As chair of the AGU Leadership Development/Governance Committee, I am pleased to announce the proposed slate of candidates for the 2026 AGU Elections.
In accordance with our bylaws, AGU elects new leaders every two years. This year’s slate showcases a diverse and exceptional group of leaders ready to guide AGU’s future and further our commitment to discovery and solutions in the Earth and space sciences at this critical moment for science.
The proposed slate includes candidates for the AGU Board of Directors, student and early-career members of the AGU Council, the College of Fellows, and 25 Sections. Elected leaders serve two-year terms, during which they will help steer AGU’s initiatives and ensure our community remains vibrant, inclusive and forward-thinking.
In 2024, the Leadership Development/Governance Committee responded to longtime member feedback and implemented ranked choice voting for certain election positions. Member feedback was favorable, and we will continue to use ranked choice voting for certain elections this year.
Continuing with the “Experiment. Learn. Adapt.” mindset at AGU, several elections will have a single candidate this year: the AGU President-Elect, four student positions on the AGU Council, and nine Section secretaries.
- The three AGU Presidents (president-elect, president and past president), in partnership with the CEO, are responsible for leading AGU into the future while navigating unprecedented risk and pressures on the scientific enterprise. This is a unique moment in time, not just for science at-large but also for AGU. The AGU Board approved presenting a single candidate for election this year in response to the external environment, trends within the association community, and declining voter participation in AGU elections.
- The Board recognizes that, while this is a common practice in professional organizations, it represents a shift for AGU. The Board charged the Leadership Development/Governance Committee to proceed with a focus on the due diligence required to ensure that leadership skills and experience were deeply and fairly assessed. Accordingly, the Leadership Development/Governance Committee reviewed all processes this year and added significant steps to the president-elect process to ensure due diligence in executing this decision. The processes used to determine candidates for the AGU President-Elect, Board Directors, and Council student/early career positions are outlined here in documents found under Quick Links.
- At the beginning of the process for this year’s election, the committee determined that previous Board service shortened the learning curve of AGU Presidents. The committee reached out to all AGU Board members since 2010, inviting them to self-nominate. Three candidates applied and were interviewed. One withdrew after the first interview, and two candidates continued through the second interview. At each stage, the committee set the questions and criteria, individually rating candidates before group discussion to make decisions.
- There are 12 student/early career positions on the AGU Council. Since five continuing members are early career members, the four students on the ballot will all be elected, along with three additional early career members. The Leadership Development/Governance Committee also committed to a fair and rigorous process to select student/early career candidates for the Council.
- Section leaders were given three options this year for their secretary positions: carry over a secretary serving their first term, identify two candidates for the ballot, or appoint a single secretary candidate. The first two have been options for many years. The opportunity to appoint a secretary is new this year, and the nine secretaries being appointed are listed as a single candidate.
Only AGU members will be eligible to vote when the election begins in October. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to join AGU or renew your membership by the end of August. Your voting credentials will be sent to you via email when the polls open.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the members, volunteers and staff who nominated potential candidates and those who have agreed to put their names forward for the election. Your dedication and participation are what make AGU a thriving, dynamic community.
Lisa Graumlich
Chair, AGU Leadership Development and Governance Committee