Make Hope Visible—Call for SAA Leadership Volunteers

The deadline to submit leader nominations has been extended to January 12, 2026.

Brenda Gunn, CA FSAA, SAA Vice-President/President-Elect

Why volunteer for SAA service? Let me make a few cases for volunteering and sharing your time.

A case for earnestness. On a recent New York Times podcast episode, poet and novelist Ocean Vuong said “. . . earnestness is kind of frowned upon because it almost means you’ve been duped—it’s like, ‘Oh you believe in this too much? You clearly haven’t thought that deeply about it.’”

What does it mean to be earnest at this moment? It seems much harder than it ever has been to go all in on something. And therefore, being earnest is a radical act.

A case for showing up. Civil Rights leader Julian Bond said in a speech about student protests (ca. 1980), “I remind you that for visions to become reality people must act. And one of the most effective means of action is political involvement.” We can take Bond’s notes about action as a call to become involved in meaningful causes and efforts. Coupling earnestness and showing up are acts of care.

A case for hope. Many of us have felt the direct impact of recent upheavals—massive reductions in federal agencies, elimination and cancellation of grants that sustained our work, the federal shutdown that has disrupted livelihoods, attacks on and outright prohibitions on IDEA work. The uncertainty is real, and the challenges facing our field are significant.

And this is precisely when showing up matters most. When volunteering with SAA, we make hope visible. We demonstrate that regardless of what's happening around us, the future we want for our field is worth our sustained commitment and collective effort.

A case for joy. Yes, joy, even in these times. I’m always moved by the work of American poet and essayist Ross Gay, who claims that he studies joy, and has written one book of essays about joy and two books on delight. For Gay, joy is a radical act.

Make an impact that matters.

This is the moment when professional associations become essential infrastructure. When federal support becomes unreliable, we create alternative networks of support and knowledge-sharing. When funding shrinks or disappears altogether, we help each other identify new pathways forward. When institutional stability wavers, we strengthen the foundations of our field through the daily, disciplined work of showing up.

Develop yourself while serving others.

Here's the beautiful mutuality of service—as you contribute your time and effort, you grow in ways that matter:

Build leadership capacity
Open doors to leadership opportunities
Connect with mentors, collaborators, and friends who provide support both professionally and personally
Provide insider perspective on how our field navigates complexity and finds resilience

Ready to make hope visible?

When we show up—especially when it's hard—hope becomes visible. When we work together—especially now—hope becomes powerful. As former SAA President David B. Gracy II wrote in the American Archivist (Winter 1984), “we must begin somewhere, let it be here. We must begin sometime, let it be now.”

Join SAA in upholding the idea that archives are essential to a democratic society. Volunteer now!

How to Volunteer

For the 2026 appointments cycle, there are more than 90 positions to be filled across SAA's 25+ appointed groups, which include boards, committees, subcommittees, task forces, and working groups. Review the list of available positions below and choose up to five groups which make you want to serve. Then, submit your leadership self-nomination form by January 12, 2026.

There are many ways to learn about an SAA group before applying. Check the group's microsite for recent information and the current leadership roster. Ask current group members about their experiences, the time commitment, ebbs and flows in the work, and relationships to other component groups. SAA's Leader Resources page also has great information about the general responsibilities of leadership positions.

Starting in January 2026, the Appointments Committee will review and consult with group leaders to make sure we understand each group’s needs, particularly regarding the diversity of our membership. In this context, diversity includes race and ethnicity, gender identity/expression, years in the profession, geographic region, abilities, and type of archival repository experience. Individuals will be appointed to one position at a time, and current leaders will not be reappointed to a second term unless there is a critical requirement to continue some aspect of the work beyond their original term.

Nomination Form

Appointments Available in 2026

The following groups will have vacancies, with new terms beginning in August 2026. Review descriptions of the groups by following the links below, and then volunteer to serve. The call for the 2027 Host Committee will be done once the site location for ARCHIVES*RECORDS 2027 has been confirmed.

Application Deadline: January 12, 2026

Available Positions

American Archivist Editorial Board (1)

Committee on Education (3)

Committee on Ethics and Professional Conduct (2)

Committee on Public Awareness (2)

Committee on Public Policy (4; 1 mid-term)

Committee on Research, Data, and Assessment (2)

Crisis, Disaster, and Tragedy Response Working Group (3)

Dictionary Working Group (2)

Diversity Committee (2)

Finance Committee (1)