Committees & Committee Officers

STANDING COMMITTEES
Board of Directors*	Committee Members
Executive Committee	Committee Members
Committee on Committees^†	Committee Members	Committee Description

OTHER COMMITTEES
Annual Meeting Program Committee	Committee Members	Committee Description
Development Committee*^†	Committee Members	Committee Description
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee*^†	Committee Members	Committee Description
Early Career Professional Development Committee*^†	Committee Members	Committee Description
Education Committee*^†	Committee Members	Committee Description
Election Committee*^†	Committee Members	Committee Description
Finance Advisory Committee*^†	Committee Members	Committee Description
Information Technology Committee*^†	Committee Members	Committee Description
International Affairs Committee*^†	Committee Members	Committee Description
Investment Committee*^†	Committee Members	Committee Description
Public Policy Committee*^†	Committee Members	Committee Description
Publications Committee*^†	Committee Members	Committee Description
Publications Ethics Committee	Committee Members

HONORS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE
AJB Synthesis Prize Committee	Committee Members
Cheadle Award Committee	Committee Members	Committee Description
Corresponding Members Committee	Committee Members	Committee Description
Darbaker Prize Committee	Committee Members
Distinguished Fellow and Emerging Leader Award Committee	Committee Members	Committee Description
Donald R. Kaplan Memorial Lecture Committee	Committee Members	Committee Description
Esau Award Committee	Committee Members	Committee Description
Graduate Student Dissertation Award in Phylogenetic Comparative Plant Biology	Committee Members
Graduate Student Research Award Committee^†	Committee Members	Committee Description
Grady L. Webster and Barbara D. Webster Structural Botany Publication Award	Committee Members	Committee Description
Kaplan Dissertation Improvement Award in Comparative Morphology Committee	Committee Members
Moseley Award Committee	Committee Members	Committee Description
Pelton Award Committee	Committee Members	Committee Description

AD HOC COMMITTEES
Botany360 Ad Hoc Committee*	Committee Members
Ad Hoc Committee on Climate Change	Committee Members
Membership Ad Hoc Committee*	Committee Members
Ad Hoc Committee for AI and Publications	Committee Members

*These committees have students that serve as committee members. Click here for more information on student representatives on committees.
^†These committees currently have openings.
Years denoted below in paranthesis indicates the final year of service.

Standing Committees:

Board of Directors

Brenda Molano-Flores (2025), President
Vivian Negron-Ortiz (2024), Past President
Jenny Xiang (2025), President-Elect
Norm Wickett (2024), Secretary
Allison Miller (2025), Treasurer
Melanie Link-Perez (2026), Program Director
Eli Hartung (2024), Student Representative
Josh Felton (2025), Student Representative
Emily Sessa (2025), At-Large Director - Publications
Jennifer Cruse-Sanders (2026), At-Large Director - Development
Karolina Heyduk (2026), At-Large Director - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Rachel Jabaily (2024), At-Large Director - Education

Executive Committee

(designated in bylaws)

Brenda Molano-Flores (2025), President
Vivian Negron-Ortiz (2024), Past President
Jenny Xiang (2026), President-Elect
Norm Wickett (2024), Secretary
Allison Miller (2025), Treasurer
Melanie Link-Perez (2026), Program Director

Committee on Committees

Jenny Xiang (2024), President Elect, Chair
Norm Wickett (2024), Secretary
Gretchen North, DEI Committee Representative (2024)
Wendy Clement (2024)
Steven Handel (2025)
Cynthia Huebner (2025)
Rob Baker (2026)
Natali Ramirez-Bullon (2026)
Madhav Nepal (2026)

Other Committees:

Annual Meeting Program Committee

Melanie Link-Perez (2026), Program Director (Chair)
Program Organizer of each Section
Chair, Local Organizing Committee
Johanne Stogran, Conference Staff
Representatives of Other Societies meeting with BSA

Development Committee

Jennifer Cruse-Sanders (2026), At-Large Director - Development, Chair
Ned Friedman (2024)
Rebecca Rooney (2024)
Peter Wilf (2024)
Joe Williams (2024)
Katherine Charton, Graduate Student Representative (2024)
Jennifer Ackerfield (2025)
Heather Cacanindin, Executive Director, ex officio

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

Karolina Heyduk (2026), Chair
Vacant, Undergraduate Student Representative (2025)
Shan Wong, Graduate Student Representative (2025)
R. Shawn Abrahams (2024)
Ana Almeida (2024)
Rocio Deanna (2024)
Gretchen North (2024)
Adam Ramsey (2024)
Alana Chin (2026)
Suneeti Jog (2026)
Scott Gevaert (2026)
Keri Maricle (2026)
Anna Monfils, PI PLANTS III
Melanie Link-Perez (2026), Program Director, ex officio
Brenda Molano-Flores (2024), President, ex officio
Heather Cacanindin, Executive Director, ex officio

