Committees & Committee Officers

STANDING COMMITTEES
Board of Directors*
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
  • 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

Honors and Awards Committees:

AJB Synthesis Prize Committee

  • Sean Graham (Chair)
  • Pamela Diggle
  • Lúcia Lohmann
  • Carol Goodwillie
  • Amy McPherson

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

  • Vacant – TBD, 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)
  • Marcelo Pace (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