Responsibilities: Plan, advertise, and implement ASAS graduate student activities at JAM such as the symposium, lunch & learn, open forum, and social; serve as a voting member on the national ASAS Board of Directors; attend board meetings in January and July each year (all travel and accommodations covered); serve on various national ASAS committees (Student Activities, Communications, Membership, National Awards, and Agri-King Outstanding Graduate Student Award); recruit and organize National ASAS Graduate Director elections; update the graduate student section of the ASAS website; communicate with members using monthly Facebook/blog postings and updates in the Taking Stock e-newsletter; oversee one of the sectional graduate director committees and facilitate communication; continuously adjust programming activities to meet the needs of a changing and diverse membership.

Time commitment: Varies during the year from 5 to 20 hours per month depending on proximity to JAM. Term is from July 2012 to July 2014. Graduate Directors must be graduate students or post-docs during the duration of their term. While two years is a significant commitment, participation should not interfere with progress towards your degree.

Application Process: Nominate yourself or be nominated by November 1, 2011 at asas.org (click on the yellow ‘Leadership Nominations’ button). A committee will then choose two candidates to be finalists. Finalists will be asked to submit a short biography and vision statement. Elections are open to all ASAS members and take place in late April/early May. Finalists will be notified of election results in mid-May and, the new Graduate Director will begin his/her term at the completion of national meetings in July.

Questions: Contact Cassie Jones at ckjones@iastate.edu or Angie Mays at aboyer@uark.edu.

Responsibilities: Attend Southern Section Meeting; coordinate Graduate Student Lunch & Learn; provide graduate student input to the Southern Section throughout the year.

Benefits: Work closely with the Southern Section Committee, who are all well-respected scientists, learn what it take to put on a successful meeting, interact with other graduate students at the Sectional and National level, demonstrate extensive leadership on a CV or resume, powerful networking experience.

Application process: Nominate yourself or be nominated when the Call for Nominations is sent out around October. Qualified candidates will be requested o submit answers to a questionnaire about their qualifications, interest in the position, and goals if elected. A committee selects two finals, which will be voted on in an election open to all ASAS members in the Southern Section. The newly elected Graduate Director will being his/her term at the completion of the Southern Sectional meetings.

Questions: Contact Jackie Wahrmund at wahrmun@okstate.edu or Andrea Loyd at anl13d@neo.tamu.edu.

Responsibilities: Arrange various graduate student activities at the Western Section Meeting, including the Young Scholars Symposium, lunch & learn, and mixer; serve as a voting member on the Western Section Executive Board.

Benefits: Powerful networking experience, demonstrates extensive leadership on a CV or resume, learn what it take to put on a successful meeting, interact with other graduate students at the Sectional and National level.

Application process: Nominate yourself or be nominated when the Call for Nominations is sent out in April or May. Qualified candidates will be requested o submit answers to a questionnaire about their qualifications, interest in the position, and goals if elected. A committee selects two finals, which will be voted on in an election open to all ASAS members in the Western Section. The newly elected Graduate Director will being his/her term at the completion of the Western Sectional meetings.

Questions: Contact Rebecca Cockrum at rcockrum@uwyo.edu or Ely Camacho at leticia.camacho@ndsu.edu.

Responsibilities: Arrange various graduate student activities at the Midwest Section Meeting, including the lunch & learn and mixer; possibly serve as a voting member on the Midwest Section Executive Board.

Benefits: Powerful networking experience, demonstrates extensive leadership on a CV or resume, learn what it take to put on a successful meeting, interact with other graduate students at the Sectional and National level.

Application process: Specifics are still being established. Contact Patrick Gunn at pgunn@purdue.edu or Chad Pilcher at pilcher@iastate.edu if interested.