshops and forums at AAA Annual Meeting; develop a network of anthropologists with expertise in public policy; assess and recommend federal policy issues for AAA to support or oppose;
- Review and recommend proposed AAA resolutions or statements on public policy; encourage and assist anthropologists in publishing public policy work in public policy journals, newspapers, and AAA publications;
- Consider opportunities and programs that provide policy-making experience for anthropologists; assist AAA in working with in the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) and other coalitions.
Membership and Appointment:
- 9 member committee including the Chair
- 7 members are elected by membership at-large
- 3 year terms
- President and President-elect serve as ex-officio
- Chair is elected by Committee members
Product: Annual report
Meetings and Schedule: One formal meeting, usually early spring; informal meeting at AAA Annual Meeting
Staff Liaison and contact information: Damon Dozier, Director, Public Policy, American Anthropological Association, 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22201, 703/528-1902, fax 703/528-3546
COMMITTEE ON ETHICS Objectives: The Committee on Ethics is a standing committee of the Association, which is responsible for the design and implementation of the Association's ethics education and advisory program. The objectives of the ethics education program are (1) to increase the number of candidates for all degrees in anthropology receiving training in ethics before graduating; (2) to provide ongoing education in ethical issues for all AAA members; (3) to provide advice to AAA members facing/raising ethical dilemmas, and (4) to provide guidance to the Executive Board about AAA codes and guidelines.
Duration of Committee: Permanent; The AAA Association Operations Committee will review each committee advisory to the Board at least once in five years.
Committee Reports to: The Executive Board
Responsibilities:
- Work with the long-range Planning Committee and others, formulates visions and goals for the AAA ethics education and advisory program, consistent with the Association's long-range goals
- Continually assess members' ethics education needs and interests
- Provide advice to AAA members who are facing/raising ethical dilemmas
- Assess progress toward attaining ethics education program vision and goals
- Develop policy recommendations for the ethics education program
- With the Ethics Contributing Editor of the Anthropology Newsletter, develop ideas for the Ethics column and materials for the AAA Ethics Page on the website
- Sponsor an ethics-related session at the AAA annual meeting
- To provide guidance to the Executive Board about AAA codes and guidelines
Membership and Appointment: 10 member committee including the Chair 3 year terms Committee members are elected at-large with designated seats for: Applied anthropology Linguistic anthropology Archaeology Biological anthropology As well as 3 undesignated seats The AN Column Editor, President and President-elect serve ex-officio The Committee members select a chair from among its members.
Product: The COE submits recommendations to the AAA Executive Board in the form of motions passed at its meetings. The Chair of the COE submits an annual program report to the Executive Board.
Meetings and Schedule: The COE meets annually at the AAA annual meeting (November/December); Staff Liaison and contact information: Damon Dozier, Director of Public Affairs, American Anthropological Association, 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22201, 703/528-1902, fax 703/528-3546
COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS Objectives: To promote and protect human rights; to expand the definition of human rights within an anthropological perspective; to work internally with the membership of the AAA, to educate anthropologists, and to mobilize their support for human rights; to work externally with foreign colleagues, the people and groups with whom anthropologists work, and other human rights organizations to develop an anthropological perspective on human rights and consult with them on human rights violations and the appropriate actions to be taken; to influence and educate the media, policy makers, non-governmental organizations, and decision makers in the private sector; to encourage research on all aspects of human rights from conceptual to applied
Duration of Committee: Permanent; The AAA Association Operations Committee will review each committee advisory to the Board at least once in five years.
Committee Reports to: The Executive Board
Responsibilities:
- To educate anthropologists on human rights, including organizing human rights forum, sessions, workshops or other events at AAA Annual Meeting;
- To consider cases of alleged human rights abuse, develop relevant materials, and guide the Association in its response;
- To educate policy makers and others outside of anthropology on anthropology's perspective and contributions to human rights;
- To work in coalition with other professional and human rights organizations to promote human rights.
- Members must be committed to attend meetings at the AAA during each year of their term and a spring meeting at the AAA headquarters each year.
