Nominations for the 2027 Board of Directors will open on October 28.
The Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) Leadership Identification and Inclusion Committee is pleased to request nominations for three Board of Directors positions:
- President-Elect (1-year term as President-Elect, ascends to President for one year, and then serves as Past-President the following year)
- Secretary/Treasurer (3-year term)
- Member-Delegate (3-year term)
The roles and responsibilities for each position are described below:
Open Positions
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Duties:
- Serves a one-year term beginning in March 2027, ascends to president for one year, and then serves as past-president the following year
- Serves as chairperson at any meeting, other than the annual meeting, in the absence of the president
- Performs the duties of the president in case of absence, disability, or resignation
- Makes council and committee chair appointments, subject to Board confirmation
- Works closely with the president on all executive matters
- As president, attends and schedules meetings of the Board, the annual meeting of the society, and any special meetings that may be called; prepares the agendas for the meetings; is responsible in all matters, stated or implied, that are related to welfare, stature, and proper operation of the society; and performs other duties as necessarily incident to the office of president or as may be prescribed by the Board
- As president, ensures the Board stays focused on forward thinking, setting long-term goals, monitoring achievement of those goals, and adhering to SBM values
- As immediate past-president, presides at the annual Board meeting in the absence of the president, and at all meetings in the absence of both the president and president-elect
- Here’s what our past presidents say the position is really like
General Qualifications:
- Current SBM member
- Strongly encouraged to have served on the SBM Board within the last 5 years
- Strongly encouraged to have attended at least one of the past three SBM Annual Meetings
- The ideal candidate should have a demonstrated track record of leadership, thinking long-term, and facilitating teamwork. These are the most important characteristics needed in an SBM president.
- Our Board is strongest when it brings together many perspectives and kinds of experience. No one person is expected to check every box. For the 2027 cycle, we'd especially welcome candidates with the following preferred experience:
- Big picture financial management, including experience with organizational budgets and investments; familiarity with artificial intelligence (AI), including trends, tools, and ethical approaches to its use; a change agent mindset, with a track record of championing new ideas; a tech innovator approach, with enthusiasm for trying new tools early; and/or experience working in government.
- Candidates do NOT need to have a new vision or project. We do appreciate thinking big and there are lots of opportunities to do so as a Board member; however, candidates should consider instead how they would be a good steward of SBM's strategic goals and how they would be a conduit from the membership to the Board.
Please note: some candidates may be asked to complete a self-assessment to ensure thoughtful consideration.
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Duties:
- Serves a three-year term beginning in March 2027
- Ensures SBM's budget and invested reserves support short- and long-term goals, adhere to SBM values, and provide resources necessary to accomplish SBM's strategic plan
- Serves on the Executive Committee as a voting member
- Reviews monthly financial statements from SBM's accountant and presents them to the Executive Committee
- Reviews quarterly investment statements and has calls with SBM's investment advisors as needed
- Reviews and makes decisions about the annual society budget in collaboration with staff, and presents a final budget to the SBM Board
- Reviews annual tax forms prepared by SBM's accountant and audit firm
- Serves as Chair of the Finance Committee, which meets ad hoc as needed, usually twice a year
- With strong support from staff and SBM's accountant, is the custodian of membership records, contracts, assignments, and other legal documents and records; and is responsible for all funds, securities, receipts, and authorized disbursements of the society
- Reviews Board meeting minutes recorded by staff
Qualifications:
- Current SBM member
- Strongly encouraged to have served on an SBM council or committee, or have been a SIG chair, within the last 5 years
- Strongly encouraged to have attended at least one of the past three SBM Annual Meetings
- Some experience with budgets and financial acumen is a plus, but not required. The incoming secretary/treasurer receives training and orientation, and has support from SBM staff.
- Our Board is strongest when it brings together many perspectives and kinds of experience. No one person is expected to check every box. For the 2027 cycle, we'd especially welcome candidates with the following preferred experience:
- Big picture financial management, including experience with organizational budgets and investments; familiarity with artificial intelligence (AI), including trends, tools, and ethical approaches to its use; a change agent mindset, with a track record of championing new ideas; a tech innovator approach, with enthusiasm for trying new tools early; and/or experience working in government.
- Candidates do NOT need to have a new vision or project. We do appreciate thinking big and there are lots of opportunities to do so as a Board member; however, candidates should consider instead how they would be a good steward of SBM's strategic goals and how they would be a conduit from the membership to the Board.
Please note: some candidates may be asked to complete a self-assessment to ensure thoughtful consideration.
