AFS Announces Candidates for 2022 Election

The AFS Nominating Committee (chaired by Anika Wilson with members Sarah Gordon, Fernando Orejuela and Guha Shankar) has announced its slate of candidates for the AFS 2022 election.

President-Elect (one to be elected for a four-year, 2023-2026 term):

• Amy E. Skillman (Goucher College) 
• Juwen Zhang (Willamette University) 

Executive Board (three to be elected to three-year, 2023-2025 terms):

• Junious Brickhouse (Urban Artistry, Inc.) 
• Ann K. Ferrell (Western Kentucky University) 
• Emily Hartlerode (Oregon Folklife Network, University of Oregon) 
• Steven Hatcher (Idaho Arts Commission, Folk and Traditional Arts) 
• Jerrilyn McGregory (Florida State University) 
• Cory W. Thorne (Memorial University of Newfoundland) 

Nominating Committee (one to be elected to a three-year,  2023-2025 term):

• Carrie Hertz  (Museum of International Folk Art) 
• Sarah Milligan (Oklahoma State University)

As described in the AFS Bylaws, Society members now have the opportunity to add names to this slate by petition. Here is the process:

No later than October 4, please submit the following materials by email to AFS Executive Director Jessica Turner ([email protected]): 

1. A petition signed by at least 10 current AFS members that names the candidate and the office for which s/he is being nominated (please submit as a PDF)
2. A statement from the candidate agreeing to run (please submit as a PDF)
3. A 100-word biographical summary for the candidate (please submit in .doc or .rtf format)
4. A 250-word platform statement from the candidate responding to the question “What are the most significant opportunities or challenges now facing AFS, and how as [President / a member of the Executive Board / a member of the Nominating Committee] would you respond to those opportunities or challenges?” (please submit in .doc or .rtf format)

We will post biographical summaries and platform statements from all candidates on the elections page of the AFS web site mid-October. 

We have invited all candidates to participate in a Candidates’ Forum in coordination with the 2022 Annual Meeting, and we invite everyone who will be at the meeting to attend the Candidates Reception to meet the candidates. Secure online voting will begin around November 1 and will continue through December 16. Those elected will take office on January 1, 2023. 

The Executive Board thanks the members of the Committee for their work to assemble this slate, and all candidates for their willingness to serve the field and AFS.