We seek six individuals to join the AJS Board of Directors. This is an open call to the membership for nominations or self-nominations.
At the end of the year, the AJS Board of Directors will have six open spaces as one-third of the board rotates off at the end of a three-year term. The AJS Nominating Committee, acting on behalf of the organization, is issuing an open call to the membership for nominations or self-nominations, the first step in the process to elect new board members. Once the Nominating Committee receives the names, we will choose six of the nominated members to form an election slate that will be presented to the membership for a vote this fall and who, if elected, will take office in December 2026. (For full information on AJS election procedures, see the amended and restated bylaws of the Association for Jewish Studies, inc.)
The Nominating Committee consists of members at different institutions, in diverse sorts of job roles and career stages, with varying kinds of engagement with AJS in the past, and with a range of scholarly interests. In choosing six members to form the slate, we will be looking for members who are able to contribute to the mission and promote the core values of AJS, who are able to fulfill the fiduciary role of board members to act in the best interests of the organization, and who will add various and diverse perspectives to the Board. You can learn more about Board roles and responsibilities in this PDF.
The AJS values diversity and inclusiveness in the Jewish Studies profession and in the many research disciplines and teaching contexts that contribute to the vibrancy of Jewish Studies scholarship. We are committed to eliminating barriers to full participation based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, disability, and employment status. We especially welcome nominees from groups historically underrepresented on the board.
All AJS members with terminal degrees in their field and at any career stage are eligible to be nominated for consideration for the Board. This open nomination process is vital to the work of the Association. We urge you to make your voice heard and to help the AJS by taking part and submitting nominations or self-nominations to ensure a large and diverse pool of candidates. When submitting nominations and self-nominations, please take seriously the questions asked. The answers will help the nominating committee understand relevant past experiences, potential contributions, and the interests of all the nominees.
Nominations and Self-Nominations are due Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Should you have any questions about board expectations or serving on the board, please reach out to the chair of the Nominating Committee (dfreiden@colby.edu).
David Freidenreich, chair
Victoria Aarons
Zachary Baker
Margarete Feinstein
Ariel Feldestein
Avinoam Patt
Hannah Zaves-Greene