Early Career Professional Development Committee

Josh Felton (2025) - BSA Student Representative
Eli Hartung (2024) - BSA Student Representative
Ben Blackman (2024)
Miranda Sinnott-Armstrong (2024)
Jill Spear (2025)
Min Ya (2025)
Christopher Krieg (2026)

Education Committee

Rachel Jabaily (2024), Chair and At-Large Director - Education
Rebecca (Arby) Barone, Graduate Student Representative (2025)
Helen Holmlund (2024)
Terian Koscik, Undergraduate Student Representative (2024)
Karen Wellner (2024)
Emily Rollinson (2025)
Sonali Saha (2025)
Molly Edwards (2026)
Catrina Adams, BSA Education Director, ex officio
Phil Gibson, Editor, PlantED, ex officio
Ben Montgomery, Teaching Section Chair, ex officio
Norm Wickett (2024), Secretary, ex officio
Brenda Molano-Flores (2024), President, ex officio

Election Committee

Vivian Negron-Ortiz (2024), Past President, Chair
Imeña Valdes (2024), Graduate Student Representative
Lauren Eserman (2025)
Kathleen Pryer (2025)
Christopher Ivey (2026)
Norm Wickett (2024), Secretary, ex officio

Finance Advisory Committee

Larry Hufford (2024), Chair
Laura Galloway (2024)
Linda Watson (2025)
Lucinda McDade (2026)
Vacant, grad student representative
Allison Miller (2025), Treasurer, ex officio

Information Technology Committee

Jasmine Zenderland, Graduate Student Representative (2024)
Eric Wada (2025)
Cheng-Chiang Wu (2025)
Jeff Mower (2026)
Rob Brandt, BSA Manager Technology Development, ex officio
Heather Cacanindin, Executive Director, ex officio

International Affairs Committee

Shengchen Shan (2024), Chair
Oluwatobi Oso, Graduate Student Representative (2024)
Julie Barcelona (2025)
Funmilola Ojo (2025)
Susanne S. Renner (2025)
Veronica Di Stilio (2026)
Shelley James (2026)
Heather Cacanindin, Executive Director, ex officio
Melanie Link-Perez, (2026) Program Director, ex officio
Brenda Molano-Flores, (2024) President, ex officio

Investment Committee

Kent Holsinger (2024), Chair
Charles Bush, Grad Student Representative (2025)
Larry Hufford (2024)
Janice Coons (2025)
Maia Thomas (2025), Probono Professional advisor
John Pascarella (2026)
Austin Mast (2026)
Brenda Molano-Flores (2024), President, ex officio
Allison Miller (2025), Treasurer, ex officio
Heather Cacanindin, Executive Director, ex officio

Public Policy Committee

Andrew Pais (2024), Chair
Ash Gill, Graduate Student Representative (2025)
Travis Marsico (2025)
Taylor AuBuchon-Elder (2026)
Andrea Kornbluh (2026)
Naomi Fraga (2026)
Heather Cacanindin, Executive Director, ex officio

Publications Committee

Emily Sessa, BSA Director at large - Publications (2025), Chair
Giulia de Gennaro- Grad Student Representative (2025)
Jordan Dowell (2024)
H. Jochen Schenk (2025)
Elizabeth Stacy (2026)
Olubunmi Sharaibi (2026)
Israel Lopes da Cunha Neto (2026)
Pamela Diggle, Editor, AJB, ex officio
Briana Gross, Editor, APPS, ex officio
Mackenzie Taylor, Editor, PSB, ex officio
Amy McPherson, AJB Managing Editor, ex officio
Richard Hund, AJB Production Editor, ex officio
Beth Parada, APPS Managing Editor, ex officio

Publications Ethics Committee

Vivian Negron Ortiz (2024), Past President, Chair, ex officio
Briana Gross: blgross@d.umn.edu
Pamela Diggle: pamela.diggle@uconn.edu
Sean Graham: swgraham@mail.ubc.ca
Judy Jernstedt: jjernstedt@ucdavis.edu
Cynthia Jones: cynthia.s.jones@uconn.edu
Karen Koster: Karen.Koster@usd.edu
Amy McPherson: amcpherson@botany.org
Beth Parada: bparada@botany.org
Andrew Schnabel: aschnabe@iusb.edu
Mackenzie Taylor: MackenzieTaylor@creighton.edu

Honors and Awards Committees:

AJB Synthesis Prize Committee

Richard (Dick) Olmstead (2023)
Cate Macinnis-Ng (2023)
Nora Mitchell (2023)

Cheadle Award Committee

Jessical Budke (2022), Chair as Chair of D&S Section
Andrew Doust (2022)
Carol Wilson (2023)
Heather Cacanindin, Executive Director, ex officio

Corresponding Members Committee

(Past Presidents)

Vivian Negron Ortiz (2026), Past President, Chair, ex officio
Michael Donoghue (2025)
Shengchen Shan (2024), International Affairs Committee representative
Cynthia Jones (2024)