- Members are called upon to communicate frequently with other members of the Committee throughout the year. Members participate in frequent deliberations about on-going cases and in the preparation of reports.
Membership and Appointment:
- 10 member committee including the Chair
- 8 members elected by membership at-large
- 3 year terms
- President and President-elect serve as ex-officio
- Chair is elected by committee members
Product: Annual report; letters and issue briefs in response to cases of human rights abuse.
Meetings and Schedule: The Committee meets at the Annual Meeting and in the spring.
Staff Liaison and contact information: Richard Thomas, Member Services Manager, American Anthropological Association, 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22201, 703/528-1902, fax 703/528-3546
COMMITTEE ON MINORITY ISSUES IN ANTHROPOLOGY Objectives: Promote participation of underrepresented populations in anthropology by creating a climate where ideas from all individuals are equally considered, rather than viewed through a racialized frame. Foster professional advancement by minorities in anthropology. Promote intellectual awareness within the discipline and Association of issues that face minority anthropologists. Help define anthropology's role in national discourse on cultural diversity.
Duration of Committee: Permanent; The AAA Association Operations Committee will review each committee advisory to the Board at least once in five years.
Committee Reports to: The Executive Board
Responsibilities:
- Develop pragmatic and measurable indices for examining the discipline's progress toward meeting the above objectives
- Promote recruitment of minorities, especially from underrepresented populations
- Promote full participation of minorities in the discipline
- Sponsor and foster discussions about issues that face minority anthropologists that hinder recognition of their intellectual contributions to the discipline
- Develop opportunities to educate colleagues at all levels of the profession about issues which impact anthropologists from underrepresented populations and about their contributions on core anthropological issues
- Sponsor and foster debates/presentations on cultural pluralism at Annual Meetings
- Develop a public education paper(s) seeking to frame cultural diversity issues for decision- makers and opinion makers
- Generate materials on cultural diversity in the U.S. for use in by instructors and teachers (K-12, community colleges, 4-year colleges, and universities)
- Promote greater understanding of cultural diversity within the discipline and with the general public
- Advocate involvement of anthropologists in cultural diversity issues
Membership and Appointment:
- 9 member committee including the Chair
- 3 year terms
- Committee members are elected at-large
- The Committee itself from among its members selects chair, for a period of one year. The Chair is selected at the Annual Meeting for service during the next calendar year.
- President and President-elect serve ex-officio
Product: The Committee Chair shall submit an annual program report and other periodic reports to the Executive Board. A summary of each regular meeting of the committee be published in the AN. As an AAA committee, the Committee may sponsor a regular session and conduct a special forum during each Annual Meeting. Occasional additional meetings, workshops or conferences on important issues may be convened as necessary.
Meetings and Schedule: At least two meetings each year should be held: one during the early Spring and another during the AAA Annual Meeting.
Staff Liaison and contact information: Kathleen Terry Sharp, Director, Academic Relations, American Anthropological Association, 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22201, 703/528-1902, fax 703/528-3546
COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN ANTHROPOLOGY Objectives: Monitor the status of women in the discipline and the American Anthropological Association advise the Executive Board on the status of women in the discipline and the Association to educate members.
Duration of Committee: Permanent; The AAA Association Operations Committee will review each committee advisory to the Board at least once in five years.
Committee Reports to: The Executive Board
Responsibilities:
- Monitor gender discrimination within the discipline
- Pursue greater parity for women in the discipline by means of:
- monitoring, including gathering information that illuminates issues that effect the diverse women in anthropology as well as efforts to obtain existing comparable survey data,
- advocating, including bringing findings before the Association's members, in the form of resolutions, when appropriate and
- educating, including distributing brochures, meeting with department chairs, setting up an interactive presence on the internet/web and writing periodic updates for the AN.
- Identify forms of sexual harassment in all settings where anthropologists work and learn including the varieties of biases that complicate issues regarding race/ethnicity, gender stereotyping and preferences, class, and disabilities.
- Interact on an ongoing basis with the Association's long range planning process on issues of gender parity.
