The 2025 Governance & Nominations Committee is proud to present the 2026 Leadership Slate for AFA Board of Directors candidates.

The Governance & Nominations Committee has provided the following items to AFA voting members that will assist them in gaining more insight into the candidates and their skills, talents, and experiences:

• The candidate’s resume/vitae;
• The candidate’s responses to a series of short answer questions; and
• The candidate’s ‘Board Allocation Exercise’, designed to provide insight into how the candidate may allocate their time and energy.

Candidates were also asked to record and submit video responses to the following question prompts:

1. What compelled you to pursue this opportunity to serve on the AFA Board of Directors?
2. You were asked to complete a Board allocation exercise that outlined how you think about where the Board spends its time and energy. What additional insight would you offer that helps AFA members understand how you approached that exercise?
3. There has been a seismic shift in higher education that continues to have a lasting impact on our profession’s future (such as global health crises, changing economic conditions, and state and federal regulatory influence). Where do you think AFA can and should be responsive to external influences, and where do you think AFA should stand firm in its current positions?
4.  AFA Board members are asked to make complex decisions that require the consideration of multiple perspectives. Provide an example of when you had to make a complex decision that had to consider multiple perspectives. How did you collectively arrive at a decision that was representative of your entire audience?

These recorded responses are also available for you to view for each candidate.

The Governance & Nominations Committee evaluated candidates for potential Board service using the following guiding criteria: 

• The candidate’s ability to both understand and engage in the strategic thinking necessary for Board service;  
• The candidate’s ability to actively understand the fiduciary responsibility of non-profit board service and to effectively manage conflicts of interest; 
• The candidate’s ability to engage in the strategic resource allocation necessary to advance AFA; 
• The candidate’s ability to engage in complex, multi-faceted decision-making;
• The candidate’s understanding of and commitment to AFA’s position on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.  

Members will ultimately elect two (2) candidates to the AFA Board of Directors

Voting for candidates will commence on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. All members actively registered or renewed by Tuesday, July 29 will be eligible to vote in the leadership elections. Current and future members are invited to visit https://afa1976.org/join-afa/ for more information about how to become or renew your AFA membership.  

Thank you to the 2025 Governance & Nominations Committee for their substantial work in recruiting, reviewing, and selecting candidates to serve our Association. Your work is deeply appreciated. 

• Dr. Joshua Schutts, chair
• Dr. Will Frankenberger
• Freddy Juarez
• Hailey Mangrum
• Allison Swick-Duttine
• Devin Walker