Darbaker Prize Committee

In partnership with the Phycological Society of America
Heather Cacanindin, Executive Director, ex officio

Distinguished Fellow and Emerging Leader Award Committee

Jim Leebens-Mack, Chair (2025)
Stacey Smith (2025)
Sean Graham (2026)
Selena Smith (2026)
Mike Barker (2026)
Brenda Molano-Flores (2024), President, ex officio

Donald R. Kaplan Memorial Lecture Committee

Ned Friedman (2024), Chair
Juerg Schoenenberger (2026)
Maria Alejandra Gandolfo (2025)
Heather Cacanindin, Executive Director, ex officio

Esau Award Committee

Cheng-Chiang Wu (2023)
Rebecca Povilus (2023)
Luke Nikolov (2024)
Heather Cacanindin, Executive Director, ex officio

Graduate Student Dissertation Award in Phylogenetic Comparative Plant Biology

Michael Donoghue, Chair
Petra De Block
Joyce Onyenedum
Ken Systma
David Tank
Barbara Whitlock

BSA Graduate Student Research Award Committee (Including the J.S. Karling Award)

Richard Moore (2025), Chair
Liming Cai (2024)
Stephanie Conway (2024)
Cheryl Dunn (2024)
Helen Michaels (2024)
Michael Moody (2025)
Yujing Yan (2025)
Dylan Cohen (2026)
Howard Neufeld (2026)
Kristen Nolting (2026)
Jennifer Tate (2026)
Emily Warschefsky (2026)
Heather Cacanindin, Executive Director, ex officio

Additional Members as Needed

Monica Carlsen-Krause (1-Year Term, 2021)
Shawn Krosnick (1-Year Term, 2021)
Lucas Majure (2-Year term, 2021)
Allison Miller (1-Year Term, 2021)
Nora Mitchell (3-Year term, 2023)
Daniel Spalink (2-Year term, 2021)
Cynthia Huebner (1- Year term, 2021)
Emily Warschefsky (1-Year term, 2023)

Grady L. Webster and Barbara D. Webster Structural Botany Publication Award Committee

Kaplan Dissertation Improvement Award in Comparative Morphology Committee

Natalia Pabon-Mora (2025), Chair
Jessica Budke (2024)
Paula Rudall (2024)
Mark Olson (2025)
Vacant, TBD Fall of 2023 (2026)

Moseley Award Committee

Luiza Teixeira-Costa (2023)
Kelly Matsunaga (2024)
Pam Diggle (2025)
Heather Cacanindin, Executive Director, ex officio

Pelton Award Committee

Andrew Doust (2022)
Rob Baker (2023)
Yaowu Yuan (2024)
Heather Cacanindin, Executive Director, ex officio

Botany360 Ad Hoc Committee

Amelia Neely, Committee Chair
Benjamin Blackman - Early Career Professional Development Committee
Karolina Heyduk - Director at Large for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Chair of DEI Committee
Rachel Jabaily - Director at Large for Education, Chair of Education Committee
Kyra Krakos - Teaching Section (Immediate Past Chair)
Christopher Krieg - Early Career Professional Development Committee
Min Ya - Early Career Professional Development Committee
Ben Montgomery - Chair of Teaching Section, Education Committee
Andrew Pais - Chair of Public Policy Committee
Emily Sessa - Director at Large for Publications, Chair of Publications Committee
Miranda Sinnott-Armstrong - Early Career Professional Development Committee
Jill Spear - Early Career Professional Development Committee
Brenda Molano-Flores, BSA President
Eli Hartung, BSA Student Representative (and ECPDC)
Josh Felton, BSA Student Representative (and ECPDC)
Heather Cacanindin, Staff Representative - Executive Director
Jennifer Hartley, Staff Representative - Education
Amy McPherson, Staff Representative - Publications

Membership Ad Hoc Committee

Amelia Neely - Chair
Nina Baghai-Riding
Tineka Burkhead
Rachel Jabaily
Rich Hund
Yesenia Madrigal
Funmilola Mabel Ojo
Chelsea Pretz
Dennis Stevenson

Ad Hoc Committee on Climate Change

Vivian Negron-Ortiz (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida/Southeast), Chair
Heather Cacanindin (Botanical Society of America, St. Louis, MO)
Vinita Gowda (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, India)
Jeremy Rentsch (Francis Marion University, SC)
Loren Rieseberg (University of British Columbia, Canada)
Julieta Rosell (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México)
Emily Sessa (New York Botanical Garden, NY)
As needed: Wesley Knapp (NatureServe)

Ad Hoc Committee for AI and Publications

Theresa Culley - Chair
Rob Baker
Irene Cobo
Aaron David
Matt Gitzendanner
Matt Olson
Tilottama Roy
Will Weaver
Pamela Diggle, ex-officio
Briana Gross, ex-officio
Mackenzie Taylor, ex-officio
Emily Sessa, ex-officio
Amy McPherson, ex-officio
Richard Hund, ex-officio
Beth Parada, ex-officio

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