Membership and Appointment: 9 member committee including the Chair
- 3 year terms
- Committee members are elected at-large with designated seats for:
- Practicing/professional anthropologist
- A graduate student anthropologist
- As well as 5 undesignated seats
- President and President-elect serve ex-officio
- Chair is by the Committee from within the Committee
Product: An annual program report and other periodic reports shall be submitted to the Executive Board. A summary of each regular meeting of the committee is published in the AN. As an AAA committee, the Committee sponsors a regular session and conduct a special forum during each Annual Meeting. Occasional additional meetings, workshops or conferences on important issues may be convened as necessary.
Meetings and Schedule: Two meetings are held each year: one during the late winter/early Spring and another during the Annual Meeting of the Association.
Staff Liaison and contact information: Suzanne Mattingly, Controller, American Anthropological Association, 2200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22201, 703/528-1902, fax 703/528-3546
COMMITTEE ON THE FUTURE OF PRINT AND ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING Objectives: The AAA Committee on the Future of Print and Electronic Publishing is established:
- To recommend policies to AAA's Committee on Scientific Communication and Finance Committee,
- To mutually advise and consult with the AAA staff,
- To advise and represent the AAA sections and AAA members With regard to:
- Broadening the dissemination of anthropological knowledge,
- The future development of AAA's electronic portal to anthropological materials
- AAA's current/future print and electronic publishing program and related information service programs and initiatives.
The EB adopted the following principles on June 2, 2007:
- Commitment to a diverse publications portfolio (to ensure a robust anthropology, and, and in recognition that such diversity is a strength of the discipline and of the AAA and
- Commitment to finding and developing a mechanism to ensure the survival of Sections made financially vulnerable by the transition to AnthroSource.
Duration of the Committee: Permanent
Committee Reports: Committee on Scientific Communication
Product:
- Immediate concerns (by mid 2007) include developing:
- Recommendations for changing the allocation of AnthroSource digital revenues
- Recommendations for changing the allocation of AnthroSource expenditures 3) Recommendations relative to changes in the over-all AnthroSource business plan.
- Longer-term concerns (2007/2008) include:
- Establishing and funding an anthropology digital repository
- Providing recommendations on the expansion of content on AnthroSource to include third-party material (including business model and inter-organizational operating agreements)
- Providing recommendations on the future of Anthropology News and E-News.
Membership and Appointment
- 9 member committee including chair
- Committee members are appointed (and maybe appointed for a second term, or extend current term), and includes members knowledgeable in five key functional areas in publishing, two key stakeholder groups and one general seat for publishing content and publishing partners. The objective is for 1/3rd of the initial members to come from ASSC, 1/3rd from AWG and 1/3rd to be new appointments. The chair is appointed for a two-year term. The "Membership Liaison" member, the "Section Liaison" member, the "Content and Partners" member and the "Finance" member are appointed for three-year terms. All other members are appointed for two-year terms.
LABOR RELATIONS COMMITTEE Duration of Committee: Permanent
Committee Reports to: The Executive Board
Responsibilities:
- to provide the AAA Executive Board information about labor conditions relevant to the EB's decisions about the scheduling of AAA annual meetings;
- to provide the AAA Executive Board information about labor conditions relevant to other EB decisions in regard to vendors and subcontractors, to the extent that it is feasible to do so.
- to seek information exchanges with other scholarly associations in regard to the above. Communication
- The EB, CSC and AOC shall make it their practice to be in communication with the CLR at the earliest possible stages of decisions they make that involve significant issues relevant to the CLR's charge seek information exchanges
- The CLR, Committee on Scientific Communications (CSC), and the Association Operations Committee (AOC) will communicate with each other through their Chairs as appropriate
Membership and Appointment: Eight (8) members, to include
- Chair and four (4) other individuals three to be appointed by AAA President and two to be elected.
- Ex officio AAA President
- Ex-officio AAA President-elect
Terms of office: Three year rotating terms
Product: Provide advice and counsel to the Executive Board or its designated committee as needed and written reports to the Executive Board as appropriate
Meetings: Annually at the AAA annual meeting
Contact information: Bill Davis, Executive Director, American Anthropological Association, 2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22201, (o) 703/528-1902, (f) 703/528-3546
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