The North America Section of the Society for Conservation Biology is excited to announce the start of its 2022 Board Special Election for the President Elect position! The election ballot will close on Monday, November 7th.
The President Elect position is a critical role on the SCBNA Board, as the first in the ‘President-series’ – a 6-year total commitment: 2 as President-Elect, 2 as President, 2 as Past-President. The President-Elect serves on the Executive Committee of the SCBNA Board, chairs the Conference Committee, and provides support for the President, including filling in as needed.
Even though there is only one excellent candidate running for President Elect, we still need SCBNA members to vote! Thank you for voting in this important election!
It’s easy to cast your ballot:
- Go to the SCB website and log in to your member home page (click “Member Login” at the top of the page).
- On your SCB member home page, click the link for the North America Section Election in the blue box at the top of the page.
- Read the candidates’ profile on the bottom of the ballot.
- Cast your vote.
- After you select your candidate scroll to the bottom of the page and click “submit” to validate your vote.
Not a Member?
Learn more about the President Elect Candidate:
Rebecca Hufft, PhD
Board Position: President-elect
Dr. Hufft is the Associate Director of Applied Conservation at Denver Botanic Gardens, where she has overseen plant conservation projects since 2011. Prior to coming to the Gardens, she received her doctorate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of California Santa Cruz, conducted a postdoctoral fellowship at Colorado State University, and served as a Senior Supervising Scientist at the National Ecological Observatory Network. She is a broadly trained conservation biologist whose research interests include restoration, urban biodiversity, ex situ conservation, long-term monitoring, and phenology. She co-chaired the North American Congress for Conservation Biology 2020 and has served as the Treasurer for SCBNA since 2020. She has enjoyed helping to shape society meetings and engaging with SCBNA members. As an SCBNA board member she has also participated in planning for the global organizational restructuring and looks forward to continuing to shape SCBNA as it moves through this transition. She would like to continue to support the organization and its mission by continuing to serve on the board as President-Elect, contributing her many years of research, education, outreach, and project management experience.
2021 Student Affairs Webinar Series
SCB North America’s Student Affairs Committee is hosting a 2021 webinar series on topics of interest to conservation students, early-career professionals, and others!
The fifth webinar in the monthly series is:
Conservation and Social Science: Harnessing Interdisciplinary Methods for Complex Issues
Wednesday, May 26
12-1:00pm PT | 3-4:00pm ET
Incorporating social science into practice and research is vital for improving conservation outcomes.
Join us as we discuss the intersection of conservation and social science with Dr. Arundhati Jagadish, Social Scientist at Conservation International, and Dr. Meredith Gore, Conservation Social Scientist at the University of Maryland.
Registration is required, please register at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUoceCqpjstE9IjZkpDH77kPDWnNe5DiE9M
Webinars are available to both SCB members and non-members. Webinars will be recorded and posted to the SCBNA YouTube Page – subscribe so you are notified when new recordings are posted! The first three webinar recordings are now available:
- Non-Traditional Careers in Academia
- Careers Outside of Academia: Agencies & Consulting Firms
- Science at Conservation’s Frontiers
Please contact megan.keville@scbnorthamerica.org with any questions related to the webinar series.
Make a difference in conservation and give back to your conservation community. Nominate yourself or someone else to serve on the Society for Conservation Biology North America (SCBNA) Board of Directors.
The Society for Conservation Biology is an international professional organization dedicated to advancing the science and practice of conserving the Earth’s biological diversity. SCBNA represents the North American continent north of Mexico (i.e., Canada and the United States). Although Mexico is a member of SCB’s Latin America and Caribbean Section, SCBNA members collaborate with Mexican colleagues on transboundary conservation issues. SCBNA envisions a world where people share diverse views of the value of diversity of life on Earth, and collaboratively work toward conservation among these plural understandings. We conceive of SCBNA as a diverse community of conservation professionals, practitioners, and stakeholders, and a leading scientific voice for the study and conservation of Earth’s biological diversity. SCBNA also works with other scientific societies and conservation organizations in North America to advance the application of science to conservation practice.
