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APS Council Nomination​ Process


APS invites nominations and self-nominations from APS Professional Members for the APS Council positions of Vice President and Councilor-at-Large. APS welcomes nominees from academia, industry, government, or other demographic segments within APS. 

​Desired Competencies and Backgrounds For Nominees​

APS Council is responsible for the overall policy and direction of the Society. Prospective candidates and nominators are encouraged to review the strategic initiatives and priority objectives of APS to understand future directions for APS Council activities. Desired competencies include (but are not limited to): 
  • Proven leadership skills

  • Ability to think strategically and analytically and to effectively communicate thoughts and the reasons for them.

  • Possession​ of earned respect of other key stakeholder group members.

  • The ability to work well with others as a member of a collaborative group with group decision-making authority and an understanding of APS Council's fiduciary duties of loyalty, care, and obedience.

  • Demonstrated understanding of the differences between "oversight" and "supervision".​

  • Earned reputation for emotional maturity, personal integrity, and honesty.

  • A demonstrated familiarity with the scientific breadth and frontiers as well as the community of stakeholders in the field of plant pathology.​

Nomination Guidelines and Timeline

All nominees are expected to maintain the highest professional standards of scientific objectivity, dispassion, ethical conduct, and comply with the APS Code of Conduct. Prior to nominating, review the APS Vision and Strategic Goals and roles and responsibilities for the positions of vice president and councilor-at-large.​​ 

Note if you are nominating another individual, please ensure that they are interested and willing to be nominated for the position before submitting the nomination. 

Submit Nomination

APS Council Timeline for 2026 Election

  • December 1, 2025: Nomination deadline for Vice President and Councilor-at-Large (CAL).

  • December: APS Nominations Committee evaluates nominations and selects qualified candidates to advance to application/interview stage.

  • Mid-January 2026: Application deadline for candidates.

  • January-February: Nominations Committee reviews applications and conducts interviews as needed before finalizing the slate of candidates to be presented to APS Council.

  • Mid to late February: Nominations Chair presents VP and CAL slate to APS Council. 

  • March: Candidates who will be on the election ballot are notified by the Nominations Chair. 

  • May: Voting is open (eligible APS voting members receive an electronic ballot). APS Election article with candidate profiles and view points is featured in Phytopathology News.

  • June​: ​Election results announced in Phytopathology News.​

  • August: Elected officials ​assume their roles on APS Council.

​​​Questions? Contact the APS Nominations Committee​