MEMBER DELEGATE
Duties:
- Serves a three-year term beginning in March 2027
- Represents the broad-based interests of the membership
- Serves on the Executive Committee as a voting member
- Here’s what past member delegates had to say about the position
Qualifications:
- Current SBM member
- Strongly encouraged to have served on an SBM council or committee, or have been a SIG chair, within the last 5 years
- Strongly encouraged to have attended at least one of the past three SBM Annual Meetings
- Our Board is strongest when it brings together many perspectives and kinds of experience. No one person is expected to check every box. For the 2027 cycle, we'd especially welcome candidates with the following preferred experience:
- Big picture financial management, including experience with organizational budgets and investments; familiarity with artificial intelligence (AI), including trends, tools, and ethical approaches to its use; a change agent mindset, with a track record of championing new ideas; a tech innovator approach, with enthusiasm for trying new tools early; and/or experience working in government.
- Candidates do NOT need to have a new vision or project. We do appreciate thinking big and there are lots of opportunities to do so as a Board member; however, candidates should consider instead how they would be a good steward of SBM's strategic goals and how they would be a conduit from the membership to the Board.
Please note: some candidates may be asked to complete a self-assessment to ensure thoughtful consideration.
Nomination Process and Guidelines
With the exception of student and associate members, all SBM members in good standing may apply to serve on the Board of Directors. Past volunteer leadership experience is required. All terms are 3 years.
Nominators and nominees must be current voting members of SBM (full, fellow, emeritus, affiliate, or transitional member types). Need to join or renew? Visit sbm.org/membership.
The Leadership Identification and Inclusion Committee (LIIC) aims to maintain a balanced Board of Directors that reflects the demographic and disciplinary diversity of the SBM membership. The LIIC conducted a comprehensive needs assessment that included a review of the composition of the 2026 Board of Directors as well as an assessment of SBM's strategic plan. The preferred experience listed for each position is a result of the assessments completed by the LIIC.
The experience we highlight each year reflects where the Board is today and where the Society is headed. As members complete their terms and new ones join, the mix of perspectives around the table shifts, and so do the areas where we'd most welcome fresh voices. Our strategic priorities also evolve, which means the preferred experience we share for one election cycle may look different the next.
These preferences are meant as a guide, not a checklist. No one is expected to bring everything, and we encourage members from all backgrounds, career stages, and professional settings to consider running.
The self-assessment is a short questionnaire that invites nominees to share their experience, interests, and working style. Responses help the Leadership Identification and Inclusion Committee understand how each person's strengths complement the Board as a whole. It is one of several factors we consider as we build a well-rounded Board that reflects the breadth of our membership.
Each year, SBM is fortunate to receive interest from many qualified and committed members who are eager to serve. The Leadership Identification and Inclusion Committee reviews all applications thoughtfully and considers candidates in the context of the current Board composition, organizational needs, and the overall pool of applicants for that election cycle. While not all qualified candidates may be placed on the election slate or elected in a given year, SBM encourages members to apply and to consider reapplying in future cycles, as Board needs and candidate pools evolve over time. Additionally, some candidates may be asked to complete a self-assessment to ensure thoughtful consideration.
Note: only the person who receives the most nominations for each position will automatically be included on the official voting form as a candidate. The Leadership Identification and Inclusion Committee is responsible for selecting at least one other candidate for each position. The committee may select from outside of the list of nominees.
Candidates are prohibited from using the listservs to campaign and SIGs cannot endorse individual candidates.
The Leadership Identification and Inclusion Committee strongly encourages nominees from diverse backgrounds for leadership positions. Nominees should be able to address what role diversity will play in the leadership role and/or how they would aim to address gaps in diversity within SBM. SBM defines diversity as:
“the collective ways in which people and organizations are different and similar with respect to demographic characteristics, values, beliefs, experiences, backgrounds, and behaviors. The dimensions of diversity include, but are not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, culture, religion, mental and physical ability, class, education, immigration status, and professional discipline.”
The Leadership Identification and Inclusion Committee seeks nominees that maintain SBM's strength and diversity as the nation's premiere multi-disciplinary society promoting rigorous basic and applied behavioral medicine research and its application to practice and policy. Therefore, nominees collectively should have backgrounds, skills and interests that span the full spectrum from basic bio-behavioral, to intervention, dissemination and policy research, and address needs in health care settings, communities and diverse populations.
The Leadership Identification and Inclusion welcomes nominees from any professional setting, from academia to government to industry and beyond. SBM maintains a robust conflict of interest and disclosure policy for leaders. Individuals concerned about any potential conflict should email Executive Director Lindsay Bullock at lbullock@sbm.org for guidance on this policy and a possible conflict management plan.