• Four (4) Board Members at large
• One (1) Vice-President

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The members of the Board of Directors of the Haitian Studies Association are elected by the general membership at the annual conference and by electronic balloting prior to the conference and serve a three-year term. Board members can be re-elected for additional terms. The Board is composed of elected (including a student representative), and advisory members who, in turn, elect the officers of the board. The elected officers of the Board of Directors are the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Advisory Board is comprised of the current Executive Director, the immediate Past President, and the Editor of the Journal of Haitian Studies (JOHS). Collectively, these members are the governing body of the Haitian Studies Association. 

The Vice President, elected by the membership, shall serve in that capacity for a term of one-year following the Annual Conference. Upon completion of his/her term, she/he shall become the President. The membership of the Association shall elect a new Vice President every year, by email ballot (or if necessary at the first two days of the Annual Conference), according to the procedures prescribed in the By-Laws. The Vice-President assists the President in the functioning and management of the organization and serves as Program Chair for the annual conference. 

• The President shall serve a one-year term following the annual conference.  The President is HSA’s Chief Executive Officer and provides leadership and direction for HSA. The President is HSA’s official representative and spokesperson before other institutions, groups or individuals. The President shall serve as Chairperson of the Board of Directors. The President shall convene and preside over Board meetings and the annual business meeting. The President, with the advice and consent of the majority of the Council members, shall appoint such committees as specified in the By-Laws. The President also appoints any Task Force Committee deemed necessary to carry out HSA’s mission and goals. At the end of his/her term, the President along with the Executive Director shall submit a final report to the Board of Director on the conference and activities of HSA.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOARD MEMBERS

Each Board member is expected

• To be knowledgeable about and support the organization’s mission, services, policies, and programs.
• Support the Board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities.
• Attend all board and committee meetings and functions, which consist of the Annual Conference held either in October or November, as well as the Annual Board Meeting held every April ( the location of both meetings varying in accordance with the location of the conference), and in addition periodical – usually monthly – conference calls, variable according to work to be done.
• Serve on standing and ad hoc committees or task forces, and offer to take on special assignments.
• Recruit members to and inform scholars about the Association.
• Seek candidates (for election to the Board) who can make significant contributions to the work of the Board and the Association.
• Keep up-to-date on major developments in Haitian Studies.
• Serve the full length of the three-year term.
• Active participation is required to remain a member of the board (no participation may lead to removal). 

NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS

Each nominee for Board membership

• must have been a member of HSA for two of the last five years
• must have attended two out of the last five Haitian Studies Association Conferences
• must be enrolled in an accredited full-time program to be a student representative 

 NOMINATION PROCEDURES

All members of the Haitian Studies Association may enter a nomination. Self-nominations are welcomed. Board members may be nominated to run for election again.

Nomination materials should include a brief statement (400 words maximum) describing expertise, experience, and interest in Haitian Studies, and a recent CV and a photo. The deadline for nominations is September 3, 2021. Voting will take place by electronic ballot prior to the conference dates. The newly elected Board Members will be announced at the business meeting at the conclusion of the conference.

To enter a nomination or self-nomination, please complete the form here.