The Society for Conservation Biology’s North America Section invites you to nominate SCBNA members to stand for election for two open positions on the SCBNA Board of Directors. SCBNA is especially interested in increasing equity and inclusion at all levels, including on the board, and encourages nominations of individuals from historically underrepresented groups. Every board member attends one in-person meeting (financial support for travel is available) and 4-5 virtual SCBNA Board meetings per year plus performs committee work (e.g., meetings, writing). If cost of membership is a deterrent to nomination, the board will consider covering membership fees for successful nominees.
Historically, most nominations have been self-nominations which are always welcome. Before you nominate someone else, please ask if they are willing to be considered. Please indicate the office(s) for which you seek consideration. Each nominee must be a current member of SCBNA and demonstrate relevant skills and experience to the position being covered. After reviewing nominees, the SCBNA Nominations Committee will put forward the slate of candidates for each office and announce the start of the voting period. The term of each elected officer will begin July 1, 2021.
The call for nominations is open now through April 2, 2021. See the attached Board Code of Conduct and the SCBNA Bylaws for position descriptions and expectations of board members, and refer to the SCBNA website for further information on the section and activities. Please contact Karen Root, kvroot@bgsu.edu and Megan Keville, megan.keville@scbnorthamerica.org with additional questions regarding these positions.
The open seats are:
- President-Elect (6-year term: 2 as President-Elect, 2 as President, 2 as Past-President): The President-Elect serves on the Executive Committee of the SCBNA Board, chairs the Conference Committee, and provides support for the President, including filling in as needed. Chairing the conference committee includes playing a significant role in selecting the location for the upcoming NACCB as well as co-chairing the organizing committee for that meeting. The President provides leadership of the organization and the NA Board, as well as supervising NA staff and serving as the NA representative to the SCB Board of Governors. This includes attending both SCB Board of Governors and leading SCBNA Board meetings. The Past President provides support to the President providing institutional knowledge and support for the transition. Nominees for this position must have previously served on the SCBNA Board or another SCB Board (e.g., working group or SCB global board).
- Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Officer (3-year term): The Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Officer serves on the Executive Committee of the SCBNA Board, chairs the standing Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Committee, and participates regularly in quarterly board calls and meetings. The EID Officer facilitates and carries out initiatives designed to promote equity, inclusion and diversity within SCBNA, and works to increase equity, inclusion and diversity in the field of Conservation across all levels. This includes both mainstreaming equity, inclusion, and diversity in all regular tasks and events (such as the biannual North American Congress for Conservation Biology) and carrying out special projects intended to mainstream equity, inclusion, and diversity across the field of research and practice. The position requires exposure and experience in dealing with and addressing issues of equity, inclusion, and diversity in an institutional setting. We acknowledge that no one candidate will be able to fully understand and anticipate all experiences and impacts relevant for this role, so the position requires someone willing to work broadly across the board and society at large.
To submit a nomination please fill out the nomination form linked below by Friday, April 2, 2021. Please email megan.keville@scbnorthamerica.org with any questions. Elections will open in April 2021. Terms will begin July 1, 2021.
NOMINATION FORM:
________________________
Nomination Form — Board of Directors, Society for Conservation Biology – North America Section 2021
Nominations are sought for:
• President-Elect (6-year term; 2 as President-Elect, 2 as President, 2 as Past-President)
• Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Officer (3-year term)
DEADLINE: April 2, 2021
ELECTIONS: April 2021
Nominees must be members in good standing with the Society for Conservation Biology as well as members of the North America Section, and must be willing to run for election before the deadline. In addition, we encourage nominations of candidates from both the US and Canada to achieve geographic diversity in our board representation. In this round of elections, we seek to fill at least one of the two open positions with a Canadian colleague.
By agreeing to stand for election, nominees indicate their willingness to serve the SCB North America Section by attending Board of Directors meetings during their term of office. In-person meetings occur yearly (coincident with NACCB during Congress years) with multiple virtual meetings throughout the year. In addition, Board members are expected to be actively engaged in directing the SCB North America Section through committee work and active engagement in the work of the section. Board members are also expected to adhere to the code of conduct in all aspects of their representation of SCBNA.
