AFS Announces Candidates for 2026 Election

The AFS Nominating Committee (chaired by Naomi Sturm-Wijesinghe with members Betty Belanus, Ian Brodie, and Kelley Totten) has announced its slate of candidates for each available office in the AFS 2026 election.

President-Elect (one to be elected to a four-year, 2027–30 term):
Maribel Álvarez (Southwest Folklife Alliance, University of Arizona)
Katherine Borland (The Ohio State University, Emerita)

Executive Board (two to be elected to three-year, 2027–29 terms):
Constance Bailey (Georgia State University)
Thomas Grant Richardson (Washington Cultures)
Brenda M. Romero (University of Colorado Boulder, Emerita)
Jennie Williams (West Virginia Humanities Council, West Virginia Folklife)

Nominating Committee (one to be elected to a three-year, 2027–29 term):
Suzanne Godby Ingalsbe (Institute for Advanced Study, Indiana University)
Micah Ling (Michigan Traditional Arts Program, Michigan State University)

We will post biographical summaries and platform statements from all candidates on the Elections page of the AFS website in the coming weeks.

We have invited all candidates to participate in a virtual Candidates’ Forum to be held in mid-November. Secure online voting will begin after the Candidates’ Forum and will continue through December 17. Those elected will take office on January 1, 2027.

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

No later than November 10, please submit the following materials by email to AFS Executive Director Jessica Turner (jturner@afsnet.org):

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)

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