Written by: Christy Till, AGU Board
When the AGU Board of Directors convenes, it’s always a journey, not just because of the actual travel but also due to the surprising and enriching places we figuratively visit during our discussions. The journey metaphor also extended to the nature of our agenda when the Board met at AGU headquarters on 25-26 September 2025, as we began discussing the present state of affairs and ended the meeting with a long-term strategic visioning exercise.
The first of our two days together focused on the here and now of AGU in the external environment. We started with an unusual and thought-provoking exercise to predict which of our many “orthodoxies” may creep up on us in this meeting. Orthodoxies are long-held beliefs that have become very tightly held; by identifying those that influence our discussions and thought processes, we can interrogate the biases that may show up in our decision-making. We also heard a State of the Union report from our President, President-Elect, and CEO; they each shared their unique perspective on AGU’s current circumstances, needs, and opportunities.
The afternoon moved us into the mechanics of how AGU does all that it does. We reviewed the 2025 financials and looked forward to the 2026 forecast, with a focus on our OKRs. AGU uses OKRs, or Objectives and Key Results, as a goal-setting framework for how we implement our Strategic Plan. The Board was energized by the discussion of the 2026 Objectives and is eager to help shape them and support their implementation going forward. Other subject areas we covered in the afternoon were the current publishing landscape, AGU’s upcoming meetings (AGU25 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and OSM26 in Glasgow, Scotland), and our strategy regarding position statements.
The second day was entirely forward-thinking and built around strategic planning for the longer-term future. Despite the current pressures and distractions, what good can AGU create and lead and inspire in the coming decade? We had small group discussions that were hopeful, heartening, and very creative. We are capable of so much as an organization!
All in all, it was a jam-packed meeting marked by enthusiasm and sincerity. I am always impressed by the wisdom afforded by our different journeys to our seats on the AGU Board of Directors and how it makes our decision-making conversations rich and thoughtful. Moreover, I am also inspired by how these conversations center on AGU’s members—the heart of the organization—and appreciate that they put their trust in us as stewards of the organization. It’s still the first year of my term on the Board, and I’m very much looking forward to the rest of the journey I have ahead with AGU.