The North America Society for Conservation Biology is appalled by the invasion of the Capitol building by white nationalists. We are equally appalled by the clear difference in police response in which white supremacists violently breaking into federal buildings are met with very little resistance and people of color protesting peacefully or simply walking in a national park are met with militarized police violence and brutality, in many cases resulting in their death. We recognize that many of our members know all too well these harsh realities of institutionalized racism in their professional and personal lives and that all of us live within human and natural communities that are negatively impacted by how marginalized peoples are systemically oppressed. We also recognize that these vital issues are inseparable from who we are, how we do our work, and the fate of biodiversity.
The board of SCBNA reaffirms our commitment to continuing to work to address systemic racism and biased power structures in our own organization and within conservation biology, be it in our academic institutions, organizations, research projects, foundations or communities we work within. We also commit to using our unique voice to call on the new administration to make addressing institutionalized racism, sexism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination an immediate priority.
*Statement authored by SCBNA Board Member Dr. Jessa Madosky, Past-President
Signed,
The Board of Directors of the Society for Conservation Biology North America
Karen Root, President
Rebecca McCaffery, President-Elect
Jessa Madosky, Past-President
Gerald Singh, Equity, Inclusion & Diversity Officer
Rebecca Hufft, Treasurer
Alysha Cypher, Secretary & Chapters Representative
Jessica Pratt, Vice President for Education & Chapters
Erin Sexton, Vice President for Policy & Programs
Melissa Cronin, Student Representative
Lauren Jonaitis, Member at Large
Paige Olmsted, Member at Large
*As of 12/17/20, SCBNA has completed review of applications and is no longer accepting applications for this position. Thank you to everyone who submitted applications!
The SCBNA board and staff are pleased to offer a remote, part-time, 6-month paid communications internship with our Communications Committee. The aim of this position is to increase SCBNA’s capacity to communicate and interact with members and potential members. We seek applicants who have experience and/or education in communications, writing, social media, and/or marketing, as well as education or training in ecology and/or conservation biology. The successful candidate is expected to provide support on SCBNA’s social media accounts, as well as seek new and innovative ways to reach and interact with our diverse membership. Desired content across communication platforms will include updates and announcements, information about our biennial conference, the North American Congress of Conservation Biology (NACCB), and general conservation news and storytelling. The successful applicant may also assist with other communications outreach, such as e-newsletters and website content. Candidates who have experience in updating website content are highly desired. The intern will regularly interact with and gauge the online/communications needs of SCBNA members, will report directly to the Communications Committee Chair and Director of Operations, and may collaborate with other Communications Committee members. Regular meetings and communications with these parties will be required.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Knowledge and experience with digital communication tools, including social media platforms
- Interest, education, and/or training in ecology and conservation biology
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Experience with graphic design, photography, and web-based design programs.
- Creativity in communicating content in effective and unique ways
TIME COMMITMENT: Five (5) to eight (8) hours a week for six (6) months with target start date in January 2021
COMPENSATION: $20 an hour for six (6) months, estimated 5-8 hours per week
APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Applicants should submit the following application materials electronically in a single pdf document to be considered for this position: Resume, cover letter, and names and contact information for two (2) references.
To apply, please email your application to Communications Committee Chair, Lauren Jonaitis, jonaitislauren@gmail.com. Review of applications will begin December 1, 2020. Review of applications has been completed and we are no longer accepting applications for the position. Inquiries about the position should be directed via email to Lauren Jonaitis. The anticipated approximate start date for the internship is January 2021.
SCBNA is committed to increasing equity and inclusion within the field of conservation biology and in its board and staff members. To this end, SCBNA has an Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Officer on the board and an Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Committee. We offer grants to attend congresses, follow best practices in conference design (including such things as gender neutral bathrooms, providing a private place for nursing or other needs, providing sign language interpreters, etc.), run sessions on equity and inclusion at congresses, and are currently working on an Allyship program to increase the effectiveness of allies in addressing equity issues in the field of conservation. We recognize that this work will never be complete and we are committed to continually evaluating and improving our equity and inclusion work.
As noted above, SCBNA strives to advance equity and inclusion in the field of conservation and within our organization. We strongly encourage members of underrepresented groups in the field of conservation to apply for this position. Applicants are not required to be current members of the Society for Conservation Biology.