Thank you for your interest in learning about engagement opportunities at ASA. Below you’ll find descriptions of a variety of opportunities in the association. If you think you might be interested in some of these activities, please fill in this form. Do not hesitate to check multiple boxes. Submitting this form is simply an expression of interest, not a commitment to serve. Most positions only become available annually, and many generate more interested people than there are open spots, so there is no guarantee you will be contacted for a position and you may be contacted after some time passes. But please know your expression of interest will be sent to the relevant people charged with filling the positions for which you have expressed interest. We greatly appreciate your willingness to consider serving the association. Thank you for your generosity of time and spirit. Please note that all opportunities require an active ASA membership throughout the term of service. Prior to service for some positions, members are asked to complete ethics disclosure and conflict of interest forms. If you have questions, please contact Mark Fernando, ASA Director of Governance and Administration, at [email protected].

Communities
Sections
Annual Meeting
Award Selection Committees
Programs and Research
Committees and Boards
Standing Committees
Council

Contact Information

First Name(Required)

Last Name(Required)

Email Address(Required)

Current workplace or affiliation

Position/Title

Engagement Opportunities

Communities

Communities are spaces for connection, belonging, and networking that transcend research foci and are avenues for professional development that provide a broad range of opportunities for engagement and leadership in ASA. Each Community is structured differently and is comprised of different roles open to all career levels, including students, with many virtual and Annual Meeting engagement opportunities. Following is a general list of engagement opportunities that apply to many but not all Communities. Please select a general area of engagement you are interested in pursuing, and your name and contact information will be forwarded to the leaders of the selected Communities.

Elected Community Leader

Communications Committee (e.g. social media, newsletters, website)

Membership Committee Member

Mentorship Committee Member

Open to other opportunities not listed here

Communities of Interest

Select one or more Communities you’d like to engage with by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking each Community name.

Sections

Sections are a great place to start service within ASA as they have many engagement opportunities. Each Section is structured differently and is comprised of different roles open to all career levels, including students, with many virtual and Annual Meeting engagement opportunities. Following is a general list of engagement opportunities that apply to many but not all Sections. Please select ones you are interested in pursuing, and your name and contact information will be forwarded to the leaders of the selected Sections.

Sections of Interest

Select one or more Sections you’d like to engage with by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking each Section name.

Annual Meeting

Session Presider - These presiders are responsible for determining speaking order, introducing presenters, and keeping the session and presentations on time. Appropriate for all career levels; engagement requires Annual Meeting attendance.

Session Discussant - Discussants are responsible for reviewing papers in advance of the Annual Meeting via the online portal and engaging panelists and audience members in discussion of papers. Appropriate for all career levels; engagement requires Annual Meeting attendance.

Roundtable Table Presider - These presiders are responsible for determining speaking order and introducing presenters, keeping the session and presenters on time, and facilitating discussion at the table. Appropriate for all career levels; engagement requires Annual Meeting attendance.

Speaker for a Prep/Pavilion Talk - Opportunity to serve as a guest speaker for 45-minute in-person sessions at the Annual Meeting. Focused on academic, professional, and career-related topics, ASA members can share practical tips and advice with an audience eager to learn more about how to navigate their career paths. Appropriate for all career levels; engagement requires Annual Meeting attendance.

Speaker for the Department Leader Preconference - Opportunities to serve as guest speakers and roundtable facilitators at the Department Leader Preconference at the Annual Meeting. This preconference focuses on leadership and departmental development and is designed for mid-career and senior faculty to share ideas, strategies, and tips on departmental issues to help fellow leaders grow in their roles. Appropriate for mid-career level and beyond; engagement requires Annual Meeting attendance.

Honors Program Volunteer - Honors Program volunteers can serve as a panelist, mentor, or roundtable presider. These sessions support undergraduates exploring graduate study and sociology careers. This is an opportunity to share your knowledge, insights, and passion for sociology with an eager group of undergraduates. Appropriate for graduate students and early career faculty; engagement requires Annual Meeting attendance.

Sociology in Practice Settings Symposium Committee Member - Sociologists in applied or practice settings are encouraged to help shape the Annual Meeting’s Sociology in Practice Settings Symposium. Committee members review abstracts and organize Annual Meeting sessions that highlight real world applications of sociology. Time commitment of 3-5 hours per year, with most activity in February-March. Two-year term. Appropriate for all career levels; engagement requires Annual Meeting attendance.

Teaching and Learning Symposium Committee Member - Opportunity for faculty at all ranks to review abstracts and organize sessions for the Annual Meeting’s Teaching and Learning Symposium focused on effective teaching and pedagogy. Time commitment of 3-5 hours per year, with most activity in February-March. Two-year term. Appropriate for all career levels; engagement requires Annual Meeting attendance.

Award Selection Committees

Committee members are responsible for sharing the call for nominations (September – December) and reviewing nomination materials (January – April). Click on the name of each award below to learn more about it. Time commitment is approximately 2-4 hours a year for all committees except for the Dissertation Award and the Distinguished Scholarly Book Award which can be more depending on the number of nominations. Peak activity is February – April. Award selection committee members are nominated by the Committee on Committees and appointed by Council for three-year terms. Appropriate for all post-PhD career levels; all engagement is virtual.

