The 2026 Governance & Nominations Committee is proud to present the 2027 Leadership Slate for AFA Board of Directors candidates.

Supplementary Materials

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.

Candidate Video Responses

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

• Question 1: What compelled you to pursue this opportunity to serve on the AFA Board of Directors?
  
• Question 2: You were asked to complete a Board allocation exercise that outlined how you think about where the Board spends its time and energy. Discuss your approach to how you allocated that time and energy, and any insight into frameworks you used that helps AFA members understand your thought processes. 
• Question 3: In a time of changing economic environments within higher education and professional associations, AFA must continue to consider the balance of membership priorities, sustainability of business operations, and long-term, strategic financial investments. Thinking specifically with financial considerations and obligations in mind, how can AFA balance all of this while maintaining its financial health?
  
• Question 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?
• Question 5 (for Presidential Candidates only): What have you learned from your previous AFA Board service that will ground how you lead the AFA Board and larger Association as President?

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

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Considerations and Disclosure

Evaluation Criteria

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 one (1) candidate to the position of AFA President

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

Voting for candidates will commence on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. All members actively registered or renewed by Tuesday, July 28 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.  

Please join us in thanking the 2026 Governance and Nominations Committee for their hard work and commitment to ensure the highest possible quality of candidate for the 2027 AFA Leadership Elections:

• Tara Fuller, chair
• Devin Walker
• Marilyn Russell
• Freddy Juarez
• Matthew Phister