As we continue our efforts to be transparent and clearly communicate how the Board is working to advance AAA’s mission, I am excited to present the motions approved at the Spring 2026 Board Meeting!
We made three decisions regarding the Nominating Committee and the nominating process. The current committee chair, Martine Dunnwald, is to be renewed for a one-year term. We approved the Nominating Committee Roster and created a Nominations Eligibility Policy for members running for elected positions. The policy includes guardrails that require candidates to be in good standing with the association, not have a pending or active violation of AAA’s Code of Conduct, and if a candidate is a chair or vice chair of a committee, they must complete their term as chair to avoid any disruption to the committee.
We met and collaborated with the DEI committee, which proposed a name change to allow members to remain active in their committee work. With committee feedback and guidance, we voted to rename the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to the Community and Belonging Committee.
We made three adjustments that should expand accessibility to AAA membership. We developed a Hardship Discount policy, which creates a formal process for members facing difficult times financially or who are from a low-income country to receive a temporary discount on membership dues. We also voted to introduce a New Graduate discount to provide a one-time discount for student or postdoc members who are new to a Professional role in the anatomical sciences. The Early-Career membership category will end at the end of 2026.
We voted to extend the Interim Director’s contract through October 2026, and, finally, as many of you know from our 2026 Business Meeting, we approved the 2026 Strategic Plan. The full details of the plan are now available on our website and are being considered in every committee’s plans for the upcoming year’s projects!
Best,
Anne Burrows, Ph.D., FAAA
AAA President
Duquesne University