Cox-Johnson-Frazier Award Selection Committee

Dissertation Award Selection Committee

Distinguished Career Award for the Practice of Sociology Selection Committee

Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award Selection Committee

Distinguished Scholarly Book Award Selection Committee

Early Career Award for Community-Engaged Scholarship

Jessie Bernard Award Selection Committee

Public Understanding of Sociology Award Selection Committee

W.E.B. Du Bois Career of Distinguished Scholarship Award Selection Committee

Programs and Research

Speaker for Proseminars/Webinars - ASA provides opportunities to serve as a guest speaker for virtual sessions for webinars (open to all members) and proseminars (open to graduate students). These 60-minute sessions cover various professional and academic topics and are an excellent opportunity for members to share their unique knowledge, insight, and expertise with an engaged and curious audience. Appropriate for all career levels; all engagement is virtual.

Speaker for Department Leaders - Guest speakers present at virtual sessions designed specifically for department leaders. These 60-minute sessions focus on leadership, recruitment, and departmental issues, offering a valuable opportunity to share your experience to support fellow leaders. Appropriate for mid-career and beyond; all engagement is virtual.

Committees and Boards

Annual Meeting Travel Fund Award Selection Committee - The committee is responsible for reviewing applications and making funding decisions for the Annual Meeting Travel Fund. The committee meets virtually in April/May. The approximate time commitment is 2-3 hours a year. There is some review work in preparation for the meeting. Members are nominated by the Committee on Committees and appointed by Council for three-year terms. Appropriate for mid-career and beyond; all engagement is virtual.

Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIG) Review Panel - The ASA DDRIG review panel consists of PhD sociologists from diverse institutional contexts with expertise in a variety of subareas and methods in the discipline. Panelists review up to 20 proposals between November and January and attend one virtual panel meeting in February. Panelists should have at least a few years post-PhD experience and will be required to read a broad range of sociological topics and provide constructive feedback on proposals; all engagement is virtual.

Honors Program Advisory Board Member - ASA provides opportunities for faculty to mentor students (virtually and in person) and attend Honors Program events at the Annual Meeting as members of the Honors Program Advisory Board. This is an excellent opportunity for faculty members at all ranks to provide insights into the hidden curriculum, mentor undergraduate students, and shape guidance for the future of the Honors Program. Appropriate for all faculty levels; engagement is virtual and in-person at the Annual Meeting.

Journal Reviewer - Editors of ASA journals select reviewers for manuscripts submitted to their respective journals. We will share your interest in reviewing with ASA editors along with the interest areas you have identified in your ASA Membership profile. Invitations to review are sent at editors’ discretion. Appropriate for all careers levels; all engagement is virtual.

Public Engagement Advisory Committee (PEAC) - Committee members work with the ASA communications department who contacts them about media requests, rapid response reports (policy briefs), and other communications needs. This committee is also instrumental in reviewing applications for, and selecting, Policy Outreach Program Fellows. Members are appointed by Council for two-year terms. Appropriate for all career levels; all engagement is virtual.

Sociology Action Network (SAN) -Members provide support, resources, and educational opportunities to sociologists who are interested in collaborative, community-engaged approaches to research and teaching and help ASA and its members understand and recognize these approaches as essential to today’s sociology. SAN selects the Community Action Research Initiative Grant recipients. The approximate time commitment is 1-2 hours a month, plus approximately 10 total hours September—October to review applications. Appropriate for mid-career and senior faculty with experience in community engaged scholarship; all engagement is virtual.

Student Advisory Board Member - ASA provides opportunities for students to serve on the Student Advisory Board to represent student voices and support engaging programming throughout the year. Students Advisory Board members attend virtual monthly meetings, help plan events, and review Annual Meeting-related submissions. Time commitment 1-6 hours per month, peak activity February-April. Two-year term. Appropriate for graduate students and undergraduate students; engagement is virtual and in-person at the Annual Meeting.

TRAILS Editorial Board Member - ASA provides opportunities for faculty to review teaching resource submissions and join two meetings per year as members of the TRAILS Editorial Board (approx. 2-6 hours/month). This is an excellent opportunity for faculty members at all levels to support the Sociology of Teaching and Learning and evaluation of teaching by helping curate and elevate peer-reviewed teaching materials for a 3-year, renewable, term. Appropriate for all faculty levels; all engagement is virtual.

Standing Committees

Awards Committee. This committee typically meets once per year that requires some preparatory work. Sometimes non-standard issues arise that prompt additional email discussion or additional meetings. Time commitment is approximately 4-5 hours a year. Members are nominated by the Committee on Committees and appointed by Council for three-year terms. Appropriate for all post-PhD career levels; all engagement is virtual.

Committee on Committees. This committee meets in September and February. Time commitment is approximately 10-12 hours a year. Most activity is September – February. Members are nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected in an ASA-wide election for two-year terms. Appropriate for all post-PhD career levels; all engagement is virtual.

Committee on Professional Ethics. This committee meets periodically to review policies or to review cases. All meetings and work are done virtually. Members are nominated by the Committee on Committees and appointed by Council for three-year terms. Appropriate for senior career level faculty with administrative experience; all engagement is virtual.

Nominating Committee. This committee meets in September and March. Time commitment is approximately 10-12 hours a year. Most activity is September – March. Members are nominated by the Council Members-at-Large and elected in an ASA-wide election for two-year terms. Appropriate for mid-career and beyond; all engagement is virtual.

Publications Committee. This committee meets in January and July each year. Advanced reading is required for each meeting. Sometimes non-standard issues arise that prompt additional email discussion or additional virtual meetings. Committee members are often asked to serve on subcommittees related to, for example, a policy issue or seeking new editors for journals. Time commitment is approximately 10-12 hours a year; this number may be slightly higher for those serving on subcommittees. Members are nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected in an ASA-wide election for three-year terms. Appropriate for mid-career and beyond; all engagement is virtual.

Sections Committee. This committee meets in January and June/July, if necessary, each year. There is some preparatory work required for each meeting including, for example, review of annual section reports. Sometimes non-standard issues arise that prompt additional email discussion or additional virtual meetings. Time commitment is approximately 6-8 hours a year. Peak activity is between November and January. Members are nominated by the Committee on Committees and appointed by Council for three-year terms. Appropriate for all post-PhD career levels; all engagement is virtual.

Council

As per ASA’s Bylaws, Council “exercise[s] all corporate powers and fiduciary responsibility over the affairs of ASA and is responsible for the overall strategic direction and policymaking of the Association.” Council is what ASA calls its board of directors. Typically, Council meets in person in March over two days, in person for two days immediately after the Annual Meeting, and briefly virtually in December. Each meeting requires significant advance reading. Non-standard issues sometimes arise that prompt additional email discussion and virtual meetings. Each position has additional specific responsibilities. Council members-at-large, for example, serve as liaisons to other committees, and the President plans the Annual Meeting. The time commitment for each Council position is significant. Members of Council are nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected in an ASA-wide election. Read the ASA Bylaws to learn more. Appropriate for tenured faculty and beyond; significant engagement required virtually, at the Annual Meeting, and at additional in-person venues as required.

President (with one-year successive terms of President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President)

Vice President (with one-year successive terms of Vice President-Elect, Vice President, and Immediate Past Vice President)

Secretary-Treasurer (with one-year term as Secretary-Treasurer-Elect and a three-year term as Secretary-Treasurer)

Council Member-at-Large (with a three-year term)

Relevant Experience

Help the various nominating groups get to know your knowledge, experience, and skills to help match you to the appropriate positions/most relevant programming you selected.

Provide your online profile:

Website

Upload your CV or Resume

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, Max. file size: 25 MB.

Which option(s) aligns most closely with your background/knowledge in professional development? (Select all that apply).

Describe up to three areas of expertise for which you would be interested in presenting or reviewing.

Expertise 1

Expertise 2

Expertise 3

What best describes you?

I am a student.

I am a full-time college or university faculty member.

I am a part-time college or university faculty member.

I am a high school faculty member.

I am a retired sociologist.

I am a sociologist working in an applied setting.

I am a non-sociologist.

I am not employed.

Other

Have you ever participated as a volunteer at ASA, either in an ASA-wide role or Section or Community role?

Yes

Aging and the Life Course
Altruism, Morality, and Social Solidarity
Animals and Society
Asia and Asian America
Biology and Society
Children and Youth
Collective Behavior and Social Movements
Communication, Information Technologies, and Media
Community and Urban Sociology
Comparative-Historical Sociology
Consumers and Consumption
Creative Sociology
Crime, Law, and Deviance
Decision-Making, Social Networks, and Society
Disability in Society
Drugs and Society
Economic Sociology
Environmental Sociology
Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis
Family
Global and Transnational Sociology
Global Middle East and North Africa
History of Sociology and Social Thought
Inequality, Poverty, and Mobility
International Migration
Labor and Labor Movements
Latino/a Sociology
Marxist Sociology
Mathematical Sociology
Medical Sociology
Methodology
Organizations, Occupations, and Work
Peace, War, and Social Conflict
Political Economy of the World-System
Political Sociology
Race, Gender, and Class
Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Science, Knowledge, and Technology
Social Psychology
Sociological Practice and Public Sociology
Sociology of Culture
Sociology of Development
Sociology of Education
Sociology of Emotions
Sociology of Human Rights
Sociology of Indigenous Peoples and Native Nations
Sociology of Law
Sociology of Mental Health
Sociology of Population
Sociology of Religion
Sociology of Sex and Gender
Sociology of Sexualities
Sociology of the Body and Embodiment
Teaching and Learning in Sociology
Theory

Engagement Opportunities within ASA

Contact Information

Engagement Opportunities

Communities

Sections

Annual Meeting

Award Selection Committees

Programs and Research

Committees and Boards

Standing Committees

Council

Relevant Experience